Is Jesus God?

IS JESUS GOD?

Note to self: I already searched in Young's Literal Translation for "Jesus God".

Introduction

Is Jesus really God? Or was he just a man? What a question! There are many people who insist that Jesus was (and still is) God, and they will never waver in that belief, no matter what you say. But there are many people who insist that Jesus was just a man, and they will never waver in that belief, no matter what you say. How can people be so certain of opposite answers? Who is right? Can they all be right?
So, is Jesus God? My answer is, to be brief, "Yes and no." Yes, they are all right. And no, they are all wrong. I believe that Jesus was God, in a sense. I suppose I should explain what I mean.
My belief is very difficult to explain, but on this web page, I will try. I anticipate that this explanation will be very long, and it will take me a long time, maybe even a year, to put it into words. (If you want to know whether I have finished, scroll down to the bottom and see if it says, "This web page is under construction...")
I will begin by providing evidence that Jesus was God. Then I will offer evidence that Jesus was just a man. Then I will present what I believe.

Evidence that Jesus is God

Let us look at the biblical evidence. According to the New Testament, Jesus is God.
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___ John 17:1y,y,5z
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___ John 1:18
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___ Romans 9:5
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___ Titus 2:13
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___ Hebrews 1:8
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___ II Peter 1:1
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Thomas said to [Jesus], "My Lord and my God!" John 10:28
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... our God and Savior Jesus Christ... II Peter 1:1y
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... our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,... Titus 2:13z
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For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,... Colossians 2:9
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... our great God..., Jesus Christ... Titus 2:13y,y
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"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?... I know who you are --- the Holy One of God!" Mark 1:24x,z
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He cried out..., "... What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?... I know who you are --- the Holy One of God!" Luke 4:33y, 34y,z
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Often, the Bible says that Jesus was "the son of God". The following passages equate "the Son of God" and "God"...
The Son [of God] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16
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... we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. I John 5:20z
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So here are some passages in the Bible that say Jesus was the son of God.
The beginning of the good news about Jesus..., the Son of God... Mark 1:1x,z
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"What do you [Jesus] want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. Matthew 8:29x
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He shouted..., "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?..." Mark 5:7x,y
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... he cried out..., "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?..." Luke 8:28y,y
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... the centurion and those with him... exclaimed, "Surely [Jesus] was the Son of God!" Matthew 27:54y,z
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... Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God... John 20:31y
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... who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:4z
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God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I Corinthians 1:9
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... the Son of God, Jesus Christ... II Corinthians 1:19y
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... Jesus the Son of God... Hebrews 4:14y
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Simon Peter answered [Jesus], "You are... the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:16x,z
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The God and Father of the Lord Jesus... II Corinthians 11:31x
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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... Ephesians 1:3x
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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... II Corinthians 1:3x
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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! I Peter 1:3x
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We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... Colossians 1:3x
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... you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6z
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Jesus claimed to be the son of God.
___ ___
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In addition, the way other people acted suggests that they believed Jesus claimed to be God.
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Also, people worshiped Jesus. But people should not worship anybody but God. [___,___,...,___]
___ Matthew 2:11
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___ Matthew 14:32-33
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___ Matthew 28:16-17
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Evidence that Jesus was just a man

Let us look at the biblical evidence. Cleopas and another man, walking to Emmanus, said that Jesus was a prophet. (A prophet is a human who God speaks through.)
... "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people." Luke 24:19z
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Concerning the claim above that the "Son of God" is the same as "God", if you take a closer look, the passages don't really equate the "Son of God" and "God".
... we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. I John 5:20z
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In the second sentence, "He" is actually referring to "God", not "Jesus".
The Son [of God] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16
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Just because Jesus was the image of God, that doesn't mean he was God. Genesis ___ says that we are all created in the image of God. Now, it's rather strange to say that a man was the firstborn and that everything was created in him, through him, and for him. But none of that means that he is God.

And the Bible says that are all sons of God.
___ Galatians 1:3
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___ Galatians 3:26
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___ Ephesians 1:2
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___ Colossians 1:2
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There are several distinct differences between Jesus and God. See this web page for a list.

According to the Gospels, Jesus referred to God in the third person many many times. If he really was God, why wouldn't he use the first person pronouns. For example, in Luke 18:19 and Mark 10:18, he couldn't have meant, "Why do you call me good? No one is good --- except Me alone..." And in John 11:4, if Jesus is God, he effectively said, "... [My] Son..." And in John 8:42, he effectively said, "I have come here from [me]... [I] sent me..."
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good --- except God alone..." Luke 18:19; Mark 10:18
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... Jesus said, "... so that God's Son may be glorified through it." John 11:4y,z
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Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me..." John 8:42
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... Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him..." John 13:31z
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"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. Mark 11:22
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... Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Mark 12:17y
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... [Jesus] said to them, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Matthew 22:21z
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... [Jesus] said: "... Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God..." Matthew 5:2z,8
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... [Jesus] said: "... Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God..." Matthew 5:2z,9
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Jesus... said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26x,z
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Jesus... said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27x,z
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... [Jesus] said: "... You cannot serve both God and money..." Matthew 5:2z; 6:24z
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"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. Mark 11:22
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... [Jesus] said: "... If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you..." Matthew 5:2y; 6:30
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Jesus replied, "... He is not the God of the dead but of the living." Matthew 22:29x,32z
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... [Jesus] rebuked Peter... "You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." Mark 8:33y,z
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Jesus turned and said to Peter, "... you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." Matthew 16:23x,z
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... Jesus replied... "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' ..." Mark 10:5z,6
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... Jesus replied... "... what God has joined together, let no one separate." Mark 10:5z,9
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... [Jesus] replied, "... what God has joined together, let no one separate." Matthew 19:4y,6z
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Then [Jesus]... said, "... Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:34x,y,35
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Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." Luke 8:38z-39x
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Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' ..." Matthew 15:3,4x
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Jesus replied, "... have you not read what God said to you, ..." Matthew 22:29x,31z
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Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? ..." Matthew 15:3
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[Jesus] replied, "... You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions." Mark 7:6x,8
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... [Jesus] continued, "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! ..." Mark 7:9z
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... [Jesus] said: "... do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; ..." Matthew 5:2z,34z
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Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "... And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it..." Matthew 23:1x,22
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Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God..." Matthew 22:29
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Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? ..." Mark 12:24
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[After performing a miracle, Jesus said,] "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." Luke 8:39x
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... Jesus... said, "... the kingdom of God belongs to such as these..." Luke 18:16y,y,z
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Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." John 3:3
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Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit..." John 3:5
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Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:29
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... Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" John 11:40z
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But the most incredible time Jesus referred to God in the third person, he said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" How can anyone believe that what Jesus really meant was, "Myself, myself, why have I forsaken me?" Did Jesus really forsake himself?
... Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ... "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46y,y; Mark 15:34y,y
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Many people believe that Jesus himself never actually claimed to be God, because he never said the exact words, "I am God," or anything that clear. And when people asked him if he was God, he often avoided answering the question.
The high priest said to [Jesus], "... Tell us if you are... the Son of God." "You have said so," Jesus replied. Matthew 26:63z-64x
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___ Mark 12:37x
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___ John 8:58
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___ John 10:30
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Why did Jesus receive the Holy Spirit at his baptism when he was an adult? If he was God, and the Holy Spirit is God, then God was indwelt with God, which seems unnecessary and pointless.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. Matthew 3:16
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___ Acts 10:38
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Although Christian theology claims that Jesus was sinless, I think the Bible describes at least three occurrences where Jesus committed sins. You can find them here.

Who is God?

To summarize the things that I wrote in a red font above, I believe that the following are all, in some sense, one and the same:
  • God
  • The Shekheinah Glory
  • ℸ
  • God the Father
  • The Spirit of God
  • The Holy Spirit

So, Was Jesus God or Not?

Christian theology says that Jesus was fully man and fully God. Jewish theology says that Jesus was merely a man who had a close relationship with God, much like a modern rabbi does. My belief lies between them, as shown on the following line:

This line indicates some answers to the "Who was Jesus?" question other than the Christian and Jewish answers. I believe Jesus had a closer relationship to God than a modern rabbi. It's more like the relationship King David had with God, because he had the Holy Spirit. And I believe the relationship between Jesus and God is not quite an equivalence relation. Neither is the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but that's closer to what I believe.
So now I will attempt to present what I believe the answer to "Was Jesus God?" in a single sentence: Jesus was indwelt with the Holy Spirit. However, even though I believe that I too am indwelt with the Holy Spirit, there is a significant difference in the degree of closeness I have with the Holy Spirit. Often, I ignore the Holy Spirit, and, when I do that, He usually leaves me alone to my own devices. The closeness of my relationship with the Holy Spirit varies over time from that kind of effective separation at one extreme to one time when the Holy Spirit actually took control of my body and moved it. And the closeness of Jesus' relationship with the Holy Spirit also varied over time. But Jesus remained very tightly connected with the Holy Spirit most of the time between the time He received the Holy Spirit, at his baptism, to the time when the Holy Spirit left him on the cross. Sometimes Jesus and the Holy Spirit were nearly intertwined so that they were practically united as one. At those times, it was approximately true that Jesus was God (who is, in some sense, the same as God the Father as I said above), so that when Jesus said, "I and the Father are one," he was essentially telling the truth.


References
NIV New International Version. 1984. International Bible Society. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/

Notes
x The quote includes the beginning of the verse but does not continue to the end of that verse.