The Bible directly states that Jesus is God in a number of passages.[1] Taken by themselves, these verses provide enough evidence for the church to believe in and teach the deity of Jesus Christ. But the indirect evidence of Scripture is equally compelling.
The names of God are often applied to Jesus. He is called "the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father" and "Immanuel" (meaning "God with us").[2] Elsewhere Jesus is called "The Lord (Jehovah) our Righteousness," "God" and "Son of God."[3]
The Bible ascribes the characteristics of deity to Jesus Christ. He is described as eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent and immutable.[4]
Jesus Christ is equal with God the Father. He is worshiped as God.[5] His name is assigned equal standing with God the Father in the church's baptismal formula and in the apostolic benediction.[6]
Christ performed works which only God can do. He is creator.[7] He is the upholder of all things.[8] He forgives sin.[9] He will raise the dead and execute judgment.[10]
Jesus Christ Himself claimed deity. He taught His disciples to pray in His name.[11] He claimed that He and the Father were one and that He was the Son of God.[12] He claimed that to know Him was to know God, to see Him was to see God, to receive Him was to receive God, to believe Him was to believe in God and to honor Him was to honor God, while to hate Him was to hate God.[13]
[1] John 1:1; John 20:28; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:6; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20. Other passages include John 13:3; John 17:5; Colossians 1:15-19; 1 Timothy 3:16; and Hebrews 1:3
[2] Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23
[3] Jeremiah 23:6; Isaiah 40:3; Hebrews 1:8; I Timothy 3:16; John 10:36
[4] Eternal (Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; John 1:1-2; John 8:58; John 17:5; John 17:24; Colossians 1:15; Colossians 1:17; 1 John 1:1; Revelation 1:8); omnipresent (Matthew 18:20; Matthew 28:20; John 3:13); omniscient (John 2:24; John 2:25; John 16:30; John 21:17; Revelation 2:23); omnipotent (Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 3:21; Revelation 1:8; cf. John 5:17; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 28:18) and immutable (Hebrews 1:10-12; Hebrews 13:8)
[5] John 20:28; Acts 7:59; Hebrews 1:6; cf. Exodus 34:14 and Matthew 4:10
[6] Matthew 28:19; cf. Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 13:14; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2
[7] John 1:3; John 1:10; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews: 1:10
[8] Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; cf. Luke 10:22; John 3:35; John 17:2; Ephesians 1:22
[9] Matthew 9:2-7; cf. Mark 2:7; Luke 7:47; Luke 7:48; Colossians 3:13
[10] John 11:25; cf. John 5:25; John 5:28-29; John 6:39; John 6:40; John 6:54; John 5:22
[11] John 16:23; John 16:24
[12] John 10:30; John 10:36; John 14:9; John 17:11
[13] John 8:18; John 14:7; John 12:45; John 14:9; Mark 9:37; John 12:44; John 14:1; John 5:23; John 15:23