I. The Misleading Standard
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If we demand a word-for-word modern English phrase, we’d have to reject many doctrines:
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“I am not God” (not in the Bible).
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“Second Coming” (exact term not used).
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Even “Bible” itself.
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The real question: Did Jesus claim what only God can claim, in the language His audience understood?
II. Direct Claims to Deity (in Jewish Context)
| Passage | Claim / Action | OT Background | Audience Reaction | Why It’s a Claim to Deity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John 8:58 | “Before Abraham was, I AM.” | Exodus 3:14 — God’s self-name: YHWH (“I AM”). | They tried to stone Him (v.59). | Jesus took God’s covenant name for Himself. |
| John 10:30–33 | “I and the Father are one.” | Deut. 6:4 — YHWH is one. | They accused Him of making Himself God. | Oneness in essence, not just purpose. |
| Mark 2:5–7 | Forgives sins. | Isaiah 43:25 — Only God forgives sins. | Religious leaders call it blasphemy. | Claimed God’s exclusive right. |
| John 5:17–18 | “My Father is working… and I am working.” | God alone sustains creation. | Jews sought to kill Him for making Himself equal with God. | Claimed same divine prerogative. |
| John 20:28 | Accepts Thomas’ worship: “My Lord and my God.” | OT worship addressed only to YHWH. | No correction given. | Receives divine worship. |
| Hebrews 1:8–10 | Father calls the Son “God” and “Lord” (YHWH). | Psalm 45:6–7, Psalm 102:25. | Apostolic teaching. | Explicit testimony of divine nature. |
| Titus 2:13 | “Our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” | God alone is Savior (Isa. 43:11). | Pauline affirmation. | Jesus identified as both God and Savior. |
III. Understanding “The Father is Greater than I” (John 14:28)
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Role, not essence: Jesus humbled Himself in the incarnation (Phil. 2:6–8).
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In function, the Father was “greater” during His earthly ministry.
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In nature, He remained fully God (Col. 2:9).
IV. Why Jesus Speaks of “My God” (John 20:17)
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Reflects His true humanity — the Son took on our dependence on God (Heb. 2:17).
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Shows His role as our representative before the Father.
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Does not deny His divine essence.
V. Apostolic Witness
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Paul: One God (the Father) and one Lord (Jesus Christ) in the Shema (1 Cor. 8:6).
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“God” = Father; “Lord” = YHWH title for the Son — both in the same divine identity.
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Peter: Jesus is “God and Savior” (2 Pet. 1:1).
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John: Jesus is “the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).
VI. Summary
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Jesus did claim deity — but in Jewish terms, not modern English.
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His enemies understood Him perfectly, which is why they accused Him of blasphemy.
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Denying His full deity is not “honoring Him as He described Himself” — it’s remaking Him into a lesser being.
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The Jesus who is less than fully God cannot save (John 8:24).
Conclusion:
- The Bible doesn’t need the phrase “I am God” in English to prove Christ’s deity.
- It contains His divine claims, His acceptance of worship, the Father’s own testimony about Him, and the apostles’ repeated identification of Him as God in the flesh.
- To worship Him as anything less is to worship a different Jesus (2 Cor. 11:4).
“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”
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