IS JESUS GOD?
Many people, including some Christians
and Muslims, will tell you that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. From the earliest days, Christians, who
suffered excruciating deaths rather than worship any but the True God, preached
the worship of Jesus. How ironic, if
they died rather than commit idolatry, yet they were committing idolatry the
whole time. Countless Muslims, brave in
battle, who through the ages fought and died because
Mohammed said to fight Jihads against Christian nations and "other"
polytheists. How ironic if, in the name of worshipping God, they struggled so
long to shut down the places of worship for worshippers of God.
Satan must have misled one group. Either Jesus is God, and Muslims have been fiendishly
misled, dying in battle needlessly. Or else, Jesus is not God, and Christians
have been fiendishly misled being killed for their faith, in vain. Do you agree that one must be
fundamentally wrong?
If God did in fact reveal Himself, either
through the preserved teachings of Jesus, or the preserved teachings of
Mohammed, how could an objective person tell which was true? This paper
proposes a way, but first we have to acknowledge three things.
Three Admissions
1) Jesus, in the early part of His
earthly ministry, did not claim to be God. Imagine an unknown teacher,
appearing in the midst of the monotheistic Jews, spouting off this claim, with
no evidence nor explanation. No, it was only later in
His ministry, that Jesus actually said that He is God.
2) It is not sufficient to show that
Jesus claimed to be God. Otherwise people could define that title in a variety
of ways. Rather, we also have to show that He was God in the sense of accepting
worship, that He claimed to be equal in honor with God the Father, and was One with God the Father, versus a separate or lesser god.
3) Since most non-Christians question the
reliability of the gospels’ recording of Jesus’ words, corroborating evidence
from the early followers of Jesus, and even what non-Christians said about
Christians, is important to build an "ironclad" case.
Jesus’ Own Words That He is God
Let’s ignore for now some of the plain
statements about Jesus, such as John 1:1 "The Word was God", since
they were said by others not in His presence. This still leaves a number of
places for us to consider.
Jesus Himself said He was God in John 8:58. Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" The word "I
am," was the divine name of God, used countless times in the Old
Testament. This word "YHWH" in Hebrew, is
explained as the "personal name" of God in Exodus 3:14-15, 20:5;
Isaiah 42:8; 44:6, this personal name of God has been lost to Non-Christians.
Now the Jews either understood Jesus’ communication correctly when they picked
up stones to stone Him, or else they misunderstood Jesus’ communication. Jesus
could have said "there is a mistake here, you misunderstand me. I do not
claim to be God like you say." However, there is no record of Jesus ever
saying there was any mistake. On the contrary, we have records of the apostles,
as well as their disciples, reiterating that Jesus is God.
The Jew’s responded directly to Jesus’
claim in John 10:33:
"‘We are not stoning you for any of these’, replied the Jews, ‘but for
blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’"
Jesus replied to them that
1) Since Scripture called non-divine
being "gods" in Psalm 82:6-7, how much more fitting it is it to call
the One uniquely set apart as God’s Son.
2) Even if you will not believe Jesus’
words alone, at least consider the miracles to understand that the Father is in
Jesus and Jesus is in the Father.
On other occasions the scribes and Pharisees wanted to
stone Jesus because He claimed to be God. Now imagine a godly person being
accused, on multiple occasions, of a wicked crime he did not commit. Imagine
him barely escaping some times, but every single time, he never denied that he
committed the crime. Can you imagine this? - I cannot. Yet that is what some
critics think Jesus did for the crime of blasphemy in claiming to be God.
Negative affirmation: Jesus said of the Pharisees, "if
you do not believe that I am the One I claim to be, you will indeed die in your
sins." John 8:24b.
Positive affirmation of Thomas: Thomas the disciple called Jesus God in
John 20:28. Thomas even went further than that. John 20:28 actually says that
Thomas said to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus replied to
Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those
who have not seen and yet have believed." Jesus has no hint of rebuke
toward Thomas. Indeed, the only remotely negative thing Jesus said is that
those who have not seen Jesus in person and believe (this about Jesus) are more
blessed than those who have seen Jesus and believe this. Now either
a) Thomas was wrong, and he sinned by calling Jesus God, and
perhaps Jesus sinned by accepting this and not rebuking Thomas, or
b) Jesus was right to affirm what Thomas said.
Do you agree that either: They were both
right, or that Thomas and Jesus were both wrong?
Jesus would send His angels in Matthew 13:41, which are the angels
of God (Luke 12:8-9; 15:10).
Jesus said he would judge the world (Matthew 24:31-46, 25:31-3; John
5:21-22, 27). Yet is God who is coming to judge the world (Psalm 50:1-6; Joel
3:12; Deuteronomy 32:35)
At Jesus’ trial for blasphemy before the
Sanhedrin, they could have let him go. All Jesus had to do was say "I am
not God, people thinking I was God is a mistake." Yet Jesus never said
that, and the trial continued.
"All that belongs to the Father is
mine." John 16:15a.
Now it is easy to understand someone saying "All that belongs to me I give
to God", but Jesus says, "All that belongs to the Father is
mine." I have never heard anyone explain how this could be a true
statement and Jesus not be God.
A non-Christian might wonder if these were
added much later. However, an ancient Bible manuscript called the Bodmer II papyrii (125-175 A.D.),
has preserved John 1:1-6:11; 6:35b-14:26; 14:29-30; 15:2-26; 16:2-4, 6-7;
16:10-20:20; 20:22-23; 20:25-21:9; 21:12,17.
Jesus Accepted Worship
Jesus Himself told Satan that no one
should be worshipped and served except God (Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8). Yet…
Jesus accepted worship. Only God should be worshipped, and Jesus
was showing that He was God. In John 9:38 when Jesus spoke to the (formerly)
blind man a second time, Jesus asked him "Do you believe in the Son of
God?" The man asked who He was? Jesus said
"You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." Then
the man said "Lord, I believe!" and he worshipped Him. Jesus affirmed
Him for his belief, and criticized the Jews who did not believe. Also note that
Jesus did not ask if the man believed in God; Jesus asked the man if He
believed in the Son of God.
From a leper Jesus accepted worship (Matthew 8:2)
The women at the tomb worshipped Jesus, clasping his feet, in
Matthew 28:9
God sent the wise men to worship Jesus (Matthew 2:2), and we should worship
too.
The disciples of Jesus, after Jesus walked on water, worshipped
Him in Matthew 14:33. None of the disciples ever heard Jesus say this was wrong.
After Jesus rose from the dead, the
disciples worshipped Him
in Luke 24:52 and Matthew 28:17.
Against this, the angel of God refused to allow
anyone to worship him (the angel) in Revelation 19:10 and 22:8-9. Likewise,
Paul and Barnabas refused worship of themselves in Acts 14:11-16.
Either Jesus sinned in accepting worship,
or else He was correct in doing so.
Jesus Demonstrated That He was God
Jesus had authority over demons and Jesus
said His miracles spoke for him (John 10:25). The Old Testament prophesied of
Jesus. Jesus also said that no one came to the Father except through Him (John
14:6; 6:45; ~8:24) However, many non-Christians might agree with these things
about Jesus, without it proving that Jesus is God.
Jesus made Himself equal with God
a) Jesus said we are to honor the Son just as we honor the
Father (John 5:23)
b) Request for prayer in Jesus’ name John 14:13-14; 15:7
c) The Father and Jesus "own" all in common. John
16:15;17:10.
d) On earth the Father lived in Jesus. John 10:38;14:10-11.
e) On earth Jesus was in the Father. John 10:38;14:11
f) If you really know Jesus, then you know the Father and have
seen the Father. John 14:7-9
Jesus said, "I and the Father are
one" in John 10:30.
Jesus had authority, for he said, "You have heard it said, … but I say to you" (Matthew 5:21-22, 78-78)
Jesus can meet our needs in a way that only God can. "If any
man is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink" in
John 7:37. See also John 4:14.
Jesus gave His peace to us; He did not
say the Father’s peace in John 14:27.
In John 6:35 Jesus said He was the bread
of life.
Jesus said for us to "believe also
in Me." In John 14:1b. Do you believe in Jesus?
See also John 11:25.
Jesus said for all who are weary and
heavy-laden to come to Him in Matthew 11:28. This offer is still available
today, so come to Jesus.
The Bodmer
14/15 papyrii, also called p75, was written 175-225
A.D. It contains most of Luke and John. Specifically, it contains Luke 3:18-22;
3:33-4:2; 4:34-5:10; 5:37-6:4; 6:10-7:32; 7:35-39,41-43; 7:46-9:2; 9:4-17:15;
17:19-18:18; 22:4-24:53. It also has John 1:1-11:45; 11:48-57; 12:3-13:1;
13:8-9; 14:8-29; 15:7-8.
Jesus Forgave Sins Against God
Only God can forgive sins, and Jesus
forgave sins against God, then Jesus was showing that He was God in Matthew
9:2-6; Mark 2:5-12, and Luke 5:20-23. Jesus first said to the paralytic
"Son, your sins are forgiven you." The scribes said Jesus was
speaking blasphemy, because no on can forgive sins but God alone. Jesus did not
contradict their statement. He merely asked a question: "Why do you reason
about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk? But
that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’ - He
said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your
house.’ And immediately the paralytic rose up and did that!
Jesus did one of two things:
a) Showed He was God by proving His power,
b) Deliberately misled them to believe
that He was God when He was not.
The question for us is that since this is
how Jesus taught and led, do we trust Jesus to follow where He leads or not?
Now someone might reason that perhaps
Jesus was merely pronouncing God’s forgiveness, rather than forgiving sins
against God on His own authority. However, note that Jesus said "But that
you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins". So
Jesus said it was He who had the power, and he was not just announcing that the
Father forgave.
In Luke 7:48-50, Jesus also told the
woman who anointed His feet "Your sins are forgiven." Those who sat
with Him said, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
Notice what they "did" to get
forgiveness. They did not wash themselves enough times, pray enough prayers,
pay enough money, or cross enough burning deserts. All they did was come to
Jesus, and He freely gave them forgiveness.
The Rest of the New Testament
The gospels and the rest of the New
Testament shows that Jesus’ followers were taught that
Jesus was God.
a) Jesus and the Father have the same nature (Philippians 2:5)
b) Both are rightfully worshipped (Hebrews 1:6)
c) Both rightfully called God (John 1:1; Heb 1:8,9)
d) Both are prayed to (Acts 7:7:59-60)
e) Everything in the world was created through Christ (John
1:3, 10, Colossians 1:16)
f) Everything is sustained through Christ (
g) The fullness of deity is in Jesus (Colossians 1:19).
h) Jesus is called God in 2 Cor.
11:3 and Titus 2:13
i) Worshipped in Heaven in Revelation 5:8-9; 22:20
Common Names in the Two Testaments
Isaiah 7:14 says there would be one born
called Emmanuel, that is, "God with us". Psalm 110:1 says, "The
Lord said to my Lord…". Who is this Lord who was
prophesied about 1,000 years before Jesus? By the way, this is one of the most
quoted Old Testament verses in the New Testament. This is an unsolvable mystery
to Muslims as it is to Jews. Jesus answered this riddle, by saying it referred
to himself.
A non-Christian might wonder if these
parts were a later addition. However, not only do Suras
5:46-48, 3:48 show that Jesus was taught the Torah and confirmed God’s Word,
but the Dead Sea Scrolls include many copies of the Old Testament from the time
of Jesus.
The Old Testament also had many names for
God, and this section proves the New Testament applied these names to Jesus.
|
Title of God |
The Father |
Jesus |
|
Creator |
Genesis 1:1; Isaiah
42:5 |
John 1:1-3; Heb.
1:8,10; |
|
Bridegroom |
Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah
2:2 |
Mt 25:1; John 3:29;
Rev 21:2 |
|
First and Last |
Isaiah 44:6; 43:10f |
Rev 1:17; 2:8;
22:12-13 |
|
Every knee will bow
to… |
Isaiah 45:22-23 |
Philippians 2:10-11 |
|
Forgiver of sins |
Ps 130:4; Jer 31:34 |
Acts 5:31; 13:38; |
|
Giver of bread |
Exodus 16:4-15 |
John 6:35,40-51; 53-58 |
|
Giver of life |
Gen. 1:30; Dt. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6 |
John 5:21,25,29; 6:63;
10:10 |
|
Gives living water |
Jeremiah 2:13; Isaiah
55:1 |
John 4:10 |
|
God |
Isaiah 10:20-21;
43:10; Ps 89:2-6 |
John 20:28; Titus 2:13 |
|
Healer |
Exodus 15:26; Psalm
103:3 |
Mark 5:30; Acts 9:34;
Mt 4:23; 9:35 |
|
Holy One |
Isaiah 41:16; 43:15; Hab 1:12 |
John 6:69 |
|
Husband |
Hos 2:16; Isa 50:2; Jer 3:1,14 |
Eph 5:28-33; Rom 7:4 |
|
Judge the living and
the dead |
Isa 33:22; Ps 50:4,6 |
2 Tim 4:1; John
5:22,27 |
|
Judgment seat |
Rom. 6:5; 14:10 |
2 Corinthians 5:10 |
|
King |
Ps. 5:2; 1 Sam. 12:12;
Mal. 1:4 |
Mt. 27:11; Mark 15:2; Jn 18:37-38 |
|
Life |
Deuteronomy 30:32 |
Mk 12:10; Jn 14:6; 1 Jn 1:1-2; 5:11-12 |
|
Light |
Ps 27:1; Micah 7:8 |
John 1:9; 8:12 |
|
Lord |
Psalm 110:1; Mark
12:36 |
Mt 12:8; Mk 12:36; Jn 13:13; Jms 2:1 |
|
Lord of Lords |
Dt. 10:17 |
Rev 17:14; 19:16 |
|
Mighty God |
Joshua 22:22; Job 9:19 |
Isaiah 9:6 |
|
Must believe in |
Ps 78:21-22,32; Isaiah
43:10 |
John 6:29-30; 8:24;
11:25; 14:1,6 |
|
Our hope |
Psalm 33:20,22; 130:7 |
1 Timothy 1:1; Romans
15:12 |
|
Purifies us |
Psalm 51:10; Isaiah
1:18,25 |
Titus 2:14; 1 John 1:7 |
|
Raise the dead |
Isa. 26:9; Hosea 13:14;
Job 3:13-17; 19:26-27 |
Jn 5:21; 11:38-44 |
|
Ransoms us |
Jeremiah 31:11 |
Mt 20:28; Mark 10:45;
1 Tim 2:6; Heb 9:15 |
|
Redeemer |
Ps 130:7; Hos 13:14; Isa. 44:6 |
Gal 4:5; Titus
2:13-14; Rev 5:9 |
|
Righteous One |
Psalm 11:7; Isaiah
24:16 |
1 John 2:1 |
|
Rock, Stone |
Ps 1:2; 18:2,31 95:1;
Isaiah 44:8 |
1 Cor
10:4; 1 Pet 2:6-8 |
|
Ruler with a
scepter/rod |
Psalm 45:6 |
Revelation 19:15;
Hebrews 1:8 |
|
Savior |
Isaiah 43:4,11; Isaiah
45:21 |
Titus 1:3-4; 1 Jn 4:14,42; Acts 4:10 |
|
Shepherd |
Ps 23:1; Isaiah 40:11 |
John 10:11; 1 Pet 5:4;
Heb 13:20 |
|
Sovereign and Lord |
Genesis 15:2,8; Amos
1:8; Ob. 1 |
Jude 4 |
|
Sword-holder |
Psalm 17:13 |
Revelation 19:15 |
|
Worthy of praise &
honor |
Psalm 18:3; 108:3-5 |
Revelation 5:13b; John
5:23 |
The John Rylands
manuscript has John 18:37-38, where Christ says before Pilate that He is a
king. It is dated 117-138 A.D.
What Other Followers of Jesus Taught
Apart from early New Testament
manuscripts, we have another witness of Jesus’ teaching, the writings of the
early church. Here are what 14 of them taught.
Ignatius (died 107 or 116 A.D.) wrote frequently
of Christ as God. For example, he wrote of "the blood of God" in
chapter 1 of his letter to the Ephesians.
Letter to Diognetus
(c.130 A.D.) a disciple
of the apostles (chapter 100 in his Letter to Diognetus
chapter 7 wrote of Christ sent as King, God, man, and savior.
Justin Martyr (wrote about 135-165 A.D.)
"The Word of Wisdom, who is Himself
this God begotten of the Father of all things, …"
Dialogue with Trypho ch.
61. See ch.55,56,59,62-64,66,74-78.
Melito of
Theophilus, bishop of
Irenaeus (120-202 A.D.) wrote in Against
Heresies 3:19:2, "Jesus is Himself in His own right,
...God, and Lord, ..."
Hippolytus (225-235/6 A.D.) in Against the
Heresy of One Noetus mentioned "Son of God
who, being God, became man."
Tertullian (200-220/240 A.D.) "The Word, therefore, is both
always in the Father, as He says, ‘I am in the Father;’ and is always with God,
according to what is written, ‘And the Word was with
God;’ and never separate from the Father, or other than the Father, since ‘I
and the Father are one.’" Against Praxeus
chapter 8.
Cyprian (246-258 A.D.) mentions “Jesus Christ, our God and Lord” in
Treatise 9.6 on the Advantage of Patience p.485
Bishop Nemesianus
of Thubunae mentions that “our Lord Jesus Christ spoke with His divine voice”
The Seventh Council of Carthage (258 A.D.) p.566
Gregory Thaumaturgus (240-265 A.D.) calls Jesus “God the
Word” in Oration and Panegyric Addressed to Origen
argument 4 p.24.
Dionysius of
Dionysius of
Theognostus of
Proof from even Non-Christians that Christians Taught Jesus is God
Even the enemies of Christianity bear
witness that Christians worshipped Jesus as God.
Pliny the Younger (governor and persecutor of Christians
in 112 A.D.)
"They [Christians] were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day
before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to
a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds…"
Lucian (2nd century satirist) "The Christians, you know,
worship a man to this day - the distinguished personage who introduced their
novel rites, and was crucified on that account…You see, these misguided
creatures…" (Death of Peregrine 11)
This is significant, because an official
Roman query states that Christians worshipped Christ as God as early as 112
A.D. Thus, if a Non-Christian wishes to say that worshipping Jesus as God was
an "error" introduced later, this was introduced prior to 112 A.D. By
the way, the apostle John wrote the book of John around 90 A.D., and he lived a
while after that. Again, the first fragment of John we have today that mentions
Christ as a king (an un-Islamic term) is the John Rylands
fragment, 117-138 A.D.
Conclusion
Early Bible manuscripts show, and the
writings of followers and even foes of Christ confirm, that Jesus taught that
He was God, demonstrated He was God, and accepted worship. The evidence
stretches from c.112 A.D., up through Mohammed’s time, when ‘Aisha reports that Mohammed was taught the Gospels in
Arabic (Bukhari vol.4:605; Sahih
Muslim 1:301 p.98). Jesus was taught the Gospel according to Sura 3:48, and Christians are the
people of the Gospel in Sura 5:46.