Deity of Christ
Jesus never claimed to be God.
Short answer
Jesus claimed divine authority in many ways: forgiving sins, accepting worship, calling himself "I am," and claiming he would judge the world. His opponents understood these claims, which is why they accused him of blasphemy.
In simple words: Jesus said and did things only God can do, like forgiving sins. That is why some people got very angry with him.
Response
Jesus rarely said the exact words "I am God," but in his Jewish context he made the claim in ways that were unmistakable.
He forgave sins committed against others, which only God can do; the teachers of the law asked, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7). He said, "Before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:58), echoing God's name in Exodus 3:14, and his hearers picked up stones to stone him. At his trial, he said he was the Son of Man who would sit at God's right hand and come on the clouds of heaven (Mark 14:61-64), and the high priest tore his clothes and called it blasphemy.
He accepted worship (Matthew 14:33; John 20:28), claimed authority over the Sabbath, and said he would judge all people. The earliest Christians, all devout Jewish monotheists, began worshiping Jesus within a few years of his death. Philippians 2:6-11, possibly an early hymn, applies to Jesus words from Isaiah 45 that describe God alone.
As C. S. Lewis pointed out, this leaves few options. A man who said these things was either deceived, deliberately deceiving, or telling the truth.
Key evidence
- Mark, often considered the earliest Gospel, records Jesus forgiving sins and claiming to be the coming Son of Man of Daniel 7.
- Jesus' "I am" statements in John echo God's self-revelation in Exodus 3:14.
- Jesus was condemned for blasphemy, a charge that makes sense only if he made divine claims.
- Philippians 2:6-11 (written c. AD 60, likely quoting an earlier hymn) applies Isaiah 45:23 to Jesus.
- Pliny the Younger (c. AD 112) reports Christians singing hymns "to Christ as to a god."
Bible passages
- Mark 2:5-12 Jesus forgives sins and heals the paralyzed man.
- John 8:58 "Before Abraham was born, I am!"
- Mark 14:61-64 Jesus' answer to the high priest.
- John 20:28 Thomas: "My Lord and my God!"
- Philippians 2:6-11 Every knee will bow to Jesus.
Quotes
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say.”
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Jesus often revealed who he was through actions rather than plain statements?
- What would a first-century Jewish audience have thought when Jesus forgave sins?
- Can someone accept Jesus as only a good teacher? Why or why not?