My response to "Is Jesus God?"

Last month, a gentleman wrote a blog titled "Is Jesus God?"
(This blog was removed shortly after I responded.)

The gentleman presented a trinitarian point of view in an attempt to present Jesus as Almighty GOD. My responses are in this color.

There are many interesting paradoxes in the Christian faith. For instance, does anyone REALLY know how what many refer to as the Trinity works? ... Can one God be all three? ... Today however, my own inquiry is narrowed to just trying to determine through scripture, if Jesus is God.

Let us begin our search for an answer to this question with an opening statement found in the book of John:
"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" John 14:7-9

... In Jesus' time, both claims and accusations had to be fortified with 2-3 witnesses. This is not unlike things are today. Think of any court case you are aware of and it will most likely call to mind witnesses. Scripturally, the need is borne out in Deut 17:6 and Matt 18:16.

Christ uses this law to establish his own identity. " If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish — the very works that I do — testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me..."And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form." John 5:31-33, 36,37

One is able to distill from this passage that based on the testimony of witnesses, it can be proved that Jesus is God. These are no idle witnesses to be sure. According to the Scripture, Christ's witnesses include God the Father, John the Baptist (which we will extend to "man"), Jesus' own miraculous works and that of His own witness about himself.

Is Jesus [Almighty] God?
This question has the same answer as to whether the one God be all three?

NO!!

In Jesus' time, as you put it; to GOD's people Israel, there was solely ONE GOD who was definitely NOT in any description, three!
This ONE GOD associated Himself with the verses in Deut 6:4ff, known as the Shema.
This was the creed of Israel; also, this was and is the creed of Jesus the Messiah. Their GOD is ONE Being, ONE Person, ONE Entity!
(This fact hasn't changed)

Jesus affirmed this creed in Mark 12:28ff.
Note the scribe's response:
(Mark 12:32) And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

Obviously then, neither Jesus nor the scribe were trinitarian! And it ought to be equally obvious that the scribe did not believe that the man before him was actually Almighty GOD! And remember, Jesus commended the scribe. [v. 34]

Did the witness John the Baptist testify that Jesus was indeed Almighty GOD? NO! Rather, (John 1:34) And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (Remember, John was a Jew (like Jesus). Jews are monotheists believing in ONE GOD as ONE Person!)
So, John testified that Jesus was the Son of the ONE GOD.

What of the witness of GOD Himself?
(Mat 17:5) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

GOD Almighty testified that Jesus was indeed His Son. GOD said nothing about His Son being also Almighty GOD!?!
GOD said "hear ye him." In other words, listen to His Son.
Did Jesus, GOD's Son, ever testify that he was GOD?
NEVER, NO NOT ONCE!

Therefore, on this subject, I recommend this video:
The Human Jesus

There is also another witness, that of scripture. Let us examine what thus saith the Lord through His Divine word.
The Witness of God
Isa 9:6-Jesus is called God in prophecy delivered by God through Isaiah.

Isa 9.6

Jesus is indeed el gibbor. But do you know what that means? It is not in actuality a title of deity. It means a mighty warrior and is used in ref. to a group of them i.e. plural in Ezek 32.21.

It is indeed a fitting title for our Lord since when he returns he will not be "gentle Jesus meek & mild"; but rather, he will be the conquering king and sovereign, who will be enthroned on the throne of David [Isa 9.7, Luke 1.32-33] as promised by GOD his Father.

For more info, on Isa 9.6, please see Concerning Isaiah 9:6

The aforementioned video also deals with Isa 9.6.

Heb 1:8-9-Note how God is quoted as referring to Jesus as God.

Heb 1:8-9

Yes, Jesus is called 'God' in verse 8. Does that however, make him, Almighty GOD?
Well I ask you?
Did not Almighty GOD specifically call Moses God in Exo 7.1??
In fact, He made him so.
(Exo 7:1) And YAHWEH said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. (See also Exo 4.16)
(The same Hebrew word elohim as used in Psa 45.6 (quoted in Heb 1.8) is referred to!)
So, does this make Moses, Almighty GOD?

Now we both know the answer to that one!
And did you know that the judges of Israel who judged on GOD's behalf, were also called god/elohim/theos??
See Exo 21.6, 22.8,9,28; Psa 82.6 (used by Jesus in this regard)

So seeing that Jesus the Messiah is both GOD's sanctified, ordained Judge [John 10.36, 5.22, Acts 17.31, etc];
and the Prophet like unto Moses [Deut 18.15,18-19];
one can see in what sense Jesus Christ is indeed rightly called God!
In a representational, judicial, royal, Messianic sense!
Hence John 20.28!

Remember Heb 1.8-9 is taken from Psa 45.6-7 which was used in regards to the human kings of Israel. The king was called elohim.
However, in both the OT & NT refs. to this passage, there is indeed a clear safeguard that should shield all readers from any misunderstanding.

(Heb 1:9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The one addressed as God/elohim/theos (in Heb 1.8, Psa 45.6) has a God/elohim/theos ABOVE him!! [Heb 1.9, Psa 45.7]
The very fact that he has a God above him, should inform the reader that he is not GOD Almighty; but rather, he is God in the sense that Moses & the judges were so called, by GOD Almighty. In fact, GOD Almighty anointed Jesus of Nazareth above all these fellows; hence he is the Messiah; therefore, Jesus Christ is supreme over them all however he is under & second to his GOD, the ONE GOD, the Father.
(cp. 1 Cor 15.27-28)

Heb 1:9 ought to act as a safeguard against any misunderstanding.
Even as John 20:28 being placed between Jesus' words:

John 20.17 [I ascend unto my Father, and your Father;
and to my God, and your God.]

and John's intent for writing his gospel:

John 20.31 [But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God];

ought to have safeguarded any misunderstanding of Thomas's messianic declaration of the resurrected Jesus.

Both Heb 1.8-9 & John 20.28 are addressed in the video.

The Witness of Men
John 1:1-3, 14-This is the best known scriptural proof of Jesus’ deity.

John 20:25-28-Thomas understood him to be God.

John 1:1-3, 14

Jesus is not mentioned in John 1:1-3 at all. Verse 14 therefore informs us that Jesus is GOD's word made flesh.
Jesus of Nazareth is therefore, what the word of GOD became.
There is nothing in these verses that speaks of Jesus' deity
To quote Colin Brown:

"It is a common but patent misreading of the opening of John's Gospel to read it as if it said: 'In the beginning was the Son, and the Son was with God and the Son was God' (John 1:1).
What has happened here is the substitution of Son for Word (Greek logos), and thereby the Son is made a member of the Godhead which existed from the beginning."

The video goes into more detail concerning these verses.

John 20:25-28 is also addressed in the video.

Col 1:15-18-Paul knew him to be God.

Col 1:15-18

Paul never ever refers to Jesus as GOD Almighty.

These verses are about the new creation, the future kingdom (v. 13). The all things are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: GOD created all these things for and with His Son in view.
See also COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 - PREEXISTENCE OR PREEMINENCE?

Acts 20:28-Paul knew him to be God, referring to His own blood.

Acts 20:28

There are translational issues with this verse. The rendering "God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" is suspect.

Besides, Paul never knew Jesus to be GOD! These are Paul's words:
(1 Cor 8:4) ... that there is none other God but one.
(1 Cor 8:6) But to us there is but one God, the Father, ...
Paul followed the doctrine of his Lord & Master, Jesus; in referring to the Father as the only true GOD. John 17.3
Again, see the video in regards to this issue.

The Witness of Works
John 14:10-11-There is nothing like the demonstration of a statement to prove the statement.Christ’s resume: sight to the blind, healed the sick, made the lame walk, cleanliness to leprous, fed the hungry, raised up the humble, brought down the haughty, brought life to the dead and gave salvation to us. No mere man could do these things. Only through the power of Almighty God. ...

John 14:10-11 What does this verse actually say?
(John 14:10-11) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

You see? The Son can do and did do NOTHING of himself!! The Father did the works

(Acts 2:22) Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

GOD performed the works through His Son.
His Son did nothing of himself! [John 5.19]

Think about it. How can Almighty GOD do nothing of himself?
Yet another indicator that Jesus is NOT Almighty GOD!

The Witness of Christ
Rev 1:7-8-He testifies of Himself as the Almighty.

Rev 1:7-8
Don't be duped by red letter bibles. Verse 8 are not the words of Jesus.
Reference to Jesus ends with the Amen in verse 7.
Verse 8 are the words of the LORD GOD e.g.
ASV: I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
NASB: "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Besides in Rev 1.18 Jesus clearly testified:
(Rev 1:18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; ...

GOD Almighty alone has immortality innately. [1 Tim 6.16]
Immortality means "One Cannot Die"
GOD ALMIGHTY CANNOT DIE!!
However, Jesus, GOD's Son, died for our sins.
(And of course, GOD Almighty raised him from the dead)
Hence, the Lord Jesus, is NOT Almighty GOD!

Makarios: Jesus never claimed to be God???

This is my response to:

Makarios: Jesus never claimed to be God???

Greetings Makarios

You stated:
"As far as I can see, there can be only two reasons for making a statement like, “Jesus never claimed to be God.”
First, the writer suffers from profound ignorance regarding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Second, the writer is a liar.

There may be other reasons that I’m not aware of but the conclusion is the same, the writer is wrong at every level."

Makarios, it appears that you're not aware of the myriad of reasons why someone reading the Bible would say that
“Jesus never claimed to be God.”

Hmmm! Where does one begin?
The easiest one being, that there isn't any verse in Scripture, where you will find Jesus the Messiah claiming to be Almighty GOD! No Not One!!

In all the verses that you listed you did not show one. Why? Because there isn't one? Why? Because Jesus never claimed to be Almighty GOD!!

Now let's go through some of your points:

a) Jesus the Messiah, the Son of man, is GOD's ultimate representative. As such, GOD hath committed all judgment unto the Son: [John 5.22]
(John 5:27) And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Hence, Jesus is the Judge of all men, because Almighty GOD ...
(Acts 17:31) ... 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.

Almighty GOD raised him from the dead!
Which leads me to my next point.

The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
GOD Almighty alone is immortal. [1 Tim 6.16]
Immortality means one cannot die & ALMIGHTY GOD CANNOT DIE!! Immortality is His alone to grant.

So, although both the Father & the Son share titles such as "Shepherd, First & Last", etc; this alone shows a clear distinction.
ALMIGHTY GOD CANNOT DIE.
Jesus, the ONE GOD's Son, died for our sins, hence, Jesus is NOT Almighty GOD!

b) Look at the context of Isaiah's verses concerning GOD not giving His glory.
And then compare (John 17:22) And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Does that then make the disciples, GOD!!
Note, that they may be ONE even as the Father and the Son are ONE!
(See also John 17.11,21; cp. John 10.30) Again, does that then make the disciples, GOD!!
Also, (Mat 5:14) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Yet, Jesus is the light of the world!!
Does that then, make his disciples, Jesus or GOD?

NO! Of course not. Sharing titles as representatives (i.e. the disciples represent Christ, Christ represents GOD; cp. John 17.18) does not make one GOD!! The same goes for Jesus Christ!

c) Concerning "I AM", see Is Jesus the "I AM?"

d) The religious leaders accused Jesus falsely many times. They did not have his word in them [John 8.37], they neither knew him nor his Father [8,19], etc. It is not a good idea to build one's theology on Jesus' accusers; who did NOT believe him to be their Messiah!! John records their false accusations for our edification; you weren't meant to side with them!!

Concerning Mark 2:5ff ... read (Mark 2:12) And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
(Mat 9:8) But when the multitude saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Get it? The people glorified the ONE GOD for giving such authority (in this case, to forgive sins on GOD's behalf) to men i.e. the man Jesus of Nazareth. They recognized that Jesus possessed GOD-given authority, to do what he did; and therefore glorified his GOD & their GOD, in this regard.
The people weren't thinking that Jesus himself was GOD!?!?
See also Jesus Forgave Sins

When accused of making himself equal to GOD; what did Jesus say? He retorted by saying:
(John 5:19) 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. ... etc
"Can do nothing of himself" are not the words of equality!

e) Jesus indeed claimed to be the Messiah. Do you know what that means?
It means you are "The Anointed One OF GOD"
[Luke 2.26, 9.20; Acts 4.26, Rev 11.15]
Every Jew knows that. Therefore, the Anointed One isn't himself GOD!!
Rather, he is YAHWEH's Anointed One, GOD's Christ!! GOD's Appointed King [John 1.49]
Therefore, claiming Messiahship, isn't claiming to be Almighty GOD!?!
Look again, at the same question: "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

Get it? Are you the Messiah, the Son of the ONE GOD?? Every Jew of Christ's era, knew that to claim to be the Messiah, is to claim to be GOD's Son, GOD's Appointed, Foreordained King of Psalm Chapter 2; who will be seated at the ONE GOD's right hand according to Psalm 110.1; and be the Son of man who will come in the clouds of heaven according to Dan 7.13-14.
These terms are synonymous. And that is exactly who Jesus claimed to be!! That Son of GOD. That Son of man!
Now, because the High Priest & Co., didn't believe on him, they accused Jesus of blasphemy i.e. being a false claimant, a false messiah, a false prophet.
[Yet another false accusation. Compare: (John 10:36) Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?]

Read the verses concerning Jesus before the Sanhedrin again. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of the ONE GOD [i.e. the Blessed, Power];

and the Son of man, who will be at GOD's right hand. [Matt 26.63-64, Mark 14:61-62, Luke 22.67-70]
All synonyms meaning the very same thing ... the promised Messiah.

Jesus never claimed to be himself, GOD!!

Stop reading into verses, things which are not there!!
(Also in regards to Isaiah 9.6, see for example, Concerning Isaiah 9:6)

f) Jesus was indeed worshiped.
However, one needs to understand what "worship" in that context meant in the times of Jesus.
Today, we see the word "worship" and think one thing: GOD Almighty alone is worshiped! Not so, in Jesus' time.
The word "worship" [Heb. shachah; Grk. proskuneo] had an alternative meaning when used in regards to men, such as prophets, kings & men of GOD.
(All these terms apply to Jesus of Nazareth!)
To find out what I mean, please read these articles:

The Worship of Christ

Defining the Term "Worship"

g) As concerning the authority in which Jesus spoke:

(John 7:16-18) Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

(John 12:48-50) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

(John 8:26-27) I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

(John 14:10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

h) Concerning prayer ...

(John 16:23) And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Look again at the prayers of the apostles. They always prayed to the ONE GOD, yes, in the name of Jesus!
That doesn't make Jesus' GOD!?! Rather, that makes Jesus, GOD's vindicated, glorified, servant who through his total obedience & sacrifice; has brought about mankind's redemption; therefore, whatsoever you ask the Father in His Son's name, the Father will do it i.e. for Christ' sake; hence:

Acts of the Apostles 4 [NASB]

24. And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said,
"O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,
25. who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
`WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS ?

26. `THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,
AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER
AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.'

27. "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28. to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
29. "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,
30. while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."

Now come on, be honest? Is this a prayer to Jesus? And is Jesus referred to in this prayer as if he is himself, GOD???
No! Jesus (like David) is GOD's servant!! (cp. Isa 42.1, Matt 12.18)
Even in his glorified, immortalized position.

So prayers ought to be offered to the ONE GOD in the name of His Son and holy Servant, Jesus the Messiah our Lord.

This is the apostolic practice throughout the NT.