Proofs for the Deity of Christ

Proofs for the Deity of Christ

Proofs for the Deity of Christ

Jesus Proclaimed in the Bible to be God

Jesus Possesses Divine Attributes

Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament

Objections to the Deity of Christ and Answers

  1. Jesus is referred to as Firstborn, therefore, he is created
  2. Jesus said the Father was greater
  3. Jesus was only a ‘god’
  4. Jesus is Michael the archangel – Therefore, he is not God
  5. Jesus is not God but a mediator between God and men
  6. Jesus is not one God with the Father
  7. Jesus is the Son of God, not God the son
  8. Only Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting
  9. No one has ever seen God – Since Jesus has been seen, he cannot be God

 

Jesus Proclaimed in the Bible to be God:

  • The True and Only God- 1 John 5:20 w/ Is. 43:10, 45:5, 22
  • Mighty God- Is. 9:6 2/ Jer. 32:18, Is 40:10
  • Jesus is God- John 1:1 w/ Is. 43:10, Deut. 32:39, 1 Cor. 8: 4-6, Is. 45:4, 22
  • Immanuel (God With Us) – Mat. 1:23, w/ Is. 7:14, 8:8-10
  • Jesus is Lord and God- 2 Pet. 1:1, Titus 2:13-14, Heb. 1:8, John 20:24-29 w/ Ps. 35:23
  • Fullness of deity in Jesus- Col. 2:9, 1:19, John 1:16
  • Jesus and Father are one- John 10:30, 38, 17:20-22
  • Equal to God- John 5:15-18, Phil 2:6

Jesus Possesses Divine Attributes:

  • Jesus is Image of God- Col 1:15, 2 Cor 4:4, Heb. 1:3, John 12:45, 1 Tim. 3:16, John 14:7, 10 w/Is. 46:9
  • Authority to take life back, Jesus gives life/ light- John 1:4, 11:25, 14:6, 17:2, John 10:18, Acts 2:24, Ro 10:9
  • David called Him (Jesus) Lord- Mk 12:35-37, Lk 20:41-44, Mat 16:13-16, 21:9-15, 22:41-46, John 11:27
  • Parallels between Son and the Father- John 5:23, 8:19, 24, 14:1-9, Mat. 11:27, 1 Cor 8:6
  • Trinitarian Events/ formulas- Lk. 1:35, Mat 3:16, 28:19, 1 Cor 12:4-6, 2 Cor 13:14
  • Jesus is prayed to- Acts 7:59, John 14:14, 2 Pet 3:18
  • Jesus has Self- Existence- John 2:19, 10:127-18, 5:26
  • Jesus is Eternal- 1 John 1:2, John 17:5,24 Heb. 1:12, 13:8, Ps 102:26-27
  • Jesus is Omnipresent- Mat 18:20, 2:20, John 3:13
  • Jesus is Omniscient- Mat 9:4, 12:25, Mk. 2:8, Lk 6:8
  • Jesus in Omnipotent- Mat 28:18, Lk 21:15, John 1:3
  • Jesus in Unchangeable- Heb 1:11-12, 13:8
  • Jesus in Holy- John 6:69, 8:466, Mat 27:3-4, Lk 23:22, 41
  • Compare as God to angels- Heb 1:3-14
  • Only God is good- Mk. 10:17-18, lk 18:18-19, Mat 19:17
  • They will reign together- Rev 22:5
  • The Lord’s name is one – Zech 14:9
  • Creator- John 1:3, Col 1:15-17, Heb 1:10 w/ Gen 1:1, Is. 40:28, Job 33:4, and Is 40:13,16, Is 45:12, 42:5, Ps 102:25, Ex 20:11, w/ Heb 1:10-12
  • Thy throne is forever- Heb 1:8-98, Ps 45: 6-7, 93:2
  • God forgives sins- Acts 5:41, Lk 5:20-24, Mk 2:6-72/ Is 43:23
  • Lord only to be worshipped- John 9:35-41, Heb 1:6 2/ Ps 97:5-7, Rev 5:11-14, 22:9, Mat 14:33, 15:25, 20:20, 28: 91, Lk 24:52, 2 Cor 12:8-9,w/ Ex 20:3, 34:14

Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament:

  • Lord is I AM- John 8:24, 58, 13:19, 18:5 w/ Is 443:10, Deut 32:39, Ex 3:13-14, Is 41:4, 43:13 46:4, 48:12
  • Lord is First and the Last, Beginning and End- Col 1:18, Rev 1:17, 2:8, 3:14, 21:6, 22:13 w/ Is 44:6, 48:12, 41:4
  • Lord is the Rock- 1 Cor 10:4, Is 8:14, Eph 2:20, 1 Pet 2:6 2/ Ex 17:6, Is 17:10, 2 Sam 22:32, Deut 32:4, Ps 19:14, 31:3 (see stumbling block below)
  • Jesus (Lord) is a stumbling block – Is 8:13-14 2/ 1Pet 2:8, Ro 9:32, 33, 1 Cor 1:23 Gal 5:11
  • Lord is savior – Acts 2:21, 4:12, 5:31, 13:23, Eph 5:23, Phil 3:20, 2 Tim 1:10, Titus 1:4, 2:13, 3:6, 2 Pet 1:11, 2:20, 3:2, 18, 1 John 4:14, Lk 2:11, John 4:42, Ro 10:9, Jude 25 w/ Ps 106:21, Hos 13:4, Is 45:5, 21, 43:3, 11-13, 41:4, 48:12
  • Lord is Judge – 2 Tim 4:1, John 5:22, 27, 2 Cor 5:10, Ro 14:10 w/ Gen 18:25, Joel 3:12
  • Lord is Light – John 8:12, 1:9, Lk 2:32, Rev 21:13 w/ Ps 27:1, Is 60:20, Micah 7:8
  • Lord is Creator – John 1:3, Col 1:15-17, Heb 1:10 w/ Gen 1:1, Is. 40:28, Job 33:4
  • Lord’s hand Created- Is 40:13, 16, Is 45:12, 42:5, Ps 102:25,  Ex 20:11 2/ Heb 1:10-12
  • Lord made the heavens – Heb 1:10-12, w/ PS 102:24-27
  • Lord of Lords – Rev 17:14, 19:16, 1 Tim 6:14-16 w/ Ps 136:1-3, Deut 10:17
  • The Lord is a Branch – Jer 23:5-6, Eze 34:23, Is 4:2, 11:1-5, 53:L2, Jer 30:9, 33:15-16, Zech 3:8, 6:12-13
  • Voice in wilderness clearing / preparing the way for the Lord – Mat 3:3, Lk 3:4, Mk 1:2-3, John 1:23, 3:28 w/ Is 40:3, Mal 3:1, Mat 11:10
  • Lord was pierced – Zech 12:10, John 19:37, Rev 1:7
  • Lord searches hearts – Rev 2:23 w/ 1 Ki 8:39, Ps 7:9, Jer 17:10
  • Lord is Holy one and God – Ps 9:6, 10:20-21, 48:17, 49:7 w/ Mk 1:24, Lk 4:34, Acts 2:27, 3:14, 13:435, 1 John 2:20
  • Lord is King – Mat 2:2, Acts 17:7 w/ PS 5:2, 24:10
  • Lord is Redeemer – Is 44:23-24, 41:14, 43:14, 47:4, 48:17, 49:7, 26, 544:5-8, Ruth 4 w/ Gal 3:13, 54:L5, Lk 24:21, Titus 2:14, Rev 5:9, 14:3-4, etc
  • Lord is a Shepherd – 10:11, Heb 13:20, 1 Pet 65:4, Rev 17:17 w/ Ps 23:1, Is 40:11, Eze 34:11- 16,23
  • Lord is Bridegroom – Mat 9:15,25:1,6, Rev 19:7, 21:2,9, Eph 5:25-26, Mk 2:19, John 3:29 w/ 2:16, Is 62:5
  • Lord will not share glory – Is 42:8, 28:11 w/ John 17:1 5,24, 1 Cor 2:8, Mat 17: 1-6, Mk 9:2-8, Lk 9:28-36, 21:17, John 7:39, 13:31-32
  • The Lord is the Name by which we are saved – Joel 2:32, Is 12:4, Ps 105:1, 99:6, Jer 33:3, Is 55:6-7, 58:9, 65:24, Ps 50:15 w/ 1 John 3:23, 5:13, John 20:31, Ro 1:5, 10:9-13, Rev 2:13, 1 Cor 1:2, 6:11Acts 4:12, 2:21
  • Lord s helper – Acts 9:34 w/ Ps 103:3
  • Lord is coming quickly – Rev 22:12-13, 20 w/ Is 40:10
  • Lord will dwell in our midst – Zech 2:8-11 w/ Rev 21:3, Mat 1:23
  • Isaiah saw his glory – John 12:41, Col 1:16 w/ 6:1-3
  • The Lord is our Righteousness – 1 Cor 1:30 w/ Jer 23:5-6
  • Jesus means ‘YHWH saves’ – Mat 1:21
  • Lord only to be worshipped – John 9:35-41, Heb 1:6 w/ Ps 97:5-7, Rev 5:11-14, 22:9, Mat 14:33, 15:23, 20:20, 28:9-17, 24:52, 2 Cor 12:8-9,w/ Ex 20:3, 34:14
  • Every knee shall bow – Phil 2:10, Ro 14:11 w/ Is 45:20-25
  • Lord at right hand – Acts 2:25 w/ Ps 16:8-11

Objections to the Deity of Christ and Answers:

 

  1. Jesus is referred to as Firstborn, therefore, he is created – Rev 3:14, Col 1:15

 

Answer:

  • Col 1:15 is prototokos (firstborn), not protokistos (first-created)
  • Firstborn refers to the fact that is firstborn of the dead (i.e., first resurrected) – see 1 Cor 15:20, Heb 1:6, Rev 1:5, Acts 26:23, Acts 13:33 w/ Ps 2:7, 89:27
  • Rev 3:15- beginning refers to first born from dead (Col 1:16-18).
  • Also, He is the source or beginning (captain, author) of all things – Rev 21:6, 22:13, 12:13-14, Heb 1:10, John 1:1-2, Heb 2:10, 12:1-2, Acts 3:15

 

  1. Jesus said the Father was greater – John 5:19, 8:42, 13:16, 14:28, Lk 22:41-42, 1 Cor 3:23, 11:3, 15:27-28. Also, the Father is referred to as Jesus’ God- John 20:17, 16:1,3, Rev 3:12, 1 Pet 1:3, Mk 15:34 Mat 4:10, Heb 1:9

 

Answer:

  • Jesus is separate in person, but equal in deity John 10:18, Phil 2:6) Saying that the Father is greater or submitting to His will does not prove that Jesus is not God. Jesus serves as an example in submission.

 

  1. Jesus was only a ‘god’ – Is. 9:6, John 1:1, 2 Cor 4:4, John 10:34-36, Ps 82:6

 

Answer:

  • God will have no other ‘god ‘ to share His glory- IS 42:8, 48:11 w/ John 17:1, 5,24, 1 Cor 2:8, Mat 17: 1-6, Mk 9:2-8, Lk 9:28-36, 2 Pet 1:17, John 7:39, 13:31-32. Other ‘gods; in the Bible are either evil (Ps 58:1-2, 95:3, 96:4, 97:7, 1328:1, Ex 20:3, 1 Cor 8:6) or serve as a human representation for judgment (Ex 21:6, 22:8-9,28, Acts 23:5, Ps 82:6)

 

  1. Jesus is Michael the archangel – Therefore, he is not God – Jude 9, Dan 10:13, 12:1, Rev 12:7-8

 

Answer:

  • An angel simply means ‘messenger’. Michael the archangel is a figure of Christ just like David, Solomon, Isaac, Boaz, etc. This does not prove that Jesus is not God. Also, Jesus, as God, is contrasted with angels – Heb 1:3-14

 

  1. Jesus is not God but a mediator between God and men – 1 Tim 2:5

 

Answer:

  • No one besides God himself can mediate- Heb 9:15-18, Gal 3:15-29, Heb 6:13-20

 

  1. Jesus is not one God with the Father – 1 Cor 8:6

 

Answer:

  • In context, this verse emphasizes the oneness of God while affirming that Jesus is also the Lord.
  • Just as Jesus is both mediator (1 Tim 2:5) and testator (Heb 9: 15-18), He is also both Lord and God.
  • Also, the Father is both God an Lord (Ps 136:1-3, Deut 10:17, Eph 4:1-5)

 

  1. Jesus is the Son of God, not God the son – Mat 165:16-17, 1 John 1:34, 3:16-17, 4:15, Lk 1:35, etc

 

Answer:

  • Jesus is separate in person. The term ‘son of god’ doers not prove that Jesus was ‘born’.
  • On the contrary, the Scriptures teach that Jesus is eternal (Col 1:17, John 8:58, 1 John 1:2, John 17:5,24, Heb 1:12, 13:8, Ps 102:26-27) the First and the Last, Beginning and the End (Rev 1:17, 2:8, 3:14, 21:6, 22:13, Col 1:18 w/ Is 44:6, 48:12, 41:4)

 

  1. Only Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting – Ps 90:2, Jer 10:10, Is 40:28, 1 Tim 1:17

 

Answer:

  • Jesus is Jehovah, The First and the Last, Beginning and End- Rev 1:17, 2:8, 3:14, 21:6, 22:13, Col 1:18 w/ Is 44:6, 48:12, 41:4. Jesus is I AM (John 8:58)

 

  1. No one has ever seen God – Since Jesus has been seen, he cannot be God – John 1:18, 6:46, 1 John 4:12, Ex 33:20

 

Answer:

  • No one has seen Jesus’ full glory (i.e., Jesus was humbled) – See Phil 2:5-10, 1 Tim 6:16, John 1:14, 2:11, 14:9, 17:1, 5,22-24, Ex 33:18-23, Jesus is the image of God in the form of a God. Jesus is now glorified and no man can see Him.