Is Jesus God? Where Jesus Claimed to Be God

Yes. Jesus is God the Son, truly God and truly human, one with the Father in being and distinct from the Father in person. The Gospels do not record the sentence “I am God, worship me.” They record claims that his hearers treated as claims to be God: forgiving sins, “I am,” “I and my Father are one,” and the answer “My Lord and my God.”

Key points

• Mark 2:5–7“Show the words of Mark 2:5–7When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.King James Version (2): Jesus forgives sins, and the scribes say, “who can forgive sins but God only?”
• Mark 14:62–64“Show the words of Mark 14:62–64And 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.King James Version: Jesus answers “I am” to “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” and the council calls it blasphemy.
• John 8:58–59“Show the words of John 8:58–59Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.King James Version (1): “Before Abraham was, I am.” They take up stones. Exodus 3:14“Show the words of Exodus 3:14And 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.King James Version (4) is God’s “I AM.”
• John 10:30–33“Show the words of John 10:30–33I and my Father are one.King James Version: “I and my Father are one.” The charge is blasphemy, “thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”
• John 20:28“Show the words of John 20:28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.King James Version: Thomas says, “My LORD and my God.”
• Philippians 2:6–11“Show the words of Philippians 2:6–11^2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ^2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ^2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ^2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ^2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ^2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.King James Version (5): he was “in the form of God” and equal with God, then took the form of a servant.
• The deity of Christ maps how Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Latter-day Saints, and atheists hear this confession. This page stays on the passages.

Forgiving sins

Mark 2:5–7“Show the words of Mark 2:5–7When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.King James Version, King James Version:

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

The scribes’ sentence is the point. In their law, the one sinned against is the one who forgives. Jesus then heals the man “that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” He does not correct the scribes by saying that a prophet may announce God’s pardon in God’s place. He treats the forgiveness as his to give. The same pattern is in Luke 7:48–49“Show the words of Luke 7:48–49And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.King James Version, where the guests ask, “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?”

“Before Abraham was, I am”

John 8:58“Show the words of John 8:58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.King James Version:

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Exodus 3:14“Show the words of Exodus 3:14And 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.King James Version: “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’ line is not “I existed before Abraham,” in the past tense the King James uses for Abraham (“was”). It is a present “I am,” set against Abraham’s coming to be. John 8:59“Show the words of John 8:59Then 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.King James Version says they took up stones. Stoning is the response to blasphemy, which Leviticus 24:16“Show the words of Leviticus 24:16And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.King James Version prescribes for the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD.

The New World Translation of John 8:58“Show the words of New World Translation of John 8:58Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.”New World Translation (2013)Open on jw.org ↗ (10) reads, “before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” That rendering removes the present “I am” and the echo of Exodus 3:14. The crowd’s stones, in the next verse, fit the claim the King James prints. Jehovah’s Witnesses identify Jesus as a creature, which Is Jesus the creator or a creature? and John 1 and the Word answer from their own translation.

“I and my Father are one”

John 10:30–33“Show the words of John 10:30–33I and my Father are one.King James Version:

I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 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.

“One” here is not a vague closeness of affection only. The hearers say he has made himself God, and they name that blasphemy. Earlier in the same Gospel, John 5:17–18“Show the words of John 5:17–18But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.King James Version says they sought to kill him because he “said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” John 5:23“Show the words of John 5:23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.King James Version says the purpose is “that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.” Equal honor is not the honor given to a messenger.

The council, and Thomas

Mark 14:61–64“Show the words of Mark 14:61–64But 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?King James Version:

Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 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. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

The question is whether he is the Christ, the Son of the Blessed. The answer is “I am,” plus Daniel’s picture of the Son of man at the right hand of power. The high priest tears his clothes and calls the answer blasphemy, worthy of death. A claim to be a mere messianic king was not, by itself, the blasphemy that required torn clothes. Sharing God’s throne was.

After the resurrection, John 20:28“Show the words of John 20:28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.King James Version: “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.” Jesus does not refuse the words. John 1:1“Show the words of John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.King James Version had already said, “the Word was God.” Others speak the same way. Hebrews 1:8“Show the words of Hebrews 1:8But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.King James Version (6): “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.” Titus 2:13“Show the words of Titus 2:13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;King James Version (7) looks for “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Matthew 14:33“Show the words of Matthew 14:33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.King James Version says the disciples in the boat “worshipped him.”

Philippians 2

Philippians 2:6–8“Show the words of Philippians 2:6–8^2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ^2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ^2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.King James Version:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The King James “thought it not robbery” is the translator’s way of saying he did not treat equality with God as something he had to seize. The sentence starts from “the form of God” and equality with God, then describes the human life and the cross. Philippians 2:9–11“Show the words of Philippians 2:9–11Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:King James Version says God gave him the name above every name, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,” which is the honor Isaiah 45:23“Show the words of Isaiah 45:23I 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.King James Version gives to God alone, and “that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” The bowing is to Jesus. The glory is the Father’s, because the Son is not a second god.

Are God and Jesus the same?

They are one God. They are not one person. The Trinity is that confession: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one being, not three gods and not one person taking turns. Jesus prays to the Father. Matthew 26:39“Show the words of Matthew 26:39And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.King James Version: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” A prayer requires a person who speaks and a person who hears. That is why “Jesus is God” does not mean “Jesus is the Father.” If Jesus is God, why did he pray? stays on that question.

Acts 7:59“Show the words of Acts 7:59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.King James Version (8): “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Stephen prays to the Lord Jesus. Christians pray to the Father through the Son, and they also call on the Son, as Stephen does.

What the neighbors say

Muslims honor Jesus as messiah and refuse divine sonship. Qur’an 5:72“Show the words of Qur’an 5:72They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allāh is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allāh, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allāh - Allāh has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.Saheeh InternationalOpen on quran.com ↗ (9), Saheeh International: “They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allāh is the Messiah, the son of Mary.’” Qur’an 4:171“Show the words of Qur’an 4:171O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allāh except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allāh and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allāh and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allāh is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.Saheeh InternationalOpen on quran.com ↗ says he “was but a messenger of Allāh” and “do not say, ‘Three.’” Christians agree that Jesus is not the Father, and that God, Jesus, and Mary are not three gods. Can God have a son? and Does Jesus do what only God does? answer the Qur’an’s charge with the Gospel’s claims.

Jehovah’s Witnesses call Jesus the greatest of God’s creatures and refuse the title Almighty God. Their translation of John 8:58 is quoted above. Latter-day Saints call Jesus divine and mean it, and they teach three separate beings, which Do Mormons believe in the Trinity? quotes from their Gospel Topics page. Are Mormons Christians? compares that teaching with the creed.

Matthew 4:7“Show the words of Matthew 4:7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.King James Version is sometimes offered as a place where Jesus calls himself God. The verse says, “Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” He is refusing Satan’s dare and quoting Deuteronomy. The sentence identifies God, whom Jesus will not test. It is not the “I am” of John 8:58. The passages that carry the claim are the ones listed above, not this refusal.

Frequently asked questions

Did Jesus really say he was God?

He did not leave the formula “I am God, worship me.” He did say “Before Abraham was, I am,” “I and my Father are one,” and “I am” before the high priest, and he forgave sins in his own name. His hearers called those words blasphemy. Thomas called him Lord and God, and Jesus accepted it.

Where in the Bible does it say Jesus is God?

John 1:1“Show the words of John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.King James Version, John 20:28“Show the words of John 20:28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.King James Version, Hebrews 1:8“Show the words of Hebrews 1:8But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.King James Version, and Titus 2:13“Show the words of Titus 2:13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;King James Version use the word God of him. John 5:18“Show the words of John 5:18Therefore 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.King James Version says his calling God his Father was heard as “making himself equal with God.” Philippians 2:6“Show the words of Philippians 2:6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:King James Version says he was in the form of God.

Is Jesus calling himself God in Matthew 4?

No. Matthew 4:7“Show the words of Matthew 4:7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.King James Version is Jesus quoting “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” against Satan’s challenge. The deity passages are John 8, John 10, Mark 2, Mark 14, and John 20.

If Jesus and God are the same, why did Jesus pray?

Because the Son is not the Father. He prays to the Father as a distinct person. Christians do not confess one person wearing two masks. If Jesus is God, why did he pray? quotes the prayers and the same Gospel’s claims.

Do I pray to God or to Jesus?

Both belong to the one God. The pattern in the letters is prayer to the Father in Jesus’ name. Acts 7:59“Show the words of Acts 7:59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.King James Version also shows Stephen calling on the Lord Jesus. Refusing to honor the Son is the thing John 5:23“Show the words of John 5:23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.King James Version says dishonors the Father.

Keep reading

• The deity of Christ
• The Trinity
• If Jesus is God, why did he pray?
• John 1 and the Word
• Do Mormons believe in the Trinity?
• Was Jesus a real person?