Is Jesus God? What the Bible Says
The question of who Jesus is sits at the center of the Christian faith. Jesus asked it of His own disciples: "But whom say ye that I am?" (Matthew 16:15). This article gathers the passages of Scripture that teach that Jesus Christ is God: fully divine, eternal, sharing the one name, nature and glory of the LORD God of Israel, while remaining distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit.
The verses are grouped by the kind of evidence they give. Every quotation is from the King James Version as it appears in Master Sword, and every reference is a link that opens the passage in the app, so each one can be read in its context, compared across translations, and studied in the Greek or Hebrew.
How the evidence fits together:
- Scripture calls Jesus "God" outright.
- Jesus takes the divine name "I AM" for Himself, and His hearers understood the claim.
- Passages written about the LORD (YHWH) in the Old Testament are applied to Jesus in the New.
- Jesus has the attributes that belong to God alone.
- Jesus does the works that only God does.
- Jesus receives worship, which God reserves for Himself.
- Jesus shares the titles of God.
- Believers pray to Jesus and call on His name.
- Jesus is named alongside the Father and the Spirit as one God.
A short note on manuscripts appears at the end for the handful of verses where the Greek copies differ.
1. Jesus Is Called God
The plainest evidence is that the Bible uses the word "God" of Jesus Christ.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word was with God (distinct from the Father) and the Word was God (sharing His nature). Verse 14 identifies the Word:
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Thomas addresses the risen Jesus as "my Lord and my God," and Jesus accepts it, blessing those who will believe the same without seeing (verse 29).
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
The child to be born is named "The mighty God." Isaiah uses the same title for the LORD Himself a chapter later:
The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew applies Isaiah 7:14 to Jesus: the child is "God with us."
Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Paul traces the human descent of Christ from Israel, then says this same Christ is "over all, God blessed for ever."
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
One article governs both nouns in the Greek: "our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" names one Person.
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
The same construction: "God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" is one Person. Compare verse 11, where the identical grammar ("Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ") plainly means one Person.
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
The Father Himself addresses the Son as "O God," quoting Psalm 45:6.
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Not a portion of deity but "all the fulness of the Godhead" dwells in Christ, and dwells "bodily."
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
The Father was pleased that all fulness should dwell in the Son.
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
God was present in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
The Son was "in the form of God" and equal with God before He took "the form of a servant" (verse 7; the full passage is in section 10).
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
The church was purchased with God's "own blood," which was shed only by the incarnate Son.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Jesus says He and the Father are one. His hearers take up stones because, as they say, "thou, being a man, makest thyself God." Jesus does not correct their understanding of His claim.
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
By calling God "my Father" in this way, Jesus was "making himself equal with God," and John, the narrator, does not dispute it.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
The scribes are right that only God can forgive sins. Jesus's answer is to prove He has that authority (verses 10-12).
Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
Jesus tells the healed man to declare what "God" has done for him. The man goes and tells what "Jesus" has done. Luke sets the two side by side without comment.
2. Jesus Takes the Divine Name "I AM"
When God revealed His name to Moses, He said:
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Jesus uses the same words of Himself:
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
He does not say "before Abraham was, I was," but "I am," claiming timeless existence. His hearers understood:
Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
In both verses the word "he" is supplied in English: Jesus says "that I am." He is echoing the LORD's own words:
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
At the words "I am he" (the word "he" is supplied in English), the soldiers fall to the ground.
Job says that God alone treads upon the waves of the sea:
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
Jesus walks on the sea and calls out to His frightened disciples:
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
"It is I" is egō eimi in the Greek, the same "I am." The disciples answer by worshipping Him as the Son of God (verse 33, quoted in section 6).
61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? 64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
Asked whether He is the Christ, Jesus answers "I am" and applies Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1 to Himself. The high priest calls it blasphemy.
The vision Jesus quoted:
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
The Son of man is given an everlasting kingdom, and all peoples "should serve him." The Aramaic word for serve (pelach) is used in Daniel and Ezra for religious service, of God or of the gods (Daniel 3:12, 3:28, Ezra 7:24).
3. Old Testament Passages About the LORD Fulfilled in Jesus
In the KJV, "LORD" in capitals stands for God's personal name, YHWH. The New Testament writers repeatedly take verses that speak of YHWH and apply them directly to Jesus.
The way of the LORD
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus, which Isaiah calls the way of the LORD, "our God":
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
The LORD speaks of a messenger who prepares the way "before me," and then "the Lord... shall suddenly come to his temple." Jesus applies it to John the Baptist and Himself:
This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Before John was born, the angel said he would go before "the Lord their God":
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
At his birth his father Zacharias said it again:
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
The One John went before was Jesus.
Calling on the name of the LORD
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Paul's "Lord" in verse 9 is Jesus, and in verse 13 he quotes Joel 2:32, where "LORD" is YHWH. To call on Jesus is to call on the LORD.
David's Lord
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
David calls the coming Messiah "my Lord." Jesus pressed the question on the Pharisees:
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
If the Messiah were only David's descendant, David would not call him Lord. He is David's son by birth and David's Lord by nature. Psalm 110:1 is one of the Old Testament verses the New Testament quotes most often.
Every knee shall bow
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
The LORD swears that every knee shall bow to Him, the one God beside whom there is no other. Paul applies it to Jesus:
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Paul uses the same oath of the LORD for the judgment seat of Christ:
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Verse 9 names Christ as Lord of the dead and the living. Verse 11 is the LORD's oath from Isaiah 45:23, applied to that same Lord.
Isaiah saw His glory
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Isaiah saw "the King, the LORD of hosts." John says the glory Isaiah saw was the glory of Jesus:
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
The Creator who does not change
24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. 25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
The Psalm addresses God. Hebrews says the Father speaks these words to the Son:
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
He that ascended on high
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
The Psalm speaks of God going up on high after His victory. Paul applies it to Christ:
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
The One who ascended is the One who first descended, and He ascended "that he might fill all things."
Tempting the LORD in the wilderness
5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Israel spoke against God, and the LORD sent the serpents. Paul says the One they tempted was Christ:
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
A few verses earlier Paul says the Rock that followed Israel "was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4). Jude goes further: in the oldest manuscripts he names Jesus as the One who brought Israel out of Egypt (see the note on manuscripts):
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Thirty pieces of silver
12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
The LORD Himself speaks of "a goodly price that I was prised at of them." Matthew applies it to the price paid for Jesus:
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
Matthew names Jeremiah, most likely because the passage also draws on Jeremiah's potter and field (Jeremiah 18-19 and 32).
The pierced LORD
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
The LORD says "they shall look upon me whom they have pierced." John applies this to Jesus on the cross and at His return:
And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
The First and the Last
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
The LORD alone is "the first" and "the last," with no God beside Him. Jesus claims this title:
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
"My reward is with me" echoes Isaiah's picture of the coming Lord GOD:
Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:8 gives the title "Alpha and Omega" to "the Lord... the Almighty." Whether the speaker there is the Father or the Son is debated, but in 22:13 the same title plainly belongs to Jesus, the One who says "I come quickly" (22:12, 22:20).
The stone of stumbling
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
"The LORD of hosts himself" is the stone of stumbling. Peter applies this to Christ:
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Peter returns to the same Isaiah passage a chapter later:
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Isaiah says "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself." Peter says to sanctify the Lord in your hearts, and the oldest manuscripts read "sanctify Christ as Lord" (see the note on manuscripts). Peter borrows Isaiah's wording in verse 14 as well ("neither fear ye their fear").
The LORD our righteousness
5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The Branch from David, the Messiah, is named "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
The LORD who comes with His saints
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Zechariah also says where the LORD's feet will stand: on the mount of Olives. On that same mountain the angels told the disciples that Jesus would come back as they had seen Him go:
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
Tasting that the LORD is good
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Peter quotes this Psalm about the LORD and applies it to Christ, the "living stone" of the next verse:
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Your God will come and save you
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Isaiah says the blind will see and the lame will leap when "your God will come... and save you." When John asked whether Jesus was the One, Jesus pointed to these very works:
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
The Shepherd who seeks the lost
11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
The Lord GOD says "I, even I" will seek out His scattered sheep and "seek that which was lost." Jesus says that is why He came:
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
The LORD who redeems from iniquity
7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
The LORD Himself will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. The angel gives Jesus His name for this very reason:
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
The name Jesus (Hebrew Yeshua) means "the LORD saves."
The Ancient of days
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Daniel sees the Ancient of days with garment "white as snow" and hair "like the pure wool." John sees the risen Jesus with the same features:
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Praise out of the mouth of babes
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
The Psalm, addressed to "O LORD our Lord" (verse 1), says God ordains praise for Himself from children. When children praised Jesus in the temple and the priests objected, Jesus answered with this Psalm:
15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
The LORD who will not share His glory
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
God gives His glory to no other, yet the Son shared the Father's glory before the world was:
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
4. Jesus Has the Attributes of God
Eternal
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The ruler born in Bethlehem has goings forth "from everlasting."
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
The LORD says the same of Himself:
For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Present everywhere
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
He also "ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things" (Ephesians 4:10, quoted in section 3).
Knowing all things
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)
Solomon says God "only" knows the hearts of all men. Jesus knows them:
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree before they met, and Nathanael's answer is a confession: "thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel."
Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Jesus says He searches "the reins and hearts," which is what the LORD says of Himself:
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
All-powerful
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Equal with the Father
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Whatever the Father does, the Son does "likewise." No creature could say that.
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Only the Father fully knows the Son, and only the Son fully knows the Father.
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Having life in Himself
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Holy, and the Prince of life
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Peter calls Jesus "the Holy One," the title of the LORD in Isaiah (Isaiah 43:15), and "the Prince of life," the Author of life itself.
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Words that never pass away
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Only the word of God stands for ever. Jesus says the same of His own words:
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
5. Jesus Does the Works of God
Creating all things
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
The LORD made all things "alone" and "by myself." Yet Scripture says all things were made by the Son:
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Upholding all things
The Son upholds "all things by the word of his power" (Hebrews 1:3), and "by him all things consist" (Colossians 1:17). Both are quoted above.
Forgiving sins
10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
Ruling the wind and the sea
8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? 9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
It is the LORD who stills the raging sea. Jesus does it with a word:
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
The disciples' question, "What manner of man is this?", is the question this article answers.
Raising the dead and giving eternal life
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one.
Jesus will even raise Himself:
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
Compare John 10:17-18 in section 4: "I have power to take it again."
Judging the world
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
All judgment is committed to the Son. The next verse gives the reason, quoted in section 6.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
God will judge the world by the Man He has ordained, the One He raised from the dead.
Commanding the angels and sending the prophets
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Scripture calls the angels God's angels (Luke 12:8-9, Luke 15:10). Jesus calls them "his angels," and the kingdom "his kingdom."
Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:
The LORD says He sent the prophets. Jesus says He sends them:
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Sending the Holy Spirit
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Peter says the exalted Jesus "hath shed forth" the Spirit, as the LORD had promised that He Himself would pour out His Spirit (Joel 2:28).
Answering prayer
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Speaking with His own authority
The prophets said "Thus saith the LORD." Jesus sets His own word beside the Law that God gave at Sinai:
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
He sets "But I say unto you" against what was said of old six times in this chapter (verses 22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44).
Giving rest and saving for ever
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Only God can promise rest to the soul. In the next verse Jesus echoes the LORD's words in Jeremiah 6:16, "ye shall find rest for your souls."
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
6. Jesus Receives Worship
God commands that worship be given to Him alone:
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Good angels and apostles refuse worship:
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Yet Jesus receives worship from men and angels, and never refuses it:
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
The elders fall down before the Lamb with harps and "the prayers of saints," and sing a new song to Him.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Every creature gives the same blessing, honor, glory and power "unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Salvation is ascribed to God on the throne and to the Lamb together.
The New Testament also gives Christ the doxologies, the "glory for ever" that Scripture gives to God:
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
In 2 Timothy 4, "the Lord" is Jesus, who will judge at His appearing (verses 1 and 8).
Scripture curses the one who trusts in man:
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
Yet it blesses all who trust in the Son:
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
In the new creation there is one throne, shared by God and the Lamb, and "his servants shall serve him":
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
The Father's purpose in this is stated in John 5:23: "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father."
7. Jesus Shares the Titles of God
| Title | Of the LORD | Of Jesus |
|---|---|---|
| Saviour | Isaiah 43:11 | Luke 2:11, Titus 2:13 |
| Shepherd | Psalms 23:1 | John 10:11, Hebrews 13:20 |
| Light | Psalms 27:1 | John 8:12 |
| Rock | Psalms 18:2 | 1 Corinthians 10:4 |
| King of kings, Lord of lords | Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15 | Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16 |
| First and Last | Isaiah 44:6 | Revelation 22:13 |
| Judge of all the earth | Genesis 18:25 | John 5:22 |
| Bridegroom / Husband | Isaiah 54:5 | Matthew 9:15, 2 Corinthians 11:2 |
| Lord of the Sabbath | Exodus 20:10 | Mark 2:28 |
| Lord of glory | Psalms 24:10 | 1 Corinthians 2:8 |
| Redeemer | Isaiah 47:4 | Galatians 3:13, Titus 2:14 |
| Holy One | Isaiah 43:15 | Acts 3:14 |
| King of Israel | Zephaniah 3:15 | John 1:49 |
| Lord of all | Joshua 3:11 | Acts 10:36 |
| Fountain of living waters | Jeremiah 2:13 | John 4:14 |
| Horn of salvation | Psalms 18:2 | Luke 1:69 |
| Everlasting light | Isaiah 60:19 | Revelation 21:23 |
Some of these, written out:
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The LORD is the fountain of living waters. Jesus gives the living water.
8. Believers Pray to Jesus and Call on His Name
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Stephen, dying, commits his spirit to Jesus, as Jesus Himself had committed His spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46).
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
The apostles pray to the "Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men," asking Him to show whom He has chosen. The Lord who chose the apostles is Jesus (Acts 1:2), so this is most likely a prayer to Him.
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
Ananias says this to Jesus Himself (verses 10-13): Christians were the people who "call on" Jesus's name. "Calling on the name of the LORD" is the Old Testament language of worship (Genesis 4:26, Joel 2:32).
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Paul is told to wash away his sins "calling on the name of the Lord," the Lord Jesus who had met him on the road (verse 8).
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
Paul prays to the Father and to Jesus together, and the verb "direct" is singular in the Greek: one act from both.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Here Jesus is named first, and again the verbs ("comfort," "stablish") are singular.
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Paul gives thanks to Christ Jesus directly.
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
"Maran-atha" is Aramaic for "Our Lord, come," a prayer to Jesus kept in the language of the first believers.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
9. Jesus Named With the Father and the Spirit
The Bible teaches there is one God:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Paul restates Israel's confession, "The LORD our God is one LORD," and divides it: "one God, the Father" and "one Lord Jesus Christ." He places Jesus inside the confession of the one God, not beside it.
Yet the Son is named alongside the Father and the Holy Spirit, under one name:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
"In the name" is singular: one name, three Persons.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
At Jesus's baptism the Father speaks from heaven and the Spirit descends on the Son.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
The same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
The speaker is the One who said in verse 12, "I am the first, I also am the last," and He says "the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me."
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Jesus asks for the same faith in Himself that is given to God.
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
The Father and the Son together make their home with the believer: "we will come."
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
To deny the Son is to lose the Father.
10. God Who Became Man
Jesus is God, and He also became truly man, without ceasing to be God.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The sign of the virgin's Son, Immanuel, "God with us" (Matthew 1:23).
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
He was rich before He became poor: He existed before He was born.
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
He came down from heaven, from the Father, and He is "the Lord from heaven."
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Denying that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is the spirit of antichrist. The faith holds both: He is God, and He truly became man.
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
"He that hath seen me hath seen the Father."
A Note on Manuscripts
A few verses read differently in the Greek manuscripts. None of the teaching rests on any one of them, and in several cases the other reading says the same thing as strongly.
- John 1:18. The KJV reads "the only begotten Son." Many of the oldest manuscripts read "the only begotten God" (monogenēs theos), which states the deity of Christ even more directly.
- 1 Timothy 3:16. The KJV reads "God was manifest in the flesh," following most later manuscripts. Several early manuscripts read "He who was manifested in the flesh." The subject of the hymn is Christ either way.
- Acts 20:28. Most manuscripts read "church of God"; some read "church of the Lord." "Church of God" is the reading of the oldest witnesses and of the KJV.
- 1 John 5:7. The KJV's "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (the Comma Johanneum) is missing from nearly all Greek manuscripts before the 1500s, so it is not used in this article. Nothing above depends on it.
- Romans 14:10. The KJV reads "judgment seat of Christ"; many older manuscripts read "of God." Verse 9 has just named Christ "Lord both of the dead and living," and 2 Corinthians 5:10 reads "judgment seat of Christ" in every manuscript.
- 1 Corinthians 10:9. The KJV reads "tempt Christ," the reading of the earliest manuscript (P46) and of most modern editions. Some early manuscripts read "the Lord."
- Jude 1:5. The KJV reads "the Lord." Several of the oldest manuscripts read "Jesus," the reading of the current critical Greek text and of several modern translations, which says outright that Jesus saved Israel out of Egypt.
- 1 Peter 3:15. The KJV reads "sanctify the Lord God." The oldest manuscripts read "sanctify Christ as Lord," applying Isaiah 8:13 directly to Christ.
- Revelation 1:8. Older manuscripts read "saith the Lord God" and lack "the beginning and the ending." Many take the speaker to be the Father; Jesus claims the same titles in 22:13.
- Titus 2:13 and 2 Peter 1:1. These are not differences between manuscripts. They are points of grammar: in the Greek one article governs both "God" and "Saviour," marking one Person (Granville Sharp's rule). Most modern translations render them "our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."
In Master Sword, Study and Interlinear modes show the Greek behind each of these verses, and Verse mode can set the KJV beside translations made from other manuscript traditions.
Summary
Scripture calls Jesus God (John 1:1, John 20:28, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8). He takes the divine name "I AM" (John 8:58). Old Testament passages about YHWH are fulfilled in Him (Isaiah 45:23 with Philippians 2:10-11; Isaiah 6 with John 12:41). He is eternal, present everywhere, all-knowing and all-powerful. He creates, sustains, forgives, raises the dead and judges. He walks on the sea and stills it, as only the LORD does (Job 9:8, Mark 4:39-41). He receives the worship that belongs to God alone (Hebrews 1:6, Revelation 5:13), and believers call on His name in prayer (Acts 7:59, 1 Corinthians 1:2). Paul places Him inside Israel's confession of the one God (1 Corinthians 8:6), and with the Father and the Holy Spirit He is the one God (Matthew 28:19).
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh." (1 Timothy 3:16)