Infinite Became Finite - Defending Jesus's Deity
- Benjamin Lamp
- Oct 9, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 2, 2024
One core belief in Christianity is the divinity of Jesus, who is considered to be God Himself. To be recognized as a Christian, acknowledging Jesus as God is essential. While this concept may pose a challenge for some, it remains a fundamental truth. In John 14:6, Jesus proclaims, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Failure to fully embrace the Jesus depicted in the Bible and accept His claimed identity results in an incomplete belief.
There are groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses and Muslims who argue against the divinity of Jesus, asserting that he never made such a claim. They regard him as a significant prophet rather than God. A key reason for the rejection of Jesus as God by followers of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Islam is their limited direct engagement with the biblical text. These faiths, along with others, rely on tradition and the teachings of their predecessors to comprehend God and the arguments presented by Christians, rather than examining the scriptures themselves. Even if a Jehovah’s Witness or a Muslim were to encounter passages in the Bible where Jesus is identified as God, their interpretation would likely differ.
Supporting Jesus’ Deity in the Bible
There are more than 100 verses that confirm Jesus’ divine nature. Although it is impractical to mention all of them in this context, a few key ones deserve special attention.
Isaiah 9:6 states, “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.”
Colossians 2:9 – “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily”
Titus 2:13 – “Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”
John 8:58 –” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” This statement by Jesus indicates his eternal existence (before Abraham) and his identification with the divine title “I am” (used by God in Exodus 3:14).
John 1:1
Arguably one of the most controversial yet definitive passages affirming the Deity of Christ. It states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This verse is often a subject of debate, particularly among Jehovah’s Witnesses who interpret it as implying that Jesus was “a” god rather than God. However, this argument is weak as the Gospel of John uses “God” with the definite article in numerous instances. The context of John’s prologue unmistakably presents Jesus Christ as the true God.
Although there are many other verses supporting Christ’s deity, the aforementioned ones are crucial, especially when addressing John 1:1, should you engage in a discussion with a Jehovah’s Witness on this topic.
Great Sources for Study:
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus – Nabeel Qureshi
Comments