2018 Jesus Christ, divinity of

The equality and identity of Jesus Christ as God is clearly stated in the NT, and is also implied by the words and deeds of Jesus Christ. The OT prophecies also point to the divinity of the coming Messiah.

The NT writers affirm Jesus Christ’s divinity

Heb 1:8 See also Ps 45:6; Jn 1:1-2,18; Ro 9:5 NIV footnote has alternative translations: “Christ who is over all. God be for ever praised!” Or: “Christ. God who is over all be for ever praised!”; Php 2:6; Tit 2:13; 2Pe 1:1

Statements which imply Jesus Christ’s divinity

Mt 1:23 See also Isa 7:14; Lk 1:35; Col 1:15; Col 2:2,9; 1Ti 1:17; 1Jn 5:20

Jesus Christ’s unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the Godhead

Mt 28:19 See also Jn 14:16; 2Co 13:14; Eph 1:13-14; Eph 2:18,22; Eph 3:14-17; Eph 4:4-6

Jesus Christ’s eternal nature indicates his divinity

Jesus Christ precedes creation Col 1:17 See also Mic 5:2; Jn 17:5,24; 2Ti 1:9; 1Pe 1:20; 1Jn 1:1; 1Jn 2:13

Jesus Christ is everlasting Jn 8:58 See also Heb 1:12; Ps 102:27; Heb 7:3,24; Heb 13:8; Rev 1:8; Rev 5:13; Rev 22:13

Jesus Christ’s pre-existence indicates his divinity

Jn 6:62 See also Jn 3:13,31; Jn 6:41-42; Jn 13:3; Jn 16:28

Jesus Christ’s manifestation of God’s glory indicates his divinity

Heb 1:3 See also Mt 17:2 pp Mk 9:2-3 pp Lk 9:29; Jn 1:14; 1Co 2:8; 2Co 4:4; Jas 2:1

Jesus Christ’s divinity in the OT

The divinity of the coming Messiah Isa 9:6; Isa 40:3; Jer 23:6; Mal 3:1

NT passages which apply OT passages about God to Jesus Christ Ro 10:13 See also Joel 2:32; Jn 12:40-41; Isa 6:10; Ro 9:33; Isa 8:14; Eph 4:8; Ps 68:18

Jesus Christ’s claims to divinity

He claimed to be one with the Father Jn 5:17-18 See also Jn 10:30-33,36-38; Jn 12:45; Jn 14:7,9-11; Jn 17:11,21

He demonstrated his authority to forgive sin Lk 5:20-24 pp Mt 9:2-6 pp Mk 2:5-10 See also Lk 7:47-48

Jesus Christ’s actions imply his divinity

Mt 8:26-27 pp Mk 4:39-41 pp Lk 8:24-25 See also Mt 12:8 pp Mk 2:28 pp Lk 6:5; Lk 8:39 pp Mk 5:19-20

Jesus Christ’s resurrection confirms his divinity

Ac 2:36 See also Ro 1:4; Php 2:9-11

Jesus Christ’s names and titles point to his divinity

Jesus Christ as judge Jn 5:27 In the OT, final responsibility for judgment is assigned to God. See also Mt 25:31-33; Mk 8:38 pp Mt 16:27 pp Lk 9:26; Ac 17:31; Ro 2:16; 2Co 5:10

Jesus Christ as “I am” Jn 11:25 “I am” is the meaning of God’s name in the OT (see Ex 3:14). See also Jn 6:35; Jn 8:12; Jn 10:7,11; Jn 14:6; Jn 15:1; Jn 18:5-6

Jesus Christ as Saviour Ac 5:31 According to the OT, God alone can save. See also Ac 4:12; Eph 5:23; Heb 7:25

Jesus Christ as Lord Ro 10:9 “Lord” was equivalent to God’s name in the OT. See also Lk 1:43; Lk 2:11; Jn 13:13; 1Co 12:3; 2Co 4:5; Rev 19:16

Jesus Christ as creator Col 1:16 See also Jn 1:3,10; Ac 3:15; Ro 11:36; 1Co 8:6; Heb 1:2,10; Ps 102:25

Jesus Christ as shepherd Heb 13:20 “Shepherd” was a well-known OT name for God. See also Jn 10:11-16; 1Pe 2:25; 1Pe 5:4

Those who recognised Jesus Christ’s divinity

The disciples Jn 20:28 See also Mt 16:16 pp Mk 8:29 pp Lk 9:20

The demons Mk 3:11; Lk 4:41 pp Mk 1:34

The consequences of recognising Jesus Christ’s divinity

Jesus Christ is worshipped as God Lk 24:52 The fact that no-one but God may be worshipped is fundamental to Judaism. See also Mt 2:11; Mt 28:9,17; Jn 9:38; 2Ti 4:18; 2Pe 3:18; Rev 1:5-6; Rev 5:12-13; Rev 7:10

Prayer is addressed to Jesus Christ Ac 7:59-60; Ac 9:13; 1Co 16:22; Rev 22:20

See also