How is Jesus both God and one with God?

Jesus’ Nature as Fully Divine

Throughout Scripture, Jesus is portrayed as fully divine. In John 1:1, it is written, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This verse explicitly identifies Jesus (the Word) as God, placing Him eternally with the Father before creation (John 1:2–3). Later in John 1:14, we read, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us,” linking the eternal Word with the historical person, Jesus of Nazareth. Such passages align with additional biblical testimony that proclaims His deity.

In John 8:58, Jesus states, “Truly, truly, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!” By employing the phrase “I am,” He uses language reminiscent of God’s self-identification in Exodus 3:14 (cf. Septuagint). This is a strong claim of divinity. Additionally, Paul declares in Colossians 2:9, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form,” affirming the completeness of His divine nature.

Jesus’ Oneness with the Father

The Bible not only shows Jesus as fully God but also underscores His unique, yet united, relationship with the Father. In John 10:30, Jesus plainly states, “I and the Father are one.” This phrase signifies a oneness that extends beyond mere partnership—it expresses a shared essence, consistent with the teaching that He is co-eternal and co-existing with the Father. After His resurrection, Thomas confesses in John 20:28, “My Lord and my God!” which Jesus does not refute; rather, He affirms Thomas’s acknowledgment, further emphasizing His equality with God.

Additionally, Jesus prays in John 17:21, that believers “may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You.” This prayer reveals the divine unity shared between the Father and the Son and extends to the believers’ spiritual unity. The Son and the Father act as one, having a perfect, inseparable relationship.

Biblical Evidence of the Trinity

While the term “Trinity” does not appear in Scripture, the concept emerges through passages that present Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct Persons within one eternal Being. For instance, in Matthew 28:19, Jesus instructs, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Each Person is equally God, yet there is still only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4).

This co-equality is apparent in the New Testament, where the Holy Spirit is sent by both the Father (John 14:26) and the Son (John 15:26), demonstrating unity of will and essence among the three Persons. Thus, Jesus is not a separate, lesser deity, but one with the Father and the Spirit.

Apostolic Testimony and Early Manuscript Support

The apostles consistently recognized Jesus’ divinity. Besides John, Paul taught in Philippians 2:6 that Jesus, “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” This indicates His preexistent status and intentional humility rather than any denial of deity. The writer of Hebrews affirms that the Father addresses the Son with divine titles (Hebrews 1:8–9) and that all angels worship Him (Hebrews 1:6).

Archaeological and manuscript discoveries bolster these claims. Fragments such as the John Rylands Papyrus (P52), dating to around AD 125, confirm that the earliest Christians circulated manuscripts identifying Jesus as divine. Carefully preserved texts like Codex Sinaiticus (4th century) and Codex Vaticanus (4th century) consistently record the centrality of Jesus’ deity and do not present a diminished view of Christ.

Consistent Affirmation Through Church History

From the earliest period, the Christian community has upheld the teaching that Jesus is both God and one with God. This is reflected in early Christian writings that quote or allude to biblical texts. Writings by Church Fathers such as Ignatius of Antioch (1st–2nd century) and Polycarp (1st–2nd century) repeatedly refer to Jesus with terms reserved for God. Furthermore, the ecumenical gatherings such as the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) clarified the church’s shared belief that Jesus is eternally begotten and of the same essence as the Father—a position drawn from Scripture rather than introduced by later developments.

Resurrection Confirms His Identity

The resurrection stands as the ultimate vindication of Jesus’ divine claims. Paul attests in Romans 1:4 that Jesus “was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead.” Historical assessments of the resurrection—supported by multiple accounts in the Gospels, early creedal statements like 1 Corinthians 15:3–7, and the transformative effect on eyewitnesses—indicate a supernatural event consistent with the deity of Jesus. The willingness of the apostles to face persecution and martyrdom underscores their firm belief in the risen Christ’s identity as God.

Philosophical and Theological Considerations

Philosophically, a central idea is that God’s nature must be eternal and self-sufficient—qualities Jesus embodies when He refers to Himself as “I am.” If Jesus were merely a prophet or moral teacher, His claims to divine authority would be incongruent with the broader scriptural witness of God’s nature.

Theologically, the divinity of Jesus reconciles the human need for completer atonement with God’s holiness. Only God incarnate could offer a perfect sacrifice. Thereby, Jesus’ dual status as fully God and fully man bridges the chasm created by sin and provides the means of salvation (Galatians 4:4–5; Hebrews 2:17–18).

Practical Implications

Knowing Jesus as fully God motivates a response of worshipful reverence (Revelation 5:12–14). It also prompts trust in His authority over creation (Matthew 28:18). Because Jesus shares the same essence as the Father, believers can find assurance in His promise of forgiveness, eternal life, and restoration (John 14:1–3).

Embracing Jesus as God and one with God shapes personal devotion, community worship, and theological understanding. It steers the teaching and mission of the church, anchoring faith not in a mere teacher but in the divine Savior, who alone is worthy of ultimate allegiance.

Conclusion

Jesus is both God and one with God as revealed through direct scriptural statements, affirmed by apostolic testimony, upheld by early manuscripts, demonstrated in His resurrection, and echoed through centuries of Christian teaching. John 1:1, John 10:30, John 20:28, Philippians 2:6, and Colossians 2:9 are only a few of the biblical references that explicitly express His divine identity. This central truth undergirds salvation, faith, and worship, uniting believers in the recognition that Jesus truly is “my Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).