An Encyclopedia of the deity of Christ

 

One of he most foundational doctrines of the Christian Faith is the deity of Christ. Many religions and cults however deny this doctrine such as: Islam, Jehovah's Witness', Mormons etc. The evidence is strongly against their favour as the deity of Christ is undeniable in the Old and new testaments along with Church history. What I will attempt here is to approximate all the evidence for the deity of Christ we have. However this blog will most certainly fail in this endeavor. Allow me to demonstrate.

The Scriptures

New Testament

Here I provide unambiguous statements that the Holy Bible calls Jesus God aswell as the bible saying Jesus does things that we know only God does.

Romans 9:4-5 [4] They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. [5] To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Philippians 2:5-8 [5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The Father says to the Son in the opening chapter to the Hebrews

Hebrews 1:5-12 [5] For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? [6] And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” [7] Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” [8] But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. [9] You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” [10] And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; [11] they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, [12] like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

John 1:1–3,14

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

Colossians 1:[16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [19] For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell

Notice how the last 3 passages say that Jesus created all things which according to Genesis 1:[1] In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (ESV). Anyway we are not done lets keep going

2 Peter 1:1 [1] Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ

Titus 2:[13] waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (ESV)

John 20:[27] Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” [28] Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” [29] Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (ESV)

Colossians 2: [8] See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. [9] For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (ESV)

Old Testament

The "I am" statements

God's Holy name YHWH (he will be) which he gives Moses at the burning bush " I am that I am ". The prophets throughout their writings refer to God using this name: Isaiah 41:[4] Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. (ESV)

Isaiah 43:[10] “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. (ESV)

Jesus applies these names to himself in Gospel according to saint John: 

John 8:[23] He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. [24] I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

later he says in the same discourse Jesus says

John 8: [56] Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” [57] So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” [58] Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” [59] So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. Jesus is clearly claiming the divine name for himself and to show that, that's what he is doing the Pharisees attempt to stone him to death, which is the punishment for Blasphemy: Leviticus 24:[16] Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. (ESV) and just in case there is someone doubting that that's what the Pharisees thought he was doing Jesus asks them why they are stoning him in: John 10:[30] I and the Father are one.” [31] The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. [32] Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” [33] The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” (ESV)

Lets examine the statement Jesus makes that, "Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day" One occasion that immediately stands out is when Abraham met God in Genesis 18:[1] And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. [2] He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth (ESV) So the Lord appears to Abraham in Genesis 18. Could this be when Jesus met Abraham? Most people assume that it is the Father who Abraham saw on this day. We know however that it can't be the Father because Jesus says that no one has ever seen the Father: John 6:46 : 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. So no one has seen the Father, and Abraham saw God, Jesus says he is God and says Abraham saw his day. It is clear that Abraham saw Jesus in Genesis 18. To further drive this point across, something very interesting occurs When the LORD destroys Sodom and Gomora Genesis 19:[24] Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. (ESV). This verse says that the LORD (the one who visited Abraham) rained fire down from the LORD in heaven? There are 2 Lords in this passage one who was with Abraham and one who reigns fire down, who is in heaven. Jesus and the Father?

Lastly to close of this section I leave you with this John 18:[4] Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” [5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. [6] When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (ESV). Jesus by stating "I am he" makes the Roman Guards along with Judas fall to the Ground upon hearing this.

The deity of the Messiah

Isaiah 9:6 (written 800 B.C) 6  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Isaiah 7:14 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God among us).

 

Isaiah 40: 3  A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah predicts that there shall be one who makes straight the path for our God we know this is John the Baptist making a way for Christ because the very earliest Gospel (40-50 AD) the Gospel according to Mark opens with these very lines Mark 1:1-4 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3  the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. So in the first Gospel (Mark) the very opening line affirms the deity of Christ. 

 

Micah 5:2 (written in 735 B.C.)2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” we are told 2 things by this verse that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem and that he is from eternity.

Psalm 110: A psalm of King David [1] The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Jesus quotes this passage in his conversation with the Pharisees: Matthew 22:[42] saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” [43] He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,

[44] “‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

until I put your enemies under your feet”’?

[45] If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” [46] And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. (ESV). 

The Pharisees cannot answer why David calls the Messiah Lord because the Messiah is the son of David. This demonstrates that the Messiah would be the Lord and the Father will make his enemies a footstool for his feet. As the writer of the Hebrews writes concerning the Son: Hebrews 1:[13] And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? (ESV)

Church History 

What Christians have believed throughout history is a great hermeneutic to use in understand the scriptures I just presented. To see how Christians throughout history interpreted these passages. Nobody disagrees that after the council of Nicaea's (325 AD) definition  of the Trinity, the divinity of Christ was near universal in the Church till the present day. Cults today that deny the divinity of Christ  state that the Trinity was only believed after the council of Nicaea. It is for this reason I will be providing evidence from the Ante-Nicene Fathers that they too believed in the deity of Christ. In these citations are quotes from: Polycarp (AD 69-155), Ignatius (AD 50-117), Justin Martyr (AD 100-165), Irenaeus of Lyons (AD 130-202) and many more church Fathers. Many of these church fathers were personal disciples of the Apostles, Who wrote our Bible like Polycarp and Ignatius and if the disciples of the Apostles who learnt the faith under their feet were taught that Jesus is God. In fact not one of the disciples of the Apostles whose writings we have, denied the divinity of Christ. So my questions is which faith do you hold, O denier of Christ's divinity? The Father can be greater then the Son in Authority during the incarnation but they are still equal in divinity.