Jesus is God

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Did the Council of Nicea Invent the Deity of Christ?    by Tim Barnett

Can I be honest with you? Some statements get me frustrated. I can usually keep my cool when people say things I disagree with, but this statement puts me over the top. I am sick and tired of people claiming that the Council of Nicea (c. AD 325) made Jesus into God.

This is a claim that you will hear from both cultists and skeptics. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses are famous for making this claim. In their publication Should You Believe in the Trinity? they write, “Constantine’s role was crucial. After two months of furious religious debate, this pagan politician intervened and decided in favor of those who said that Jesus was God.”[1] On this view, Emperor Constantine invented the deity of Christ in the fourth century.

This view was also propagated to millions of people in the bestselling book The Da Vinci Code: “Jesus’ establishment as ‘the Son of God’ was officially proposed and voted on by the Council of Nicaea.... By officially endorsing Jesus as the Son of God, Constantine turned Jesus into a deity who existed beyond the scope of the human world, an entity whose power was unchallengeable.”[2] Given the enormous popularity of The Da Vinci Code, this belief has become fully ingrained into the consciousness of the rank-and-file.

How should we respond to this claim? I have a two-pronged approach. First, I ask a question: How did you come to that conclusion? This is the second Columbo question in Greg Koukl’s book Tactics. It is one thing to make a historical claim, but it is another thing to back it up with historical facts. And this often-recited claim lacks any kind of historical support.

At this point, don’t be surprised if the person who raised the challenge cannot answer your question. The fact is, most people in our culture make claims they are not equipped to defend. This is not the time to insult; this is the time to inform. The person who made the claim is deeply misinformed, and you now have the opportunity to correct him. This leads to the second prong of your response.

Second, I look at the facts. This is the Just the Facts Ma’am tactic. Quite often we can correct a person’s false beliefs by appealing to the facts. When answering questions about what happened in the past, it is a good idea to consult reputable historians. In his book Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code, agnostic historian Bart Ehrman writes,

Constantine did call the Council of Nicea, and one of the issues involved Jesus’ divinity. But this was not a council that met to decide whether or not Jesus was divine.... Quite the contrary: everyone at the Council—in fact, just about every Christian everywhere—already agreed that Jesus was divine, the Son of God. The question being debated was how to understand Jesus’ divinity in light of the circumstance that he was also human. Moreover, how could both Jesus and God be God if there is only one God? Those were the issues that were addressed at Nicea, not whether or not Jesus was divine. And there certainly was no vote to determine Jesus’ divinity: this was already a matter of common knowledge among Christians, and had been from the early years of the religion. [Emphasis added.][3]

So belief in the deity of Jesus existed since “the early years of the religion.” Just how early? The New Testament is full of references to the deity of Christ. Certainly Paul (Rom. 9:5; Titus 2:13; Phil. 2:5-8), Peter (2 Pet. 1:1), and John (John 1:1; 8:58; 20:28) believed that Jesus is God.

Rom. 9:5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 

Titus 2:13  while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

Phil. 2:5-8  You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

2 Pet. 1:1 This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. 

John 8:58  Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am![See Exodus 3:14]”

John 20:28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

However, to show that Christians believed in the deity of Christ before the Council of Nicea, you can also consult the early church fathers. The person claiming that Nicea invented the deity of Jesus will be surprised to learn that the earliest church fathers explicitly affirmed the deity of Christ. Here is a small sample.

Polycarp (AD 69-155) was the bishop at the church in Smyrna and a disciple of John the Apostle. In his Letter to the Philippians, he writes,

Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal high priest himself, the Son of God Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and truth...and to us with you, and to all those under heaven who will yet believe in our Lord and God Jesus Christ and in his Father who raised him from the dead.[4]

Ignatius (AD 50-117) was the bishop at the church in Antioch and another disciple of John. He wrote a series of letters to various churches on his way to Rome, where he was to be martyred. He writes,

There is only one physician, who is both flesh and spirit, born and unborn, God in man, true life in death, both from Mary and from God, first subject to suffering and then beyond it, Jesus Christ our Lord.[5]

For our God, Jesus the Christ, was conceived by Mary according to God’s plan, both from the seed of David and of the Holy Spirit.[6]

Justin Martyr (AD 100–165) was a Christian apologist of the second century. He boldly states,

And that Christ being Lord, and God the Son of God, and appearing formerly in power as Man, and Angel, and in the glory of fire as at the bush, so also was manifested at the judgment executed on Sodom, has been demonstrated fully by what has been said.[7]

Permit me first to recount the prophecies, which I wish to do in order to prove that Christ is called both God and Lord of hosts.[8]

Irenaeus of Lyons (AD 130–202) was bishop of what is now known as Lyons, France. Irenaeus studied under bishop Polycarp, who in turn had been a disciple of John the Apostle. He writes,

He received testimony from all that He was very man, and that He was very God, from the Father, from the Spirit, from angels, from the creation itself, from men, from apostate spirits and demons.[9]

...Christ Jesus our Lord, and God, and Savior, and King, according to the will of the invisible Father.[10]

Clement of Alexandria (AD 150–215) was another early church father. He wrote around AD 200. He writes,

This Word, then, the Christ, the cause of both our being at first (for He was in God) and of our well-being, this very Word has now appeared as man, He alone being both, both God and man....[11]

Tertullian (AD 150-225) was an early Christian apologist writing around a century after John. He said,

For God alone is without sin; and the only man without sin is Christ, since Christ is also God.[12]

Hippolytus of Rome (AD 170-235) was a third century theologian. He was a disciple of Irenaeus, who was a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of John. He writes,

The Logos alone of this God is from God himself; wherefore also the Logos is God, being the substance of God.[13]

For all, the righteous and the unrighteous alike, shall be brought before God the Word.[14]

All of these church fathers wrote over a century before the Council of Nicea supposedly invented the deity of Jesus. So here is my question: If the early church fathers explicitly affirmed Jesus’ deity before Nicea, then how can anyone claim that it was an invention at Nicea?

The facts overwhelmingly confirm that the deity of Christ was not invented at Nicea. In fact, this belief was birthed out of the original disciples’ close interaction with Jesus. Consequently, Jesus’ words and actions led the disciples to the only reasonable conclusion: Jesus is God. And this belief was passed down through church history.

 _________________________

[1] Watch Tower, Should You Believe in the Trinity?, (Halton Hills, ON: Watch Tower Bible And Tract Society, 1989), 8.

[2] Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code, 253.

[3] Bart Ehrman, Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code: A Historian Reveals What We Really Know About Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Constantine, 14-15.

[4] Polycarp, Letter to the Philippians, 12:2.

[5] Ignatius, Letter to the Ephesians, 7.2.

[6] Ignatius, Letter to the Ephesians, 18.2.

[7] Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 128.

[8] Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 36.

[9] Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 4.6.7.

[10] Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 1.10.1.

[11] Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen, 1.

[12] Tertullian, Treatise on the Soul, 41.

[13] Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies, 10.29.

[14] Hippolytus, Against Plato, Section 3

Orthodoxy since the resurrection has been, Jesus is God? Here s why we believe this

Is Jesus God? 

Isaiah 41:4 New Living Translation (NLT) 4 Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last. I alone am he.”

Revelation 1:17 New Living Translation (NLT) 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last.

Romans 9 New Living Translation (NLT)  5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! 

Psalm 110:1 New Living Translation (NLT) 1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

Whose Son Is the Messiah? From Matthew

41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They replied, “He is the son of David.”

43 Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said,

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

Sit in the place of honor at my right hand

    until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’

45 Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”

46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Mark 14 

60 Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 61 But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? 64 You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!”

Hebrews 9:22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.

Leviticus 17:11 for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.

Matthew 9 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” 3 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” 4 Jesus knew[a] what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[b] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 7 And the man jumped up and went home! 8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.[c]

and...

Mark 2 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[a] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

and...

Luke 5 17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” 21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[d] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

Right Hand:

Hebrews 8:1-2 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. 2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle,[a] the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

Acts 5:31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven.

Jehovah's Witnesses JW

- the Jesus of the Bible cannot be another "god" because God says there is only ONE GOD - Isaiah 43:10-11 New Living Translation (NLT) [10 “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. 11 I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior.] 

Then lets look at Titus 3, starting in verse 4 But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.[a] 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

a. 3:5 Greek "He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit."

- the Jesus of the Bible cannot be an angel since He is contrasted against the angels - Hebrews 1:3-8 New Living Translation (NLT) 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names. [The Son Is Greater Than the Angels] 5 For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:

Most theologians throughout church history agree that in using the phrase “the evening and the morning were the first day,” the creation account in Genesis is speaking of a literal 24- hour day, rather than a general time or a period of years.

“To understand the meaning of ‘day’ in Gen. 1, we need to determine how the Hebrew word for ‘day,’ yom, is used in the context of Scripture...A number, and the phrase ‘evening and morning,’ are used for each of the six days of creation (Gen. 1:5,8,13,19,23,31). Outside Gen. 1, yom is used with a number 359 times, and each time it means an ordinary day—why would Genesis 1 be the exception?

“Outside Gen. 1, yom is used with the word ‘evening’ or ‘morning’ 23 times. ‘Evening’ and ‘morning’ appear in association, but without yom, 38 times. All 61 times the text refers to an ordinary day—why would Genesis 1 be the exception?

“In Genesis 1:5, yom occurs in context with the word ‘night.’ Outside of Gen. 1, ‘night’ is used with yom 53 times—and each time it means an ordinary day. Why would Gen. 1 be the exception? Even the usage of the word ‘light’ with yom in this passage determines the meaning as ordinary day.

“There are words in biblical Hebrew (such as olam or qedem) that are very suitable for communicating long periods of time, or indefinite time, but none of these words are used in Gen. 1. Alternatively, the days or years could have been compared with grains of sand if long periods were meant. If we are prepared to let the words of the language speak to us in accord with the context and normal definitions, without being influenced by outside ideas, then the word for ‘day’ found in Gen. 1—which is qualified by a number, the phrase ‘evening and morning’ and for Day 1 the words ‘light and darkness’—obviously means an ordinary day (about 24 hours).” Ken Ham, et al., The New Answers Book

Hebrews 4:4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh dayin this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”

• Matthew 14:25 Walked on Water

• Luke 8:24 Rebuked the Wind

• Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

• Matthew 1:23 [Speaking of Jesus]"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).

• John 1:14 the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• Zech. 12:10 [God says] I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. MS- Wow discovered 4/17/16

• 1 Tim. 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

• Rev. 1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

• Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you."

• Psalm 93:2 Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

• Isaiah 63:16 you, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.

• Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

• John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

• John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand

• Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

• Psalm 80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.

• Ezekiel 34:12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.

• John 10:11-14 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

God the Father: Genesis 49:24; Psalm 23:1; Psalm 80:1

Jesus: John 10:11, 16; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 5:4

• Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

• Matthew 1:23 [Speaking of Jesus]"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).

• John 1:14 the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• Zech. 12:10 [God says] I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. MS- Wow discovered 4/17/16

• 1 Tim. 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

• Rev. 1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

• Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

• Matthew 22:42-45 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying," 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet'? If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?"

• John 20:28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

Savior

• Isaiah 43:3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

• Isaiah 43:11 I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.

• Isaiah 45:15 O God of Israel, the Savior.

• Isaiah 45:21 a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.

• Hosea 13:4 But I am the LORD your God…and besides me there is no savior.

• Luke 1:47 [Mary, speaking of Jesus]my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

• Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

• Philip. 3:20 our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

• 2 Tim. 1:10 our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

• 1 Tim. 4:10 we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

• 2 Peter 2:20 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Description: Lord

God the Father: Isaiah 45:23

Jesus: Matthew 12:8; Acts 7:59-60; Acts 10:36; Romans 10:12; 1 Corinthians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Philippians 2:10-11

Description: Savior

God the Father: Isaiah 43:3, 11; Isaiah 63:8; Luke 1:47; 1 Timothy 4:10

Jesus: Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11; John 1:29; John 4:42; 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 2:13;Hebrews 5:9

• Deut. 32:4 "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

• Deut. 32:15 Jeshurun… forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.

• Deut. 32:18 …unmindful of the Rock that bore you… you forgot the God who gave you birth.

• Deut. 32:30-31 How could one have chased a thousand, and two have put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had given them up? For their rock is not as our Rock; our enemies are by themselves.

• 1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

• Psalm 18:31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?—

• Romans 9:33 Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.

• 1 Cor. 10:1-4 [Israel, in the desert] …drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

• 1 Peter 2:7-8 [Jesus]The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone…A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense

God the Father: Deuteronomy 32:3-4; 2 Samuel 22:32

Jesus: Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 10:3-4; 1 Peter 2:4-8

• Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

• Micah 7:8 the Lord will be a light to me.

• John 1:4-9 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

• John 8:12 Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

God the Father: 2 Samuel 22:29; Psalm 27:1

Jesus: John 1:4, 9; John 3:19; John 8:12; John 9:5

• Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD… "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

God the Father: Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 48:12; Revelation 1:8

• Rev. 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

• Rev. 1:17 [Jesus said],"Fear not, I am the first and the last"

• Rev. 2:8 [These are the] words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

• Rev. 21:6 [Jesus said] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

• Rev. 22:13 [Jesus Said] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

• Matthew 18:20 where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

• Matthew 28:20 behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

• John 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

God the Father: Psalm 139:7-12; Proverbs 15:3

Jesus: Matthew 18:20; Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 3:17; Ephesians 4:10

Matthew 8:27 What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?

Matthew 28:18 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

God the Father: Isaiah 40:10-31; Isaiah 45:5-13; Revelation 19:6

Jesus: Matthew 28:18; Mark 1:29-34; John 10:18; Jude 24

• Matthew 9:4 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?

• (See Also: Matthew 12:25, Matthew 22:18, Mark 2:8 , Luke 5:22, Luke 6:8, Luke 9:46-48)

• John 1:48 Jesus knew Nathanael while he was under the fig tree

• John 2:24-25 He knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

• John 4:28-29 [Samaritan Woman] "Come; see a man who told me all that I ever did."

Jesus is God

• John 6:64 Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe,

• John 18:4 He knew all that would happen to him

• Acts 1:24 Lord, who know the hearts of all

• Col. 2:3 In [Jesus] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

God the Father: 1 Kings 8:37-39; Jeremiah 17:9-10

Jesus: Matthew 9:4; Matthew 11:27; Luke 5:4-6; John 2:25; John 16:30; John 21:17; Acts 1:24

• John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

• Col. 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

• Hebrews 1:3 He upholds the universe by the word of his power.

God the Father: Genesis 1:1; Job 33:4; Psalm 95:1-7; Psalm 102:24-26; Isaiah 40:28; Issiah 43:1; Acts 4:24

Jesus: John 1:2-3, 10; Colossians 1:15-18; Hebrews 1:1-3, 10

• Matthew 14:25 Walked on Water

• Luke 8:24 Rebuked the Wind

• In Matthew 4:10 Jesus Himself said "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve"

• Yet In Matthew 8:2; 9:18 and 15:25 He allows people to kneel before Him and call Him Lord

Jesus was Worshiped by the Disciples

• Matthew 28:9 [The disciples] came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

Jesus was Worshiped by Others

• John 9:38 The man born Blind said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

Jesus is Worshiped by Angels

Jesus is God 7

• Hebrews 1:6 Let all God's angels worship him.

God the Father: Matthew 4:10; John 4:24; Revelation 5:14; Revelation 7:11; Revelation 11:16; Revelation 19:4; Revelation 19:10

Jesus: Matthew 14:33; Matthew 28:9; John 9:38; Philippians 2:10-11; Hebrews 1:6

• Matthew 9:2 Jesus said, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."

• Matthew 9:6 "…the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"

• Mark 2:5 "My son, your sins are forgiven."

• Mark 2:10 "The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"

• Luke 5:20 Jesus said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

• Luke 5:24 "the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"

• Luke 7:47-50 Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven." Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"

• Acts 5:31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

• Col. 3:13 the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

God the Father: Exodus 34:6-7; Nehemiah 9:17; Daniel 9:9; Jonah 4:2

Jesus: Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:1-12; Acts 26:18; Colossians 2:13; Colossians 3:13

• John 10:17-18 I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."

• Rev. 1:18 [I am] the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

One of the many "cut & paste" objections unbelievers levy against God and His Word is this: "Jesus never claimed to be God."

Truth: The Bible does not record Jesus saying these words in a single sentence: "I am God."

Truth: Jesus repeatedly asserted He was and is God, and that is why the Jewish religious leaders sought to murder Him (Mark 14:60-64; Luke 22:66-71; John 8:48-59; John 9:35-41;John 10:30-33).

The Bible is replete with the words of Jesus and the words about Jesus, which clearly show (to those who are not spiritually blind), that God the Father and Jesus (God the Son) are one in essence and character while, at the same time unique in their personage. God the Father and God the Son, along with God the Holy Spirit, comprise the Trinity of God. God is one God in three Persons.

What follows was compiled by Mark Spence and published as part of Lesson 49 of The School of Biblical Evangelism. Feel free to copy and paste this into a Word document and size it to fit inside your Bible. The next time someone foolishly challenges the deity of Jesus, you will be all-the-more equipped to give the reason for the hope that is in you.

God the Father: Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 32:39

Jesus: John 8:24; John 8:58; John 18:4-6

God the Father: Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 45:6-7

Jesus: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1, 14; John 20:28; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1; Matthew 1:23; 1 John 5:20

God the Father: Psalm 95:3; Isaiah 43:15; 1 Timothy 6:14-16

Jesus: Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16

God the Father: Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 50:4, 6; Psalm 58:11; Psalm 75:7; Psalm 96:13

Jesus: John 5:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Timothy 4:1

God the Father: Psalm 130:7-8; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 48:17; Isaiah 49:26; Isaiah 54:5

Jesus: Acts 20: 28; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12

God the Father: Isaiah 45:24

Jesus: Jeremiah 23:6; Romans 3:21

God the Father: Isaiah 54:5; Hosea 2:16

Jesus: Matthew 25:1; Mark 2:18-19; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-32; Revelation 21:2, 9

God the Father: Genesis 2:7; Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6

Jesus: John 5:21; John 10:28; John 11:25

God the Father: Exodus 15:26

Jesus: Acts 9:34

God the Father: Genesis 1:1

Jesus: John 1:15, 30; John 3:13, 31-32; John 6:62; John 16:28; John 17:5

God the Father: Psalm 102:26-27; Habakkuk 3:6

Jesus: Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; John 8:58

God the Father: “Thus saith the Lord…” -- used hundreds of times in Scripture

Jesus: Matthew 23:34-37; John 3:5; John 7:46; Every time Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say…”

God the Father: "Whom you crucified..." Acts 2:24; 2:31-32; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14

Jesus: "Destroy this Temple..." John 2:19-22; John 10:17-18; Matthew 27:40

God the Father: Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah 48:11

Jesus: Hebrews 13:21; John 17:5

Are there multiple “Gods” as this verse implies, or is there only one as Deut. 6:4 states: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one”?

There is only one true God, the Creator of heaven and earth. The Bible teaches that God is Triune by nature. He exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—one God in three divine, co-equal Persons. For example, Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ, God the Son, was preexistent before He was manifest in human form: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1,2,14). Jesus said of Himself, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30).

For verses mentioning the three Persons of the Trinity, see Matt. 3:16,17; John 14:26; 15:26; 2 Cor. 13:14; Gal. 4:4–6; 1 Pet. 1:2; .

Matthew 3:16-17  16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened[a] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

John 14:26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 15:26 “But I will send you the Advocate[a]—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.

2 Corinthians 13:14  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Galatians 4:4-6 - 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

1 Peter 1:2  God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:5-6 - 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Colossians 1:15-16 - 15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

Hebrews 1:1-3 - 1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

Titus 3:4-6 - 4 But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Isaiah 43:11  - I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior.

Isaiah 43:10 “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be.

Isaiah 45:21 Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the Lord? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me.

Luke 1:47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

Luke 1:69 He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David,

Luke 2:11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

Titus 2:13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

Matthew 23:34 “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.

Isaiah 43:10 “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be.

2 Peter 1:1 This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

US in the old testament, a plurality of persons [no examples in old testament of Monarchs using "us" as in royal I, King ][ He is not speaking to angels since we are not created in their likeness]

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Genesis 3:22  Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings[a] have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!”

Genesis 11:7 Come, let’s [let us] go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

God or Lord calling God or Lord

Psalm 45:6-7 - 6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. 7 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

At the Right Hand

Psalm 110:1  The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

Matthew 22:41-46 - 41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “He is the son of David.” 43 Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said,

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

Sit in the place of honor at my right hand

    until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’[a]

45 Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”

Isaiah 63:10  10 But they rebelled against him and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he became their enemy and fought against them.46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Surprisingly, some skeptics claim that Jesus didn't exist, though to do so they have to reject the entire New Testament historical record. The New Testament contains hundreds of references to Jesus Christ, and in terms of ancient manuscript evidence, this is extraordinarily strong proof of the existence of a man named Jesus of Nazareth in the early first century A.D.

While skeptics may choose to reject the Bible’s moral message, they cannot deny its historical accuracy. Over 25,000 archaeological finds demonstrate that the people, places, and events mentioned in the Bible are real and are accurately described. No archaeological finding has ever refuted the Bible. In fact, the descriptions in the Bible have often led archaeologists to amazing discoveries. Non-Christian journalist Jeffery Sheler, author of the book Is the Bible True?, concluded, “In extraordinary ways, modern archaeology is affirming the historical core of the Old and New Testaments, supporting key portions of crucial biblical stories.”

In addition, a surprising amount of information about Jesus can be drawn from secular historical sources. According to Richard M. Fales, “Writings confirming His birth, ministry, death, and resurrection include Flavius Josephus (A.D. 93), the Babylonian Talmud (A.D. 70–200), Pliny the Younger’s letter to the Emperor Trajan (approx. A.D. 100), the Annals of Tacitus (A.D. 115–117), Mara Bar Serapion (sometime after A.D. 73), and Suetonius’ Life of Claudius and Life of Nero (A.D. 120).”

The first-century Roman Tacitus, considered one of the more accurate historians of the ancient world, mentioned superstitious “Christians,” named after Christus (Latin for Christ), who was executed by Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius. Suetonius, chief secretary to Emperor Hadrian, wrote of a man named Chrestus (Christ) who lived during the first century (Roman Annals 15.44). Renowned Jewish historian Josephus wrote:

Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man [if it be lawful to call him a man], for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. [He was the Messiah.] And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him [for he appeared to them alive again at the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him]. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this date.

Son of Man

A favorite title of Jesus that He used as a self-designation, was the “Son of Man”. This word can be used in 2 ways in the Bible, especially the OT. The first way it can be used is to mean just a human being as it used in Ezekiel 2:1 (used throughout Ezekiel), and Daniel 8:17. The second way it can be used is to refer to a heavenly divine being mentioned in Daniel 7:13-14. How did Jesus use that term? He used it the way Daniel 7:13-14 used it. The text of Daniel 7:13-14 reads,

13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

 Notice Jesus’ words at His trial:

61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" 62 And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" And they all condemned him as deserving death (Mark 14:61-64; italics mine)

Notice the question to Jesus also included “Are you the Son of the Blessed? [a substitute term for ‘God’]”. Notice Jesus answered,“ I am”. Jesus understood Himself to be the Son of God in this passage. Notice he is charged with “blasphemy. Blasphemy which included claiming to be God brought the death penalty (Leviticus 24:16). The reference to “coming with the clouds” is interesting as this term was used only of a divine being.

Cumulative Evidence and the Case for God’s Existence - See more at: http://coldcasechristianity.com/2013/cumulative-evidence-and-the-case-for-gods-existence-free-bible-insert/#sthash.3HeFZgjX.dpuf

My cold cases are typically built on circumstantial evidence. Cumulative circumstantial cases are incredibly powerful when considered in their totality; the more diverse the forms of evidence (and the more abundant their existence), the more reasonable the conclusion. As jurors consider these large collections of evidence implicating a particular suspect, they must ask themselves a simple question: “Could this guy just be incredibly unlucky, or is he the cause of all this evidence because he is truly guilty?” The more the evidence repeatedly points to the defendant, the less likely it is merely a matter of coincidence. The cumulative case for God’s existence is similarly powerful. There are a number of circumstantial lines of evidence pointing to the existence of God, and the diverse, collective nature of this evidence is most reasonably explained by the existence of a Creator. This month, we’re featuring a free downloadable Bible insert summarizing a brief cumulative case for God’s existence, built on just five lines of circumstantial evidence:

(1) The Temporal Nature of the Cosmos (Cosmological)

   (a) The Universe began to exist     This by the way is described in the Bible.

   (b) Anything that begins to exist must have a cause

   (c) Therefore, the Universe must have a cause

   (d) This cause must be eternal (uncaused), non-spatial, immaterial, atemporal, and personal (having the ability to willfully cause the beginning of the universe) 

   (e) The cause fits the description we typically assign to God and is described in the Bible

(2) The Appearance of Design (Teleological)

   (a) Human artifacts (like watches) are products of intelligent design

   (b) Many aspects and elements of our universe resemble human artifacts

   (c) Like effects typically have like causes

   (d) Therefore, it is highly probable the appearance of design in the Universe is simply the reflection of an intelligent designer

   (e) Given the complexity and expansive nature of the Universe, this designer must be incredibly intelligent and powerful (God)

(3) The Existence of Objective Moral Truth (Axiological)

   (a) There is an objective (transcendent) moral law

   (b) Every law has a law giver

   (c) Therefore, there is an objective (transcendent) moral law giver

   (d) The best explanation for this objective (transcendent) law giver is God

(4) The Existence of Absolute Laws of Logic (Transcendent)

   (a) The laws of logic exist

       i. The laws of logic are conceptual laws

       ii. The laws of logic are transcendent

       iii. The laws of logic pre-existed humans

   (b) All conceptual laws reflect the mind of a law giver

   (c) The best and most reasonable explanation for the kind of mind necessary for the existence of the transcendent, objective, conceptual laws of logic is a transcendent, objective, eternal Being (God)

(5) The Unique Nature of Our World and Universe (Anthropic)

   (a) Our universe appears uniquely designed so:

       i. Life can exist

       ii. This same life can examine the universe

   (b) This unique design cannot be the result of random chance or unguided probabilities

   (c) There is, therefore, a God who designed the universe to support human life and reveal His existence as creator of the Cosmos

This brief list is intended as a recap and reminder (squeezed into the size of a Bible insert). Fuller descriptions of these arguments are available at PleaseConvinceMe.com and I’ll be writing about this evidence more robustly here at Cold Case Christianity in 2014. For now, however, this short summary should at least remind us of the power of cumulative cases. Theists have many good reasons to infer rationally to the existence of God. Our case is as robust and diverse as any successful cold case prosecution.

- See more at: http://coldcasechristianity.com/2013/cumulative-evidence-and-the-case-for-gods-existence-free-bible-insert/#sthash.CbjKOjDY.dpuf

Physicist Gerald Schroeder on Scientific Evidence for God’s Existence

click here 

Here is a clip from Gerald Schroeder who holds a doctorate in physics from MIT and has been on staff at the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Volcani Research Institute, the Hebrew University. In this video he gives an incredible explanation on the existence of G-d based on the laws of physics and nature. It all makes sense. You just need to follow his train of thought (not so simple!).

Note that Schroeder says even if we did have evidence God created the universe, we would then need to discuss God’s involvement in the creation. And even though he doesn’t mention it, that’s where we enter into the domain of historical apologetics. See our resources here.

Once we show nature is not all there is, we can show miracles are actual and possible. Note: See John Earman. Hume’s Abject Failure: The Argument against Miracles.  

The Old Testament explains:

The reality of original sin: it is seen in the reality of life and all around the world.

The emergence and present existence of Israel

Predictive prophecy: (i.e., timing of coming of Messiah (Gen. 49:8-12; Deut. 18:15-18; Dan. 9; Haggai 2); Gen 12:1-3: 

Forming of Israel will lead to Jewish Messiah who will enable millions of non-Jews to come to know the one true God; manner of Messiah’s death and rejection: (Isa. 52:13-53:2; Psalm 22); divinity of Messiah (Gen. 49:8-12: Dan 7:13-14; Isa. 9:1-9).

Objection: Killing of Cannanites, etc.  slavery issue, need to employ hermeneutics.

The New Testament explains:

Messiah’s first coming 

We can detect God’s work in human history and apply historical tests to the Bible or any other religious book .

The late Anthony Flew said the resurrection of Jesus was the best attested miracle claim that he had seen. Perhaps the most reasonable expectation is to ask where God has broken through in human history.

Miracles performed in connection with a truth claim are acts of God to confirm the truth of God through a messenger of God

The structure of the argument may be formalized as follows: Read a fuller form  from the book In Defense of the Bible: A Comprehensive Apologetic for the Authority of Scripture here:

(1)  The New Testament documents are historically reliable evidence

(2) The historical evidence of the New Testament shows that Jesus is God incarnate/the Jewish Messiah.  God authenticated Jesus’ teaching/ claim to divinity by His miracles/His messianic speaking authority, His messianic actions, and His resurrection .

(3)  Hence, Jesus is God incarnate.

(4) Jesus (i.e., God incarnate) taught that the Old Testament is divinely inspired, and he promised the inspiration of the New Testament through his apostles.

(5) Therefore, the Bible (both Old and New Testaments) is divinely inspired.

10 Biblical Reasons Jesus Is God

by Simon Turpin on August 8, 2017

https://answersingenesis.org/jesus-christ/jesus-is-god/10-biblical-reasons-jesus-is-god/?utm_content=buffera26c3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Abstract

At a crucial point in his ministry, Jesus asked his disciples,“Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). The answer to this question is more important than anything else. Nevertheless, today, just as in Jesus’ day, when Christians ask people the question “who do you say Jesus is?” there are various answers given concerning his identity. But what does the New Testament tell us about who Jesus is?

Introduction

Understanding the deity of Jesus is fundamental in defending the truth of the Christian faith.

All major religions1 and cultic groups2 reject the doctrine of deity of Christ. Some of these objections are a result of rationalism (“reason” is supreme, not God) over revelation or a misunderstanding of what the doctrine teaches. Another more common objection results from revisionist history, which claims that Christ’s deity was invented at the Council of Nicaea in the 4th century3 and not something believed by the early church.4

The reason Christians believe in the deity of Jesus is that we are forced to come to this conclusion by the clear teaching of Scripture. It is important to get Jesus’ identity because if we deny the deity of Jesus then we do not have the Father (1 John 2:23; cf. John 5:23). Here are 10 Scriptural reasons for the deity of Jesus.

1: The Bible Teaches That There Is One True God

This is important to understand because many objectors to the deity of Jesus misunderstand what Christians believe about the Trinity. Christians believe what the Bible teaches—that there is only one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4; cf. 1 Corinthians 8:6). However, we must not confuse monotheism (belief in one God) with Unitarianism (the belief that the being of God is shared by one person). Jesus’ divinity is part of the doctrine of the Trinity, which states that within the one Being that is God, there exists eternally three co-equal and co-eternal persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each is a distinct person, yet each is identified as God: the Father (1 Corinthians 8:6), the Son (John 1:1–3; Romans 9:5), and the Spirit (Acts 5:3–4). We must also remember that it wasn’t the Father or the Spirit who became incarnate; it was the Son (John 1:14) and he was born under the Law (Galatians 4:4). This is why, in his humanity, Jesus prays to the Father (Matthew 26:39, 42).5

The doctrine of the Trinity is revealed between the Old and New Testaments through the incarnation of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.6 God did not change between the Old and New Testaments, being a Unitarian God in the Old and a Trinitarian God in the New. God has always been Triune, but the specific revelation of the divinity of Jesus takes place in the New Testament.7

2: The Bible Teaches That Jesus Pre-Existed Before The World Was

The New Testament in several passages clearly teaches that Jesus existed in eternity past before his birth in Bethlehem.

Genesis 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In John 1:1 we read the same words, “In the beginning.”8 John informs us in John 1:1 that in the beginning was the Word (logos) and that the Word was not only with God but was God. This Word is the one who brought all things into being at creation (John 1:3). John 1:1 teaches that the Word is eternal, the Word has had an eternal relationship with the Father, and the Word as to His nature is deity.

In his prayer in John 17:3–5 Jesus both refers to his pre-existence and uses terminology that can only be used about deity:

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

To have eternal life is to know two persons: both the Father and Jesus (see John 14:6-7; 16:3). But notice, Jesus is distinguished from the Father because Jesus is the one speaking to the Father. The personal pronouns (me, your, you) clearly show that this is one person speaking to another. In this conversation, the Son is speaking of the glory he has shared with the Father before the world was; the words “in your own presence” refer to their sharing of divine glory.9 John 17:3–5 is not an example of the “human side” praying to the “divine side” but of a divine, yet incarnate (John 1:14) person, the Son, communicating with a divine, but non-incarnate person, the Father in heaven.

Paul’s words in Philippians 2:5–8 teach not only the deity of Jesus but also the distinct personhood of the Son prior to his incarnation.10 In this passage, Paul exhorts the Philippians to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus who “existed in the form of God.”11 These words come before the verbs emptied, taking, and becoming and point to the pre-existence of the one “existing in the form of God.”12 Moreover, Jesus did not regard13 the equality he had with God the Father, in eternity past, something to be held on to. Instead he “made himself nothing”14 by doing two things: taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men.15 Having entered into human existence he humbled himself to death on the Cross. Because of this, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10–11); it is only God who is to be worshipped as Lord (see Isaiah 45:23).

3: Jesus Is Creator Not Creature

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Paul’s statement in Colossians 1:15 that the “firstborn of all creation” teaches that Jesus was a created being. However, the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ teaching resembles the view of the ancient Colossian heresy that Paul had to combat.

The Colossian false teachers advocated the idea that Jesus was the first of many other created mediators between God and men. By using the specific Greek word prōtotokos, “firstborn,” Paul rules out the idea of Jesus as a created being. “Firstborn” does not mean “first created.” Rather, Paul uses a term that was based on the ancient designation of the authority, or pre-eminence, metaphorically given to the firstborn (Genesis. 49:3–4; Exodus 4:22). In the same way, David, the youngest of Jesse, was named “firstborn” (Psalm 89:20–27) who ruled Israel. Manasseh was born to Joseph first, but Ephraim, his younger brother, was “firstborn” due to his position as given by Jacob/Israel (Genesis 48:13–20, Jeremiah 31:9).

Furthermore, if Paul had wanted to describe Jesus as a created being, he could have used the Greek word protoktistos, which means “first created.”16 So why didn’t he use it? Because Paul did not believe Jesus was created. By describing Jesus as the “firstborn over all creation,” Paul is saying that he is the absolute ruler over all creation.

In fact, the evidence that Jesus is supreme over all creation comes in Colossians 1:16. Here, Paul absolutely rules out the idea that Jesus is a created being because he presents Jesus as the Creator of the entire universe which exists by his creative power (John 1:1–3; Hebrews 1:2, 8–10). The reason Jesus can “create all things” is that “in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). The Greek word for “Godhead,” theotēs, refers to “the state of being God.”17 It is only God who can create (Isaiah 42:5, 44:24, 45:18).

4: Jesus Identifies Himself as Divine

At the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths in his encounter with the Pharisees (John 8:13), Jesus told them, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). The Jewish people reacted to Jesus’ statement by asking him, “Who are you?” (John 8:25).

Jesus told the Jews exactly who he is: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). This “I am” (ego eimi) statement was Jesus’ clearest example of His proclamation, “I am Yahweh,” from its background in the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 41:4; 43:10–13, 25; 46:4; 48:12; cf. John 13:19).

These are the very words (ego eimi) ) that caused the Roman soldiers to fall to the ground after they came to arrest Jesus (John 18:6). Jesus’ explicit identification of himself with Yahweh of the Old Testament is why the Jewish leaders wanted to stone him for blasphemy (see John 5:18; 10:33).

5: The Apostles Identified Jesus as Divine

Both Jesus and his apostles identified him as divine. The Apostle Peter described Jesus as “our God and Savior” (2 Peter 1:1; cf. Titus 2:13) and called on believers to “honor Christ the Lord as holy” (1 Peter 3:15).18 Jesus’ own half-brother James, who was an unbeliever at first (John 7:5), described him as “the Lord of glory” (James 2:1; cf. 1 Corinthians 2:8; Psalm 24:7–8). What man or prophet could be described in this way? The Apostle John also attributed titles to Jesus that were used only of God by describing him as the “Alpha and Omega” and the “first and the last” (Revelation 22:13; 1:8, 17–18; cf. Isaiah 44:6). The writer of the book of Hebrews also has insight into the identity of Jesus In Hebrews 1, the author identifies Jesus (the Son) as superior to any prophet (vv. 1–2), above the angels (v. 5), worthy of our worship (vv. 6–8; cf. Psalm 45:6–7), and the creator of all things who is unchangeable (vv. 2–3, 10; cf. Psalm 102:25). The author of Hebrews further states that Jesus is “seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2; cf. Acts 2:30).

6: The Jewish Leaders Recognized Jesus’ Claim to Divinity

One of the clearest evidences of the deity of Jesus is the Jewish leaders’ reaction to Jesus’ words and actions. In Mark 2, Jesus not only heals a paralytic but also forgives his sins (Mark 2:5). This is the reason that the scribes cry blasphemy, for it is God alone who can forgive sins (Mark 2:7).19

In his trial before the Sanhedrin Jesus is once again charged with blasphemy because of his response to the high priest’s question: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (Mark 14:61) Jesus responded, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62). Then the high priest tore his clothes, charged Jesus with blasphemy, and condemned him to death (Mark 14:64). Why did the high priest respond that way? Because Jesus quoted from Psalm 110:1and Daniel 7:13–14 and applied the words to himself. In Daniel 7 the divine Son of Man comes before the Ancient of Days, and all peoples and nations serve20 him. The Pharisees recognize Jesus’ divine claim here and charge him with blasphemy, intending to put him to death.

7: The Early Church in the New Testament Prayed to Jesus

Prayer is something that should be addressed to God alone, but Jesus calls his disciples to pray to him (John 14:13–14; 16:26). In the book of Acts when Stephen is being stoned to death, he calls out to the Lord Jesus to receive his sprit (Acts 7:59). Interestingly, the term for “calling on” (epikaloumenon) recalls the appeal of Peter to the people in Acts 2:21 to “call on” (epikaleshtai) the Lord to be saved. Paul also describes the Corinthians as those who “call upon [epikaleo] the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:2). In the Old Testament, people “called on” on the name of Yahweh (Joel 2:32). The Corinthians were people who addressed Jesus as Lord in prayer.

8: The Early Church in the New Testament Worshipped Jesus

Jesus accepted worship from people (Matthew 2:2, 14:33, 28:9). One of the greatest examples of this comes from the lips of Thomas when he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). If Jesus was not divine, then Thomas made a serious error; but Jesus made no effort to correct Thomas in his worship. Yet Peter (Acts 10:25–26), Paul (Acts 14:14–15), and the angel in Revelation (Revelation 22:8,9) all corrected others for trying to worship them. The confession of deity here is unmistakable, clearly demonstrating that worship belongs only to God (Revelation 22:9) because Jesus accepted Thomas’s worship of him (John 20:29).

What’s more, in the book of Revelation, the elders and every creature in heaven and upon earth ascribe universal worship to “him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb” (Revelation 5:11–14; cf. John 1:29).

9: Jesus Made Claims That No Human Being Could Ever Make

Jesus not only identified as God, but he also indicated his deity through his words and actions. Jesus said that to enter the Kingdom of Heaven we must call him Lord (kurios, Romans 10:9; cf. Matthew 7:21). Just saying that Jesus is Lord does not get you into the Kingdom, but to enter the Kingdom you must confess Him as Lord.21 The entrance into God’s Kingdom, according to Jesus, is dependent upon a person’s knowledge of him and his reciprocal knowledge of the person (Matthew 7:23).

Jesus even promised rest to all those who come to Him (Matthew 11:28). Could Moses have ever made a claim like this? No! How could a human being give anyone rest from the Law?22 Jesus also claimed, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). God never gave any man or prophet all authority in heaven and on earth, but this same authority was given to the Son of Man in Daniel 7:13–14 (see also Matthew 26:64).

10: Jesus Is the Son of God

It is often pointed out that the words “Son of God” are not an exclusive title for Jesus. For example, in the Old Testament Israel was called God’s son (Exodus 4:22–23; Hosea 11:1), the king was called God’s son (Psalm 2:7), and the angels were called God’s sons (Job 38:7). Even in the New Testament, Adam and believers are referred to as son/s of God (Luke 3:38; Romans 8:14).

There is, however, a difference between an adopted son and a relational Son of God, the latter being a deity by nature. More than anyone else who has walked this earth, Jesus the Messiah is uniquely entitled to be called the Son of God (John 1:49, 11:27) – “the unique One, who is himself God” (monogenēs theos – see John 1:18 NLT).23

In Jesus’ trial before Pilate, the Jewish leaders clearly understood that Jesus’ use of this term was not just generic, for they wanted him put to death: “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God” (John 19:7; cf. John 10:36). According to the Law, it was blasphemy to use God’s name (Leviticus 24:16). Therefore, by referring to himself as the Son of God, Jesus was claiming to share “the rights and authority of God himself (cf. [John] 1:34; 5:19–30).”24 People who say that Jesus never claimed to be God must answer why he was crucified on the charge of blasphemy. Whatever Jesus said about himself must have been sufficiently provocative enough for the Jewish leaders to call for capital punishment on that charge of blasphemy.

The significance of this is that failure to believe in Jesus as the Son of God brings judgement because we are already dead in our sins (see John 3:18, Ephesians 2:1), but believing in Jesus as the Son of God brings eternal life (see John 3:15–17, 6:40, 20:31).

Conclusion

Although there may be many objections to Jesus’ deity, the New Testament clearly provides eye-witness testimony to the words, actions, and teachings of Jesus that prove his deity. A false Jesus cannot save you. If we do not get the identity of Jesus right, we will die in our sin (John 8:24).

Footnotes

Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and others.

Mormons, Oneness Pentecostalism, Unitarianism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Christadelphians.

This myth has been popularized by Dan Brown’s book (and film) The Da Vinci Code.

This claim is clearly contradicted not only by the Scripture but by the statements of the early Church. For example, the early church Father Ignatius Bishop of Antioch (AD 35–108, who was a disciple of John the Apostle) taught the divinity of Jesus: “There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first possible and then impossible, even Jesus Christ our Lord. . . . But our Physician is the only true God, the unbegotten and unapproachable, the Lord of all, the Father and Begetter of the only-begotten Son. We have also as a Physician the Lord our God, Jesus the Christ, the only-begotten Son and Word, before time began, but who afterwards became also man, of Mary the virgin.” The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Chapter VII “Beware of False Teachers,” http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-ephesians-longer.html).

A classic objection to the deity of Jesus is why does he pray to God if he is God? As if to say that he is praying to himself. But again this confuses the doctrine of the Trinity because Christians do not believe Jesus is the Father. Jesus, as the incarnate Son, would have continued the relationship with the Father that he enjoyed before the world was (John 17:5).

See James White, The Forgotten Trinity: Recovering the Heart of Christian Belief (Bethany House Publishers: Minnesota, 1998), 165–168.

At the same time, Jesus is identified in the in the Old Testament by the Apostles (John 12:41 refers to Isaiah 6:1–3; Hebrews 1:5–6 refers to Psalm 2:7; Acts 8:32–35 refers to Isaiah 53).

Which follows the Septuagint translation of Genesis 1:1.

God does not share His glory with another (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11).

Oneness Pentecostals and Unitarians say that this passage refers to the time of Jesus’ human ministry.

In verse 6 the present participle “being” or “existing” (ὑπάρχω huparcho) points to Jesus’ eternal existence in the “form of God.”

See G. W. Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians: The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: W. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2009), 134.

To regard or consider is something a person does, not something a concept does.

It is debatable from a lexical standpoint whether “emptied himself,” (NASB) or “made Himself of no reputation,” (NKJV) are even the best translations. The NIV/TNIV translation “made himself nothing” is probably more supportable. See Moises Silva, Philippians: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. 2nd ed (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2005) 105; Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, 149.

Jesus did not cease to be in the form of God in the incarnation, but taking on the form of a servant He became the God-man. Jesus did not give up His divine nature. He may have given up or suspended the use of some of His divine privileges, for example: omnipresence or the glory that He had with the Father in heaven (John 17:5), but not His divine power or knowledge.

See Bruce M. Metzger, “The Jehovah’s Witness and Jesus Christ: A Biblical and Theological Appraisal,” Theology Today 10, no. 1 (April 1953): 77.

Joseph H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Massachusetts, 2007), 288.

Peter is drawing from the Old Testament in Isaiah 8:13 where the term “Lord” in the LXX refers directly to “Yahweh of Hosts” as being honored.

Some argue that sins could be pronounced forgiven by God’s representatives (i.e., priest). However, “Jesus was not a priest, no one had offered sacrifice, and the scribes had heard no basis for the pronouncement of forgiveness, not even clear indication of repentance.” Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 140.

The LXX translates the Hebrew word for serve (pelach) פְּלַח as λατρεύουσα, which refers to the highest form of religious worship.

Those who confess Jesus as Lord are those who do the will of the Father (see Matthew 12:50).

In the first century, the Law of Moses was also known as the yoke of the Torah. Jesus’ yoke is lighter because he bears the load of the Law for us.

This reading of monogenēs theos “is supported by the best mss (P66 א *BC*L), and the reading with theos is also supported by P75 אc, though both include the definite article before theos.” See Grant Osborne, The Gospel of John: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Tyndale House Publishers: Illinois, 2007), 21.

D. A. Caron, The Gospel According to John: The Pillar New Testament Commentary (W. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids 

Michigan, 1991), 599.

Significance of the Resurrection:

Proves that Jesus is God's Son - John 10:17-18

Verifies the Truth of Scripture - Psalms 16:10, 110:1

Assures our own future resurrection - 1 Thes. 4:13-18

Proof of future judgment Acts 17:31

Basis for Christ's heavenly priesthood Heb 7:23-28

Gives power for Christian living Rom 6:4

Assures our future inheritance 1 Peter 1:3-5

Isaiah lived and wrote what the Lord said 700 years before Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:3-11

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,[a]

    he did not think of equality with God

    as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

    he took the humble position of a slave

    and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

8     he humbled himself in obedience to God

    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

    and gave him the name above all other names,