The deity of Christ is a foundational doctrine of Christianity that affirms Jesus is God. This belief is rooted in numerous passages throughout Scripture that reveal Jesus possesses divine attributes and performs divine works. Though denied by some groups, the Bible overwhelmingly confirms the full divinity of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Possesses the Names of God
Several names and titles given to Jesus in the Bible are names that properly belong to God alone. For example, Jesus is called “Lord” (Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:11), which translates the divine name YHWH in the Old Testament. He is also called “the first and the last” (Revelation 1:17; 22:13), a title God uses for Himself in Isaiah 44:6. Thomas calls Jesus “My Lord and my God” in John 20:28, and Jesus accepts his worship. These titles and honors given to Jesus communicate His true deity.
Jesus Possesses the Attributes of God
Jesus exhibits attributes that only belong to God. He is described as eternal (John 1:1-2; Micah 5:2), omnipresent (Matthew 18:20; 28:20), omniscient (John 2:23-25; 16:30), omnipotent (Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 1:8), and immutable (Hebrews 13:8). He performs divine works like creating (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), sustaining the universe (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3), forgiving sins (Luke 5:20-21; 7:48), and raising the dead (John 5:21, 25-29; 6:40). Jesus even receives worship on numerous occasions from people (Matthew 14:33; 28:9), further indicating His divine nature.
Jesus Claims to Be God
Jesus explicitly claims divinity for Himself on several instances in the Gospels. He states in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” In John 8:58, Jesus claims the divine name “I am” as His own. The Jews respond by picking up stones to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:59). Additionally, Jesus affirms He has the authority to raise Himself from the dead – something only God can do (John 2:19-21; 10:17-18). The high priest Caiaphas later charges Jesus with blasphemy for claiming to be the divine Messiah, the Son of God (Matthew 26:63-66). The religious leaders recognize Jesus is making Himself equal with God.
The Writers of Scripture Affirm Christ’s Deity
Both the human authors of Scripture and the voices of God Himself affirm the deity of Jesus on numerous occasions. After Jesus calms the storm, His disciples worship Him saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33). John says Jesus is “the Word” that “was God” (John 1:1). Peter calls Him “our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). The writer of Hebrews applies Old Testament passages about YHWH to Jesus (Hebrews 1:8, 10-12). God the Father Himself claims Jesus as His beloved divine Son at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11) and transfiguration (Matthew 17:5). The cumulative testimony is clear – Jesus is God incarnate.
Jesus Accepts Worship
On various occasions Jesus accepts and condones the act of being worshipped. After Jesus walks on water, the disciples respond by worshipping Him and saying “Truly you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33). A once-blind man healed by Jesus worships Him (John 9:38). When Thomas sees the risen Christ, he exclaims “My Lord and my God!” and Jesus commends this confession (John 20:28-29). The act of worship rightly belongs only to God (Exodus 34:14; Matthew 4:10). Yet Jesus receives worship without rebuking those who offer it – something no mere human or angel would ever do (Acts 10:25-26; Revelation 22:8-9).
The Reaction of Jesus’ Contemporaries
How Jesus’ original hearers responded is also telling. As mentioned earlier, Jesus is accused of blasphemy and declared worthy of death by the Jewish leaders for claiming equality with God (Matthew 26:65-66; John 5:18). This only makes sense if Jesus was actually presenting Himself as divine and the people understood His claims as such. When Jesus uses the title “Son of Man” from Daniel 7:13-14 to refer to Himself, the high priest tears his clothes and declares it blasphemy (Matthew 26:64-65). The Jews want to stone Jesus for claiming God as His own “Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18). On multiple occasions the people want to kill Jesus because of His claims of divinity (John 5:18; 8:59; 10:31). The crowds, disciples, and enemies recognize that Jesus consistently assumes divine titles and honors for Himself.
The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ
The Bible presents Jesus as utterly unique from any other person. He is one of a kind – the once-for-all God-man who died for sinners and rose from the dead (1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). All things were made by Him and for Him and nothing was made without Him (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2). The fullness of deity dwells bodily in Jesus, and He is above all others (Colossians 1:19; 2:9; Ephesians 1:21-22). The exalted descriptions of Jesus in Scripture point to His divine preexistence and absolute uniqueness as the Son of God and promised Messiah. He shares in the same divine nature and attributes as God.
The Testimony of the Early Church
The early Christian church unanimously embraced Jesus as God incarnate. This was the universal belief from the very beginning. The church councils that met in later centuries to formally define the Trinity and person of Christ were simply articulating what Christians had always believed on the basis of Scripture. Key creeds like the Nicene Creed established no new doctrine but simply compiled what the apostles taught and the church had confessed from its inception. Denial of Christ’s divinity is a feature of heretical groups, not the historic orthodox Christian faith.
Old Testament Prophecies Point to Christ’s Divinity
Various prophecies in the Old Testament anticipate a coming divine Messiah. Isaiah 9:6 calls the Messiah “Mighty God.” Isaiah prophesies that the Messiah will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Micah 5:2 says the future ruler of Israel will come forth from Bethlehem, but His origins are “from of old, from ancient days,” affirming His eternal existence. Zechariah 12:10 is another prophecy the New Testament applies to Jesus that declares “they will look on me, the one they have pierced.” God is speaking here predicting a future day when He (God) will be pierced.
The Exalted Christ Receives Divine Worship
After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus continues to receive worship from His followers. Stephen prays to Jesus and calls Him “Lord Jesus” as he is being martyred (Acts 7:59-60). The apostle John falls down to worship an angel in Revelation 22, but the angel rebukes him and directs worship to God alone (Revelation 22:8-9). Significantly, there are no examples in Scripture where the early Christians ever worshipped Christ and were rebuked or stopped. This confirms that Jesus is properly an object of worship as God alongside the Father.
Belief in Christ’s Deity is Necessary for Salvation
The Bible teaches confession of Christ’s divinity is necessary to belong to God. Romans 10:9 states: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Confessing “Jesus is Lord” is to confess His deity. Those who reject or downgrade Christ’s deity cannot obtain salvation. John makes believing in the incarnation of God in Christ a test of true faith (1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 1:7). Eternal life only comes through Jesus Christ (John 17:3; Acts 4:12). Denying Christ’s deity rejects God’s Son and leads only to “the wrath of God” (John 3:36). Scripture is abundantly clear – belief in the divine Christ is essential.
Objections and Alternative Views Considered
Groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses and others deny Jesus is God, but their arguments do not stand up to biblical scrutiny. They claim Jesus never literally stated, “I am God.” But His words, attributes, works, and reception of divine worship and titles clearly communicate He is God. They say “Son of God” only means a divine messenger, not actual deity. But the Jews recognized this title as a claim to equality with God (John 5:18; 19:7). They say only the Father is God (1 Corinthians 8:6), but John 1:1 calls the Word (Jesus) God too. They claim Jesus had a beginning when He was created by God. But Scripture presents Him as eternal and uncreated (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-3; 17:5; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 13:8). When examined carefully, the biblical evidence for Jesus’ deity is irrefutable.
Additional Key Bible Passages on Christ’s Divinity
Listed below are some other important passages that teach the deity of Jesus Christ:
- Isaiah 7:14 – Christ is called “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us.”
- Matthew 1:23 – The virgin birth prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus.
- John 8:24 – Jesus states unless people believe He is “I am” they will die in their sins.
- John 8:58 – Jesus uses God’s divine name from Exodus 3:14, “I AM”
- John 10:30-33 – Jesus claims He and the Father “are one” and the Jews want to stone Him for blasphemy.
- John 20:28 – Thomas calls Jesus “my Lord and my God!”
- Romans 9:5 – Paul calls Christ “God over all.”
- Titus 2:13 – Paul refers to Jesus as “our great God and Savior.”
- Hebrews 1:3 – The Son is described as “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.”
- 2 Peter 1:1 – Peter calls Jesus “our God and Savior.”
- 1 John 5:20 – “He is the true God and eternal life.”
Conclusion
In light of the overwhelming biblical evidence, the deity of Jesus Christ is clearly taught in Scripture. Both Christ’s followers and enemies recognized that He claimed equality with God. Jesus shares the divine names, attributes, works, and worship of YHWH. To deny His full deity is to reject the heart of the Christian faith. The earliest Christians considered belief in the incarnation and deity of Jesus as an essential doctrine. The Bible forces us to make a choice about who Jesus is. He is either the divine Lord as He claimed, or a liar or lunatic. Scripture enables us to confidently affirm that Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:1, 14).
