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Does Jesus Have a God?

Jesus calls the Father his God in John 20:17, and Paul calls the Father the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:8–9 has the Father call the Son God. Both sentences are in the incarnation.

Updated 2026-10-11 · Christianity

Author Paul Ambrose · GitHub

Part of Common Arguments

On This Page

Yes. The risen Jesus tells Mary he is ascending to his Father and her Father, and to his God and her God. That sentence is about the Son in his human life and his risen office. Hebrews 1:8Hebrews 1:8 · King James VersionBut unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.Hebrews 1:8 · King James VersionOpen source is the other direction: the Father calls the Son God. Jesus has a God because he is the incarnate Son. He is also God.

Key Points

  • John 20:17John 20:17 · King James VersionJesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.John 20:17 · King James VersionOpen source has Jesus say, “my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” John 20:28John 20:28 · King James VersionAnd Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.John 20:28 · King James VersionOpen source, eleven verses later, has Thomas say “My Lord and my God.”
  • Ephesians 1:3Ephesians 1:3 · King James VersionBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:Ephesians 1:3 · King James VersionOpen source blesses the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:17Ephesians 1:17 · King James VersionThat the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:Ephesians 1:17 · King James VersionOpen source calls him the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory.
  • 1 Corinthians 11:31 Corinthians 11:3 · King James VersionBut I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.1 Corinthians 11:3 · King James VersionOpen source says the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 15:281 Corinthians 15:28 · King James VersionAnd when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.1 Corinthians 15:28 · King James VersionOpen source says the Son will be subject to the Father, that God may be all in all.
  • Revelation 3:12Revelation 3:12 · King James VersionHim that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.Revelation 3:12 · King James VersionOpen source has Jesus speak of “my God” four times in the letter to Philadelphia.
  • Hebrews 1:8–9Hebrews 1:8–9 · King James Version1:8 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. 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.Hebrews 1:8–9 · King James VersionOpen source has the Father say to the Son, “Thy throne, O God,” and then, “therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee.”
  • The Church of God General Conference reads the “my God” lines as proof that the Father alone is God. (7) The same New Testament has the Father address the Son as God.
  • Philippians 2:6–11Philippians 2:6–11 · King James Version2:6 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.Philippians 2:6–11 · King James VersionOpen source says he was in the form of God, took the form of a servant, and is confessed as Lord to the glory of God the Father.

The Sentences

John 20:17John 20:17 · King James VersionJesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.John 20:17 · King James VersionOpen source is the risen Jesus, speaking to Mary. He has not yet ascended. He sends her to his brothers with the message that he ascends to his Father and their Father, his God and their God. The New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) reads the same way: “I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.” (8) The study note says the resurrected Jesus viewed the Father as his God, as Mary did.

John 20:28John 20:28 · King James VersionAnd Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.John 20:28 · King James VersionOpen source is still in the same chapter. Thomas answers him, “My Lord and my God.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ note on that verse says Thomas may have meant “a god,” or a representative, because Jesus had just spoken of “my God.” The Greek Thomas uses is ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου. The chapter holds both sentences: Jesus has a God, and Thomas calls Jesus God. John 1 and the Word is the related argument at the start of the Gospel.

Ephesians 1:3Ephesians 1:3 · King James VersionBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:Ephesians 1:3 · King James VersionOpen source and Ephesians 1:17Ephesians 1:17 · King James VersionThat the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:Ephesians 1:17 · King James VersionOpen source are Paul’s. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:31 Corinthians 11:3 · King James VersionBut I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.1 Corinthians 11:3 · King James VersionOpen source sets an order: the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 15:27–281 Corinthians 15:27–28 · King James Version15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.1 Corinthians 15:27–28 · King James VersionOpen source says all things are put under his feet, and that when the Son has done that he himself will be subject to the one who put all things under him, so that God may be all in all. Revelation 3:12Revelation 3:12 · King James VersionHim that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.Revelation 3:12 · King James VersionOpen source is Jesus speaking of the temple of my God, the name of my God, and the city of my God.

The Incarnation

These lines name the Son as man, and as the one who obeys the Father. Philippians 2:6–7Philippians 2:6–7 · King James Version2:6 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:Philippians 2:6–7 · King James VersionOpen source starts from the form of God. What he takes is the form of a servant, the likeness of men. A servant has a God. The Son in that likeness prays, obeys, and calls the Father his God. Matthew 27:46Matthew 27:46 · King James VersionAnd about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?Matthew 27:46 · King James VersionOpen source is the same voice from the cross: my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, the words of Psalm 22:1Psalms 22:1 · King James VersionMy God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?Psalms 22:1 · King James VersionOpen source.

“Head” in 1 Corinthians 11:31 Corinthians 11:3 · King James VersionBut I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.1 Corinthians 11:3 · King James VersionOpen source is order, not a denial that the Son is God. The Father is the head of Christ in the way the Son is sent, obeys, and returns the kingdom. 1 Corinthians 15:281 Corinthians 15:28 · King James VersionAnd when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.1 Corinthians 15:28 · King James VersionOpen source is the end of that order. The Son subjects himself. The goal of the sentence is that God may be all in all, not that the Son ceases to be God. John 5:19John 5:19 · King James VersionThen 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.John 5:19 · King James VersionOpen source says the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do. The dependence is the Son’s relation to the Father. It is not a start date for the Son.

The Church of God General Conference says there is only one God, the Father alone. (7) That reading takes “my God” as the whole story. It does not include the Father’s address to the Son.

The Father Calls the Son God

Hebrews 1:8–9Hebrews 1:8–9 · King James Version1:8 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. 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.Hebrews 1:8–9 · King James VersionOpen source quotes Psalm 45:6–7Psalms 45:6–7 · King James Version45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.Psalms 45:6–7 · King James VersionOpen source. Unto the Son he says, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. The next line says, Thou hast loved righteousness, therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee. One quotation holds both. The Son is God, and the Son has a God who anoints him. That is the shape of the incarnation and of the Son’s office, not a contradiction the writer failed to notice.

John 1:1John 1:1 · King James VersionIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 1:1 · King James VersionOpen source says the Word was God. John 1:14John 1:14 · King James VersionAnd 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.John 1:14 · King James VersionOpen source says the Word was made flesh. The flesh is why the Son says “my God.” The Word is why Thomas says “my God” to him. The Trinity is the confession that these are one God, Father and Son, not two gods and not one person wearing two masks. What vs. Who: One Being, Three Persons is that distinction: one being, three persons.

Frequently Asked Questions

If Jesus Has a God, How Is He God?

He is the Son who became man. As man he has the Father as his God, the way he has a mother, hunger, and a death. As the Word he is God. Hebrews 1:8–9 says both in one address from the Father.

Does 1 Corinthians 15:28 Mean the Son Stops Being Lord?

It says he will be subject, so that God may be all in all. Philippians 2:11Philippians 2:11 · King James VersionAnd that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:11 · King James VersionOpen source already says the confession that Jesus is Lord is to the glory of God the Father. Subjection is the Son’s relation to the Father. It is not his removal from the one God.

Keep Reading

References

  1. Gospel of John, 20:17; 20:28John 20:17 · King James VersionJesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.John 20:17 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
  2. Letter to the Ephesians, 1:3; 1:17Ephesians 1:3 · King James VersionBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:Ephesians 1:3 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
  3. First Letter to the Corinthians, 11:3; 15:27–281 Corinthians 11:3 · King James VersionBut I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.1 Corinthians 11:3 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
  4. Book of Revelation, 3:12Revelation 3:12 · King James VersionHim that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.Revelation 3:12 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
  5. Letter to the Hebrews, 1:8–9Hebrews 1:8–9 · King James Version1:8 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. 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.Hebrews 1:8–9 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
  6. Letter to the Philippians, 2:6–11Philippians 2:6–11 · King James Version2:6 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.Philippians 2:6–11 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
  7. What We Believe, Statement of Faith, God (Church of God General Conference. Only one God, the Father alone.)
  8. New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of the Holy Scriptures, John 20:17 (2013 revision) (Study Edition. Jesus tells Mary he ascends to his Father and her Father, and to his God and her God.)

See Also

  • What Is the Incarnation? — The incarnation is the Son of God taking a human nature and remaining God. The Catechism says he became truly man while remaining truly God. John 1 says the Word was made flesh.
  • Did Jesus Exist Before He Was Born? — The Church of God General Conference says Jesus came into existence at his conception. John 8:58, John 17:5, 1 Corinthians 10:4, and Hebrews 1:10 say the Son was already there.
  • Is Eternal Generation in the Bible? — The creed of 381 says the Son is begotten of the Father before all worlds, not made. Scripture calls him the only begotten, quotes Psalm 2:7, and says the Father has given the Son life in himself. The phrase “eternal generation” is the church’s, not a verse.
  • Is Jesus God? — Yes. Jesus is truly God and truly human. Where Jesus claimed to be God is this page: he forgave sins, applied God’s name and honor to himself, and received Thomas’s confession that he is Lord and God.
  • What Is the Deity of Christ? — The deity of Christ is the confession that Jesus is truly God and truly human. This page maps how Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Latter-day Saints, and atheists hear that claim. The verses are on the passage page.