NT Claims for Deity
He claimed to be the I AM (of Ex.3:14) “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (Jn 8:58)
He forgave sins which only God can do. Jesus said, “Son your sins are forgiven you”. The scribes replied, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mk 2:5-7)
He claimed He should be honored just as the Father is honored. “All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does no honor the Son does not honor the Father” (Jn. 5:23)
He said He was the Jewish Messiah who was God. (Isa 9:6, 45:6; Psa 110:1, Zech 12:10) The woman said to Him, “I know the Messiah is coming”. Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He” (Jn 4:25-26). The high priest said, “Are you the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witness? You have heard the blasphemy!” (Mk 14:61-62)
He accepted worship on numerous occasions which is due only to God (Mt 4:10). The bible forbids worshiping anyone but God (Ex 20:1-4; Deut. 5:6-9), Humans refused worship (Acts 14:15), Angels also refused worship (Rev. 22:8-9) But Jesus accepted worship in numerous occasions. Therefore, Jesus claimed to be God. Jesus accepted worship from:
The mother of James and John (Mt 20:20)
The Gerasene demoniac (Mk 5:6)
A blind man (Jn. 9:38)
The women at the tomb (Mt 28:9)
The Canaanite woman (Mt 15:25)
His disciples (Mt 14:33)
A healed leper (Mt 8:2)
A rich young ruler (Mt 9:18)
His disciples (Mt 28:17)
Note that Jesus never rebuked anyone who worshiped him. He even commended some for acknowledging His deity (Jn. 20:29, Mt 16:17)
He put His words on the level with God’s. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away” (Mt 24:35) “He that rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him- the Word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48)
He asked his disciples to pray in His Name. “Whatever you ask in My name that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (Jn. 14:13)
He accepted the titles of deity. And Thomas answered and said to Him “My Lord and My God” (Jn. 20:28). Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. Jesus said to him “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven”. (Mt 16:17-18)
Other Claims for His Deity
God said “This is my beloved Son” (Mt 3:16, 17:5 Jn. 12:28)
An Angel said, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest” (Lk. 1:32), “That Holy One who is to be born will be called the son of God” (Lk 1:35), “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11)
Demons said, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come to torment us before our time?” (Mt 8:29)
The apostle Thomas said “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28)
Matthew writes:
- And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. (Mt. 3:16)
- Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Mt.16:16),
- And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (28:18-20)
Mark writes:
- When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mk 2:5-7)
- Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 61 But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 Jesus said, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,’ and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’” 63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving death. (Mk 14:60-64)
Luke writes:
- He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. (Lk 1:32)
- The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. (Lk 1:35)
- to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Lk 2:11)
John writes:
- In the beginning was the Word; and the word was with God and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
- “Before Abraham was, I AM” (Jn. 8:58).
- “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).
Peter writes:
- “You are the Christ, The Son of the living God (Mt 16:16)
Paul writes:
- Christ, who is over all, the eternally blessed God (Rom. 9:5)
- “Looking for the blessed hop and the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)
- “For by Him all things were created…All thing were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all thing and in Him all things consist. (are held together) (Col 1:16-17)
- “For in Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily” (Col. 2:9).
Author of Hebrews writes:
- “Christ being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of his power” (Heb. 1:3)
- “For to which of the angels did He ever say: You are My Son” (Heb 1:5)
- “When He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him” (Heb 1:6)
- But to the Son He says, “Your throne, O God is forever and ever” (Heb 1:8)