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Does the Bible say Jesus is God?

Part I: An Outline of the New Testament Testimony to the Deity of Christ

This outline does not purport to be in any sense an exhaustive analysis of the NT witness to Christ's deity. Rather it is a sketch of one approach - a rather traditional approach - to this theme. Other complementary or supplementary approaches abound, such as the creative treatment of Jesus' implicit claim to deity in his parables by P. B. Payne or R. T. France's documentation from the Synoptic Gospels of Jesus' assumption of the role of Yahweh (Jesus and the Old Testament p.150-59). For a brief discussion of the NT verses that seem, at first sight, to call Jesus' divinity into question, see R. E. Brown, "Does the New Testament Call Jesus God?" (Reflections 6-10).

A. Implicit Christology

1. Divine functions performed by Jesus:

a. In relation to the universe:

(1) Creator (John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2) 
(2) Sustainer (1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3) 
(3) Author of life (John 1:4; Acts 3:15) 
(4) Ruler (Matt. 28:18; Rom. 14:9; Rev. 1:6)

b. In relation to human beings:

(1) Healing the sick (Mark 1:32-34; Acts 3:6; 10:38) 
(2) Teaching authoritatively (Mark 1:21-22; 13:31) 
(3) Forgiving sins (Mark 2:1-12; Luke 24:47; Acts 6:31; Col. 3:13) 
(4) Granting salvation or imparting eternal life (Acts 4: 12; Rom. 10:12-14) 
(5) Dispensing the Spirit (Matt. 3:11; Acts 2:17, 33) 
(6) Raising the dead (Luke 7:11-17; John 5:21; 6:40) 
(7) Exercising judgment (Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:19-29; Acts 10:42; 1 Cor. 4:4-6)

2. Divine status claimed by or accorded to Jesus:

a. In relation to his Father:

(1) Possessor of divine attributes (John 1:4; 10:30; 21:17; Eph. 4:10; Col. 1:19; 2:9) 
(2) Eternally existent (John 1:1; 8:58; 12:41; 17:5; 1 Cor. 10:4; Phil. 2:6; Heb. 11:26; 13:8; Jude 5) 
(3) Equal in dignity (Matt. 28:19; John 5:23; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 22:13; cf. 21:6) 
(4) Perfect revealer (John 1:18; 14:9; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:1-3) 
(5) Embodiment of truth (John 1:9, 14; 6:32; 14:6; Rev. 3:7,14) 
(6) Joint possessor of the kingdom (Eph. 5:5; Rev. 11:15), churches (Rom. 16:16), Spirit (Rom. 8:9; Phil. 1:19), temple (Rev. 21:2), divine name (Matt 28:19; cf. Rev. 14:1), and throne (Rev. 22:1, 3)

b. In relation to human beings:

(1) Recipient of praise (Mat 21:16-16; Eph. 6:19; 1 Tim. 1:12; Rev. 5:8-14) 
(2) Recipient of prayer (Acts 1:24; 7:59-60; 9:10-17,21; 22:16,19; 1 Cor. 1:2; 16:22; 2 Cor. 12:8) 
(3) Object of saving faith (John 14:1; Acts 10:43; 16:31; Rom. 10:8-13) 
(4) Object of worship (Matt 14:33; 28:9,17; John 5:23; 20:28; Phil 2:10-11; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 5:8-12) 
(5) Joint source of blessing (1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; 1 Thess. 3:11; 2 Thess. 2:16) 
(6) Object of doxologies (2 Tim 4:18; 2 Pet. 3:18; Rev. 1:5b-6; 5:13)

B. Explicit Christology

1. Old Testament passages refering to Yahweh applied to Jesus:

a. Character of Yahweh 
(Exod. 3:14 and Isa 43:11 alluded to in John 8:68; Ps. 101:27-28 LXX 1MT 102:28-291 quoted in Heb. 1:11-12; Isa 44:6 alluded to in Rev. 1:17)

b. Holiness of Yahweh 
(Isa 8:12-13 [cf. 29:23] quoted in 1 Pet.3:14-15)

c. Descriptions of Yahweh 
(Ezek. 43:2 and Dan. 10:6-6 alluded to in Rev. 1:13-16)

d. Worship of Yahweh 
(Isa 45:23 alluded to in Phil. 2:10-11; Deut. 32:43 LXX and Ps. 96:7 LXX [MT 97:7] quoted in Heb. 1:6)

e. Work of Yahweh in creation 
(Ps. 101:26 LXX [MT 102:27] quoted in Heb. 1:10)

f. Salvation of Yahweh 
(Joel 2:32 [MT 3:5] quoted in Rom. 10:13; cf. Acts 2:21; Isa 40:3 quoted in Matt. 3:3)

g. Trustworthiness of Yawheh 
(Isa 28:16 quoted in Rom. 9:33; 10:11; 1 Pet. 2:6)

h. Judgment of Yahweh 
(Isa 6:10 alluded to in John 12:41; Isa 8:14 quoted in Rom. 9:33 and 1 Pet. 2:8)

i. Triumph of Yahweh 
(Ps. 68:18 [MT v. 19] quoted in Eph. 4:8)

2. Divine titles claimed by or applied to Jesus:

a. Son of Man (Matt. 16:28; 24:30; Mark 8:38; 14:62-64; Acts 7:56) 
b. Son of God (Matt.11:27; Mark 15:39; John 1:18; Rom. 1:4; Gal.4:4; Heb. 1:2) 
c. Messiah (Matt. 16:16; Mark 14:61; John 20:31) 
d. Lord (Mark 12:36-37; John 20:28; Rom. 10:9, 1 Cor. 8:6-6; 12:3; 16:22; Phil. 2:11; 1 Pet. 2:3; 3:15) 
e. Alpha and Omega (Rev. 22:13; cf. 1:8; 21:6, of the Lord God) 
f. God (John 1:1,18; 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1)

Material above is taken from Murray J. Harris, Jesus as God, Baker Book House, 1992, ISBN 0-8010-4370-0


Part II: A Scriptural Glossary of the Names, Titles and Attributes Demonstrating That

Jesus and Yahweh Are One

"There is one God" - I Corinthians 8:6



 Note to our readers: to view any of the Bible passages listed below as proof texts showing that Jesus and Yahweh (God) are One, simply click on the word Bible, and one will be opened for you in a new browser window.  The chart below is but a partial listing of relevant passages. 
 

Description

As Used of God

As Used of Jesus

YHWH (I AM)

Exodus 3:14  
Deuteronomy 32:39  
Isaiah 43:10

John 8:24  
John 8:58  
John 18:4-6

God

Genesis 1:1  
Deuteronomy 6:4  
Psalm 45:6,7

Isaiah 7:14, 9:16  
John 1:1,14; 20:28  
Romans 9:5  
Titus 2:13  
Hebrews 1:8  
2 Peter 1:1

Alpha and Omega (First and Last)

Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12  
Revelation 1:8

Revelation 1:17,18  
Revelation 2:8  
Revelation 22:12-16

Lord

Isaiah 45:23

Matthew 12:8  
Acts 7:59,60; 10:36  
Romans 10:12  
I Corinthians 2:8; 12:3  
Philippians 2:10,11

Saviour

Isaiah 43:3,11  
Isaiah 63:8  
Luke 1:47  
I Timothy 4:10

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

King

Psalm 95:3  
Isaiah 43:15  
I Timothy 6:14-16

Revelation 17:14  
Revelation 19:16

Judge

Genesis 18:25  
Psalm 50:4,6  
Psalm 96:13  
Romans 14:10

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

Light

2 Samuel 22:29  
Psalm 27:1  
Isaiah 42:6

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

Rock

Deuteronomy 32:3,4  
2 Samuel 22:32  
Psalm 89:26

Romans 9:33  
I Corinthians 10:3,4  
I Peter 2:4-8

Redeemer

Psalm 130:7,8  
Isaiah 48:17  
Isaiah 54:5  
Isaiah 63:9

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

Our Righteousness

Isaiah 45:24

Jeremiah 23:6  
Romans 3:21-22

Husband

Isaiah 54:5  
Hosea 2:16

Matthew 25:1  
Mark 2:18,19 (bridegroom)  
II Corinthians 11:2  
Ephesians 5:25-32  
Revelation 21:2,9

Shepherd

Genesis 49:24  
Psalm 23:1  
Psalm 80:1  
Ezekiel 34:11-12,22

John 10:11,16  
Hebrews 13:20  
I Peter 2:25  
I Peter 5:4

Creator

Genesis 1:1  
Job 33:4  
Psalm 95:5,6  
Psalm 102:25,26  
Isaiah 40:28

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

Giver of Life

Genesis 2:7  
Deuteronomy 32:39  
I Samuel 2:6  
Psalm 36:9

John 5:21  
John 10:28  
John 11:25

Forgiver of Sin

Exodus 34:6-7  
Nehemiah 9:17  
Daniel 9:9  
Jonah 4:2

Mark 2:1-12  
Acts 26:18  
Colossians 2:13  
Colossians 3:13

Lord our Healer

Exodus 15:26

Acts 9:34

Omnipresent

Psalm 139:7-12  
Proverbs 15:3

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

Omniscient

I Kings 8:39  
Jeremiah 17:9,10,16

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

Omnipotent

Isaiah 40:10-31, 18  
Isaiah 45:5-13

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

Eternal

Genesis 1:1  
Psalm 102:26,27  
Habakkuk 3:6

John 6:62  
John 8:58  
John 16:28  
Isaiah 9:6  
Micah 5:2

Immutable (unchanging)

Isaiah 49:9,16  
Malachi 3:6  
James 1:17

Hebrews 13:8

Receiver of Worship

Matthew 4:10  
John 4:24  
Revelation 5:14  
Revelation 7:11; 11:16

Matthew 14:33  
Matthew 28:9  
John 9:38  
Philippians 2:10,11  
Hebrews 1:6

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