Topical Encyclopedia
IntroductionJesus Christ, central to Christian theology, is recognized as both fully divine and fully human. His divinity is a cornerstone of Christian belief, affirming Him as the Great God and Savior. This entry explores the scriptural basis for the divinity of Jesus Christ, drawing from the Berean Standard Bible to illuminate this profound truth.
Scriptural Affirmation of Divinity1.
The Word Made Flesh: The Gospel of John opens with a profound declaration of Christ's divine nature.
John 1:1-3 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made." This passage identifies Jesus as the eternal Word, coexistent with God and active in creation.
2.
The Incarnation:
John 1:14 further reveals, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." The incarnation of Jesus is a testament to His divine nature, as He embodies the fullness of God in human form.
3.
Divine Titles and Attributes: Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is ascribed titles and attributes that affirm His divinity. In
Titus 2:13 , Paul writes, "while we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Here, Jesus is explicitly called "our great God and Savior," underscoring His divine status.
4.
The I AM Statements: Jesus' self-identification with the divine name "I AM" further asserts His divinity. In
John 8:58 , Jesus declares, "Truly, truly, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!" This statement echoes God's self-revelation to Moses in
Exodus 3:14, linking Jesus directly to the eternal God.
5.
Worship and Adoration: The New Testament records instances where Jesus receives worship, a prerogative reserved for God alone. In
Matthew 14:33 , after Jesus walks on water, "those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God.'" This acknowledgment of His divine sonship is accompanied by acts of worship.
6.
Equality with God:
Philippians 2:6-7 speaks to Jesus' divine equality with God: "Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness." This passage highlights both His divine nature and His humility in the incarnation.
7.
The Fullness of Deity:
Colossians 2:9 affirms, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form." This verse encapsulates the belief that Jesus embodies the complete nature of God, fully divine even in His human existence.
Theological ImplicationsThe divinity of Jesus Christ is foundational to Christian theology, impacting doctrines of salvation, atonement, and the nature of God. As the Great God and Savior, Jesus' divine nature ensures the efficacy of His redemptive work on the cross, providing a perfect and sufficient sacrifice for sin. His resurrection further validates His divine authority and power over life and death.
ConclusionThe divinity of Jesus Christ is a profound and essential truth within Christianity, supported by numerous scriptural affirmations. As believers reflect on the nature of Christ, they are drawn into deeper worship and adoration of Him as the Great God and Savior, who is eternally worthy of praise and devotion.
Nave's Topical Index
Hosea 1:7But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
Nave's Topical IndexTitus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
Nave's Topical Index
Library
He Produces Testimonies to the Same Doctrine from the Apostle Paul ...
... the title of Saviour from the Divinity he put ... might imagine that in what followed
Christ was spoken ... the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Certainly that ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter iv he produces testimonies.htm
Summary view of the Pre-Existence and Divinity of Our Saviour and ...
... of Scripture which speak of his divinity: "In the ... Through me the great are magnified,
and through ... prophets which relate to our Saviour Jesus Christ, and have ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter ii summary view of the.htm
Christ, the Great Teacher
... The Healing miracles reveal not only His divinity but His ... class of miracles shows
the mission of Jesus to be ... The Moral miracles are the life of Christ and its ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study i christ the great.htm
Proof that the virgin Mother of God was not Only Christotocos but ...
... the Virgin, that Mary the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ ought not ... 2391] In order
that you may not take Christ for a ... Why such intervention of Divinity itself? ...
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A Divine Saviour.
... give these as sufficient in my opinion to prove beyond any doubt the Divinity of
our ... And if Jesus Christ is a mere man, we are all guilty of a great sin in ...
/.../moody/the way to god and how to find it/chapter v a divine saviour.htm
And Indeed that Christ was not Only Man, but God Also; that Even ...
... the fact of asserting that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son ... to maintain, by the
association of the divinity of the ... For there is a great risk of saying that the ...
/.../chapter xi and indeed that christ.htm
Christ the Son of Man.
... can come to God through the mediation of Jesus, with a ... the great work of redeeming
the race, Christ had to ... Hence, while we exalt His divinity, we must none the ...
/.../v christ the son of man.htm
The Capitula of the Council.
... the humanity of Christ,] or to mix together the divinity and the ... above, and countless
others besides against our Great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, and if ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the capitula of the council.htm
The Name Jesus and Also the Name Christ were Known from the ...
... with oil prepared from material substances, but, as befits divinity, with the ...
incarnation, may think that our Saviour and Lord Jesus, the Christ, has but ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter iii the name jesus and.htm
The Mystery of the Lord's Incarnation Clearly Implies the Divinity ...
... when the Jews of that day believed with you that Jesus was only a man without Divinity,
and the ... the mention of man and wife the mention of Christ and the ...
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Resources
Questions about Jesus Christ (All) | GotQuestions.orgHow many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? | GotQuestions.orgIs the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar biblical? | GotQuestions.orgJesus: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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