Where does it say that Jesus is God?

BY JOHN MARTIGNOLI

Q: I have a co-worker who says he is a Christian, but does not believe Jesus is God because “Scripture nowhere says Jesus is God.”  Are there any verses of Scripture that I can point him to that actually say Jesus is God?

A: First of all, believing that Jesus is God is one of the core beliefs that identifies one as a Christian.  So, even though your co-worker calls himself a Christian, he is not one.  

Regarding whether or not there are any verses of Scripture that say, “Jesus is God,” yes, there are plenty that say so directly and indirectly:    

Titus 2:13, “...our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ...” Jesus is directly referred to as “God and Savior.”  

Titus 3:4, “...God our Savior...” 1 John 4:14, “...the Father has sent His Son as the Savior of the world.”  Scripture refers to Jesus Christ as the “Savior” and refers to the “Savior” as God.

Also, in Titus, it states that Jesus gave Himself to “purify for Himself a people of His own” (Titus 2:14). And, in 2 Cor 6:16, it has the “living God” saying this: “I will be their God and they will be my people.” Well, we’re Jesus’ people and we’re the people of the living God...hmm. Isn’t then Jesus the living God?

John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” John 17:11, “That they may be one, even as We are one.”  What human being would ever say, “I and the Father are one?” How can Jesus and the Father be one, if Jesus is not God?

Isaiah 62:5, “...as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” Matt 9:15, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?”  God is the bridegroom. Jesus is the bridegroom. Therefore, Jesus is God.

Romans 9:5, “to [the Israelites] belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, Who is God over all...” The Christ, Jesus, is God over all...so saith the Scriptures. How can Jesus be God over all, yet not be God?

John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Jesus, the Word, is referred to directly as God.

Rev 19:16 refers to Jesus Christ as “King of kings and Lord of lords.” Yet, Deut 10:17 refers to the Almighty God as “God of gods and Lord of lords.” How can Jesus be Lord of lords if the God of gods is Lord of lords, unless, of course, Jesus is God?

Heb 1:6 has the Father telling the angels to “worship” Jesus. Isn’t God the only one deserving of worship? Rev 19:10 tells us to “worship God.” But, God tells His angels to worship Jesus. Hmm.

John 5:21, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will.” John 5:26, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself...”  Isn’t God the only one Who can give life to Whom He will? Isn’t God the only one who can have life “in Himself”? Yet Jesus does.

In Exodus 3:13-14, Moses asks God His name. God replies that His name is “I Am.” In John 8:58, how does Jesus identify Himself? “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am.” Jesus identifies Himself by using the name that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob used to identify Himself.  What happens? The Jews try to stone Him. Why? Because stoning is the punishment for blasphemy. So, either Jesus blasphemed, by applying God’s name to Himself, or He was indeed God.

Finally, there is the verse that leaves absolutely no doubt, John 20:28, when Thomas says to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”  It’s really hard to get around that one.

About John Martignoni
John Martignoni is the Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and also the President of the Bible Christian Society. John's column, Apologetics 101, appears regularly in the diocesan newspaper, the One Voice.  If you have a question about the Catholic Faith, please send an email to: jmartignoni@bhmdiocese.org.  And check out John's free audio and written apologetics materials at: www.biblechristiansociety.com.