Jesus is God: Hundreds of Biblical Proofs (RSV Edition)

300 Biblical Proofs + Many Additional Related Cross-References

[all passages RSV unless indicated otherwise]

[green verses indicate words of Jesus Himself]

1. Direct Statements of Jesus’ Equality with God the Father

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us).

Matthew 4:7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” [the devil was tempting Jesus: 4:3, 5-6]

Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them. (cf. Mt 13:13-14 and Is 6:9-10) [Jesus is citing an Old Testament passage about God and applying it to Himself]

John 1:1, 4, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. . . . [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (cf. 1 Jn 1:1: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes . . .”; 1 Jn 1:5: “God is light and in him is no darkness at all”; 1 Pet 1:20: “He was destined before the foundation of the world . . .”; Is 57:16: “I have made the breath of life”)

John 5:17-18, 21-22 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working still, and I am working.” [18] This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God. . . . [21] For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. [22] The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,”

John 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he. (alluding to Ex 3:13-15 below)

Exodus 3:13-15 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” [14] God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” [15] God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: this is my name for ever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”

John 8:28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me.

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

John 10:30, 33 “I and the Father are one.”… [33] The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

John 13:19-20 I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me.”

John 16:13-15 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. [14] He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. [15] All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 17:9-10 I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom thou hast given me, for they are thine; [10] all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them.

John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” [Jesus didn’t correct him]

Use of “Father” Jesus constantly referred to God as “My Father” and claimed to have a unique relationship with Him. In Mark 14:36 He called God Abba, Aramaic for “daddy”: an absolutely unprecedented address of God (cf. Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6). The Jews understood full well what Jesus was implying by repeatedly speaking of His singular relationship with God the Father, but thought this was blasphemy, since they didn’t believe that He Himself was God the Son (cf. Jn 5:18; 10:33 above).

Divine “I” Jesus teaches in His own authority (“I say to you”) in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:18-34, etc.), and many other passages (91 total in RSV). The prophets, in contrast, spoke as God’s messengers in the second person (usually, “the word of the LORD”: 243 times in the OT). God says “I say to you” six times in the OT. Jesus often talks in a way in which only God could speak. For instance, when He addresses the seven churches in the book of Revelation, He is clearly speaking to them as God (Rev 1:17-3:22). Perhaps the most striking example of this occurs in Matthew 23:

Matthew 23:34, 37 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes… [37] O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

Monogenes (“Only Begotten”) The phrase “only begotten (Son)”: used in John 1:18; 3:16, 18, and 1 John 4:9, is the Greek monogenes, which means, according to any Greek lexicon, “unique, only member of a kind.” It does not mean “created,” as some (e.g., Jehovah’s Witnesses) falsely interpret it. Christ is the eternal Son of God, and as such, possesses every attribute of pure Godhood, just as a human son partakes fully of humanness.

Philippians 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Colossians 1:17, 19 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. . . . [19] For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell,

Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily,

1 Timothy 3:15-16 [15] if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. [16] Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (the “He” in v. 16 appears to refer back to “God” in v. 15; God became man; i.e., the incarnation)

Titus 2:13 awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 1:3, 8 He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, . . . [8] But of the Son he says, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom.” (God the Father calls the Son Jesus, “God” [Theos] — reference to an OT passage):

Psalm 45:6-7 Your divine throne endures for ever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; [7] you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows;

2 Peter 1:1 …our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

2. Creator

God alone is the creator

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Nehemiah 9:6 And Ezra said: “Thou art the LORD, thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and thou preservest all of them; and the host of heaven worships thee.”

Job 9:8 who alone stretched out the heavens, . . .

Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.

Psalm 90:2 . . . thou hadst formed the earth and the world . . .

Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, . . . 

Isaiah 40:28 . . . The LORD is . . . the Creator of the ends of the earth. . . .

Isaiah 42:5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:

Isaiah 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth — Who was with me?”

Isaiah 57:16  . . . from me proceeds the spirit, and I have made the breath of life.

Jeremiah 32:17 ‘Ah Lord GOD! It is thou who hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thy outstretched arm!’

Malachi 2:10 . . . Has not one God created us? . . .

Romans 4:17 . . . the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. . . .

Ephesians 3:9 . . . God who created all things;

Hebrews 2:10 . . . he, for whom and by whom all things exist . . .

Jesus is the creator

John 1:3, 10 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. . . . [10] . . . the world was made through him . . .

1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Colossians 1:15-18 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; [16] for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. [17] He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent.

Prototokos (“Firstborn”) The Greek for “first-born” is prototokos, which means “preeminence” and “eternal preexistence,” according to Greek lexicons. It does not mean “first-created.” The Hebrew usage of “first-born” is also instructive, since it illustrates its meaning as “preeminent.” David is called “first-born” in Psalm 89:27, not because he was the literal first child of Jesse (for he was the youngest), but in the sense of his ascendancy to the kingship of Israel. Likewise, Jeremiah 31:9 refers to Ephraim as the first-born, whereas Manasseh was actually the first child born (Gen 41:50-52). The nation Israel is called “my first-born son” by God (Ex 4:22). The Jewish rabbinical writers even called God the Father Bekorah Shelolam, meaning “first-born of all creation,” that is, the Creator. This is precisely what St. Paul means by “firstborn” in Colossians 1:15, 18.

Hebrews 1:2-3, 10 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3] . . . upholding the universe by his word of power. . . . [10] And, “Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands;” (God the Father calls the Son, Jesus “Lord” (Kurios) and describes Him as creator). See:

Psalm 102:25 Of old thou didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

Revelation 3:14 . . . the beginning of God’s creation.

Arche This is the Greek word for “beginning” — from which we derive our word “architect.” Its literal meaning is “origin, active cause, source, uncreated principle.” Thus, Revelation 3:14 describes Jesus as the “architect” or creator of the universe. In 21:6 arche is also applied to the Father (“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end”), so it can’t possibly mean “created being.”

3. Eternal and Uncreated

God alone is eternal and uncreated

Genesis 21:33 …the LORD, the Everlasting God.

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” . . .

Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. . . .

Psalm 90:2 . . . from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.

Psalm 93:2 thy throne is established from of old; thou art from everlasting.

Isaiah 40:28 . . . The LORD is the everlasting God, . . .

Isaiah 57:15 . . . the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, . . .

Habakkuk 1:12 Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? . . .

Romans 16:26 …the eternal God . . .

1 Timothy 1:17 . . . the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God . . .

Jesus is eternal and uncreated

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (The word for “everlasting,” ad, is applied to God the Father in Isaiah 57:15: see not far above)

Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Eph’rathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

The Hebrew word for “from ancient days” here (KJV: “from everlasting”) is olam; it’s often used to describe God the Father’s eternal existence (e.g., Ps 90:2; 93:2; Is 40:28: see the previous section above). If this word means “eternal and uncreated” when applied to God the Father (YHWH), then it must mean the same thing when it is applied to Jesus.

John 17:5, 24 and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made. . . . [24] . . . my glory which thou hast given me in thy love for me before the foundation of the world.

Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, . . .

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

4. Worshiped

God alone is to be worshiped

Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Exodus 34:14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

Deuteronomy 8:19 And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you this day that you shall surely perish.

Deuteronomy 11:16 Take heed lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,

Deuteronomy 17:2-5 “If there is found among you, within any of your towns which the LORD your God gives you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing his covenant, [3] and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, . . . [4] and it is told you and you hear of it; . . . and if it is true and certain that such an abominable thing has been done in Israel, [5] then you shall bring forth to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones.”

Deuteronomy 29:25-27 . . . they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, [26] and went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them; [27] therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, bringing upon it all the curses written in this book;

Deuteronomy 30:17-18 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,
[18] I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; . . . (cf. 1 Ki 9:6-9; Jer 16:11; 22:9; 25:6; Dan 3:28)

Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” (cf. Mt 4:10)

Revelation 4:9-11 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, [10] the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, [11] “Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created.”

Worship of angels is condemned (Col 2:18), and angels refuse worship (Rev 19:10; 22:8-9). Peter refuses worship (Acts 10:25-26), as do Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:11-15).

Jesus is worshiped, and He accepts worship

Matthew 14:33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (cf. 8:2; 9:18; 15:25; 20:20: “knelt”; “kneeling”)

Matthew 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Hail!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

Matthew 28:16-17 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. [17] And when they saw him they worshiped him; . . .

Mark 5:6-7 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him; [7] and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

John 5:23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

John 9:35-38 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of man?” [36] He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” [37] Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you.” [38] He said, “Lord, I believe”; and he worshiped him.

Acts 2:33 . . .  exalted at the right hand of God . . .

Acts 5:31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Hebrews 7:26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Revelation 5:8 . . . the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb . . .

Revelation 5:11-14 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, [12] saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” [13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!” [14] And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (cf. worship of God in 4:9-11)

Revelation 7:9-12 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, [10] and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!” [11] And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, [12] saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.”

Worship of Jesus in the book of Revelation is the same as the worship of God the Father

In the New Testament, the Greek word for “worship,” proskuneo, is used 22 times to refer to worship of the Father, five times of divine worship without specification, and 14 times in reference to worship of Jesus. Proskuneo is also explicitly defined, both in Revelation 4:10-11 and 7:11-12, since both passages define the worship of God by virtue of describing the words directed to God in praise and worship (7:11-12: “worshiped God, saying . . .”). Every Greek word (eleven in all) applied to God the Father in this fashion in Revelation is applied to Jesus as well (eucharistia is used of Christ in Colossians). One word, ploutos, is applied to Jesus only in Revelation, and to the Father in Romans 11:33. There can be no stronger evidence that Jesus is to receive worship equally with His Father, thus making Him equal to the Father, and no less than fully God:

Greek: Pipto; English: (“fall down before”; “fell on their faces before”): Father: Revelation 4:10; 7:11 / Jesus: Revelation 5:8

Eulogia (“blessing”): Father: 5:13; 7:12 / Jesus: 5:12-13

Doxa (“glory”): Father: 4:9, 11; 5:13; 7:12 / Jesus: 5:12-13

Sophia (“wisdom”): Father: 7:12 / Jesus: 5:12

Time (“honor”): Father: 4:9, 11; 5:13; 7:12 / Jesus: 5:12-13

Dunamis (“power”): Father: 4:11; 7:12 / Jesus: 5:12

Kratos (“might”): Father: 5:13 / Jesus: 5:13

Ischus (“might”): Father: 7:12 / Jesus: 5:12

Axios (“worthy”): Father: 4:11 / Jesus: 5:12

Lambano (“receive”): Father: 4:11 / Jesus: 5:12

Ploutos (“riches”; “wealth”): Father: (Romans 11:33) / Jesus: Rev 5:12

Eucharistia (“thanks”; “thanksgiving”): Father: 4:9; 7:12 / Jesus: (Colossians 2:6-7)

5. Omnipotent (All-Powerful)

God alone is omnipotent

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? . . . (cf. Dt 32:39)

Job 11:7 . . . Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted.

Jeremiah 32:17 . . . Nothing is too hard for thee, (cf. Is 46:10; Rom 1:20; Eph 1:11)

Matthew 19:26 . . . With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. 

Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing will be impossible. (cf. Lk 18:27)

God the Father or “the LORD” or “God” is also called “almighty” in many verses (Gen 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; 43:14; 48:3; 49:25; Ex 6:3; Job 5:17; 6:4, 14; 8:3, 5; 21:15, 20; 27:2, 10-11, 13; 31:2, 35, etc.; Ezek 10:5; 2 Cor 6:18; Rev 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22).

Jesus is omnipotent

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (God the Father is also called “Mighty God” (the same phrase in Hebrew: El Gibbor): Dt 10:17; Neh 9:32; Is 10:21; Jer 32:18)

John 3:35 the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

John 5:19, 21 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise. . . . [21] For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (implied: the Father’s unique characteristics are also possessed by the Son; (cf. 2:19; 6:40; 10:17-18)

John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, . . . 

Philippians 3:21 who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself. (cf. Rev 1:18)

Colossians 1:17 . . . in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:3 . . . upholding the universe by his word of power.…

Revelation 3:7 . . . the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens.

6. Omniscient (All-Knowing)

God alone is omniscient

1 Kings 8:39 . . . (for thou, thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men); (cf. 2 Chr 6:30)

1 Chronicles 28:9 . . . the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. . . .  (cf. Heb 4:13)

Job 36:4-5 . . . one who is perfect in knowledge is with you. [5] “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.

Job 37:16 . . . him who is perfect in knowledge,

Psalm 44:21 . . . he knows the secrets of the heart.

Psalm 147:5 Great is our LORD, and abundant in power;  his understanding is beyond measure.

Isaiah 40:28 . . . his understanding is unsearchable.

Isaiah 46:9-10 . . . I am God, and there is none like me, [10] declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, (cf. 48:3; Acts 15:18)

Isaiah 66:18 . . .  I know their works and their thoughts . . . 

Ezekiel 11:5 . . . I know the things that come into your mind.

Luke 16:15 . . . God knows your hearts . . . 

Acts 1:24 . . . “Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men . . .”

Romans 8:27 . . . he who searches the hearts of men . . . 

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Matthew 6:8 . . . your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

1 John 3:20 . . . . . . he knows everything.

Jesus is omniscient

John 16:30 Now we know that you know all things, . . . 

John 21:17 . . . “Lord, you know everything; . . .”

Colossians 2:3 in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Revelation 2:23 . . . I am he who searches mind and heart. . . .

Omniscience is also implied (though not proven) in many passages that describe Jesus’ extraordinary knowledge; these are consistent with omniscience (Mt 9:4; 12:25; Mk 2:8; 14:13-15; Lk 5:22; 6:8; 9:47; 22:10-13; Jn 2:24-25; 4:17-19, 29; 6:64; 13:11).

Additionally, there are many other verses illustrating that Jesus knew the future perfectly, which is consistent with, and suggestive of omniscience, though not a proof (Mt 12:40; 13:1; 16:21; 17:9, 11-12, 22-23; 20:18-19; 21:39; 24:2; 26:2, 12, 21, 31-34, 54; Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:32-34; 14:9, 18, 27-30, 42, 49; Lk 9:22, 44; 11:30; 12:50; 17:25; 18:31-33; 22:15, 21-22, 32, 34, 37; Jn 2:19; 3:14; 10:11, 15, 17-18; 12:32-34; 13:18-21; 14:19; 15:13; 16:20; 18:4, 11; 21:18-19).

7. Omnipresent (Present Everywhere)

God alone is omnipresent

1 Kings 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain thee . . . 

2 Chronicles 2:6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him . . . (cf. Acts 7:48-49)

Psalm 139:7-8 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? [8] If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there!

Jeremiah 23:24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD. 

Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Jesus is omnipresent

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Matthew 28:20 “. . . lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”

Ephesians 1:22-23 . . . the church, [23] which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all. 

Colossians 3:11 . . . Christ is all, and in all. 

8. Forgives Sins in His Own Name

God alone can forgive sins in His own name

Exodus 34:7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,… (cf. 2 Sam 12:13; 1 Ki 8:34; Dan 9:9; Mic 7:18)

Psalm 25:11 For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. (cf. 25:7, 18; 32:1-2, 5)

Psalm 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. (cf. 65:3; 79:9; 85:2; 99:8; Is 1:18; 6:6; 44:22)

Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (cf. 130:4)

Isaiah 43:25 I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (cf. 55:7; Heb 8:12; 10:2, 17)

Jeremiah 33:8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. (cf. 31:34; Ezek 33:15-16; 1 Jn 1:9)

Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; [15] but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?” (cf. Mk 2:7)

Jesus forgives sins in His own name

Mark 2:5, 10 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”… [10] …the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins… (cf. Mt 9:2-6; Lk 5:20-24)

Luke 7:47-48 “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” [48] And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

9. Receives Prayer

God the Father receives prayer

Genesis 4:26 . . . At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.

Genesis 20:17 Then Abraham prayed to God . . . (cf. 1 Kgs 8:28; 1 Chr 17:25; 2 Chr 6:19; 33:18-19; Neh 1:4; 2:4; 4:9; Ps 5:2; 42:8; 54:2; 55:1; 61:1; 66:20; 84:8; Dan 6:10; 9:3-4, 17)

Genesis 26:25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD . . . 

Exodus 8:29 . . . I will pray to the LORD . . . (cf. Num 21:7; Dt 9:26; 1 Sam 7:5; 12:19; 1 Kgs 8:44, 54; 2 Kgs 19:15, 20; 20:5; Ps 69:13; Is 37:15; Jer 29:7, 12; 32:16; 37:3; 42:2, 4, 20; Jon 2:1)

Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things which you have not known.

Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass that all who call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered . . . (cf. Ps 14:4; Is 12:4; Acts 2:21; 2 Tim 2:22)

Matthew 6:9-13 Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread; [12] And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; [13] And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.

Luke 6:12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God.

Luke 23:46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Acts 10:2, 4 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms liberally to the people, and prayed constantly to God. . . . [4] And he stared at him in terror, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.”

Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. (cf. 16:25)

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (cf. 15:30; 1 Cor 11:13)

Romans 10:12-14 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. [13] For, “every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” [14] But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? . . . 

Philippians 4:6 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

Revelation 8:4 and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God.

Jesus receives prayer

John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; [14] if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

John 16:23-24, 26 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. [24] Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. . . . [26] In that day you will ask in my name; 

Acts 7:59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 

Ecclesiastes 12:7 . . . and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Acts 22:6-10 “As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. [7] And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ [8] And I answered, `Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, `I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’ [9] Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. [10] And I said, `What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, `Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.'”

Acts 26:14-16 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.’ [15] And I said, `Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, `I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. [16] But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,

1 Corinthians 1:2 …together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints;

10. Sinless and Perfectly Holy

John 8:46 Which of you convicts me of sin? . . .

Acts 3:14 . . . the Holy and Righteous One . . . 

2 Corinthians 5:21 . . . who knew no sin. . . . 

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 7:26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Hebrews 9:14 . . . without blemish . . . 

1 Peter 1:19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

1 Peter 2:22 He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips.

1 John 3:5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

Many passages refer to God the Father as the “Holy One” (e.g., 2 Ki 19:22; Job 6:10; Ps 71:22; 78:41; 89:18; Is 1:4; 5:24; 17:7; 1 Jn 2:20; Rev 16:5; many others). The same description is used, in turn, to describe Jesus in the New Testament (Mk 1:24; Lk 4:34; Jn 6:69; Acts 2:27; 3:14; 13:35; Rev 3:7). “Holy” is also applied to Jesus, often in the sense of “uniquely or completely holy” (Lk 1:35; 4:27, 30): following similar usage as regards God the Father (Lk 1:49; Rev 6:10).

11. Called Lord (Kurios) and God (Theos)

[Kurios is Strong’s word #2962 and Theos is Strong’s word #2316]

God the Father Called “Lord” (Kurios)

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes;” 

Matthew 21:42 . . . this was the Lord’s doing . . . 

Mark 13:20 And if the Lord had not shortened the days, no human being would be saved . . . 

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, . . .”

1 Timothy 6:15 . . . the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

God the Son, Jesus, Called “Lord” (Kurios)

Luke 2:11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Acts 7:59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Acts 10:36 You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 

1 Corinthians 12:3 . . . no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 2:10-11 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (cites Isaiah 45:23, and attributes to Jesus what is applied to God there; therefore, Jesus is God):

Isaiah 45:23 “By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.’”

Hebrews 1:10 And, “Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands;

Revelation 17:14 they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. (cf. 19:16; “Lord of Lords” was applied to God the Father in 1 Timothy 6:15 above)

God the Father and God the Son, Jesus, Both Called “Lord” (Kurios) in One Passage

Matthew 22:43-45 He said to them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, [44] ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet’? [45] If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son?” (cf. Mk 12:36-37; Lk 20:42-44; Acts 2:34)

Romans 10:9, 12-13 because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.… [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. [13] For, “every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (the New Testament is applying Old Testament passages about God directly to Jesus, since He is God, and He and His Father are one — John 10:30).

Joel 2:32 “And it shall come to pass that all who call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.” 

God the Father Called “God” (Theos)

Luke 16:15 . . . God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

John 8:47 “He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Acts 22:14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth’;

Romans 11:1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! . . .  

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Peter 1:2 chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ . . . 

God the Father Called “Lord” (Kurios) and “God” (Theos) in One Passage

Matthew 22:37-38 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment.” (cf. Mk 12:29-30; Lk 10:27)

Luke 1:46-47 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, [47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” (cf. 1:32, 68; 20:37; Acts 3:22; Rev 18:8)

God the Son, Jesus, Called “God” (Theos)

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (cf. Mt 1:23)

Titus 2:13 awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 

Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son he says, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom.”

2 Peter 1:1 . . . in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

God the Son, Jesus, Called “Lord” (Kurios) and “God” (Theos) in One Passage

John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (cf. Heb 1:8, 10 above)

12. 50 Descriptions Applied Both to YHWH and Jesus

Name of God: “I AM” (YHWH)

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'”

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 

“I am He”

Deuteronomy 32:39 “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; . . .” 

Isaiah 41:4 . . . I am He.

Isaiah 43:10-11, 13 “You are my witnesses,” says the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. [11] I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. . . . [13] “I am God, and also henceforth I am He; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work and who can hinder it?”

Isaiah 48:12 . . . I am He . . . 

***

John 8:24, 28 I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he. . . . [28] So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me.”

John 13:19 I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.

Raises the dead and gives life

Deuteronomy 32:39 . . . I kill and I make alive . . . 

1 Samuel 2:6 The LORD kills and brings to life . . . 

Romans 4:17 . . . the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead . . . 

***

John 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 2:19, 21-22 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” . . . [21] But he spoke of the temple of his body. [22] When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this . . . 

John 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

John 10:17-18 “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. [18] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father.”

John 10:28 and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life. [13] I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

Shepherd of the flock

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;

Psalm 80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou who leadest Joseph like a flock!

Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD is God! . . . we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Isaiah 40:11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Jeremiah 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:10 . . . ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-16 “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. [12] As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. . . . [15] I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. [16] I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, . . .” 

Ezekiel 34:22 I will save my flock, they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

Ezekiel 34:31 And you are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Lord GOD.

***

Ezekiel 34:23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.

Micah 5:2, 4 But you, O Bethlehem Eph’rathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. . . . [4] And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. . . . 

Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

Zechariah 13:7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” says the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered; . . .” 

John 10:7, 11, 14, 16 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. . . . [11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . . [14] I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, . . . [16] And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.

John 10:26-28 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; [28] and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.

Hebrews 13:20 . . . our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep

1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory.

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, . . . 

Source of eternal words

Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

Psalm 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; and every one of thy righteous ordinances endures for ever.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever.

***

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

1 Peter 1:23-25 You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; [24] for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, [25] but the word of the Lord abides for ever.” That word is the good news which was preached to you. (cf. Is 40:8 above)

Worshiped and praised by angels

Psalm 148:1-2 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights! [2] Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!

Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 

Bridegroom to the people / Church

Isaiah 54:5 For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; . . . (cf. 54:6)

Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

Hosea 2:16, 19-20 “And in that day, says the LORD, you will call me, ‘My husband,’ . . .” . . . [19] And I will betroth you to me for ever; I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. [20] I will betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know the LORD.

***

Matthew 9:14-15 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” [15] And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matthew 25:1 Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

John 3:28-29 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. [29] He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full.

Ephesians 5:25, 32 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, . . . [32] This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church;

Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;

Revelation 21:2, 9 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; . . . [9] Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

“Glory” of God

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, . . . 

Isaiah 48:11 . . . My glory I will not give to another. (cf. 43:7; 66:18; Ezek 28:22; 39:13, 21; Hag 1:8)

***

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

John 16:14 He will glorify me, . . . 

John 17:1, 5 . . . “Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, . . . [5] and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.

1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Hebrews 1:3 He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, . . . 

Seeker of lost souls

Ezekiel 34:16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, . . . 

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost. 

“Lord of Lords”

Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, 

Psalm 136:2-3 O give thanks to the God of gods, . . . [3] O give thanks to the Lord of lords, . . . 

1 Timothy 6:15-16 . . . the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, [16] who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

***

Revelation 17:14 they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings,… (cf. 19:16)

“Lord / God / King of glory”

Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. [8] Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! [9] Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. [10] Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! [Selah]

Psalm 29:3 . . . the God of glory . . . 

Acts 7:2 . . . The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham . . . 

Ephesians 1:17 . . . the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory . . . 

***

1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

James 2:1 My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

“Above all”

1 Chronicles 29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Ephesians 4:6  one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.

***

John 3:31 . . . he who comes from heaven is above all.

Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come;

“All in all”

1 Corinthians 15:28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one. (“all in all” in KJV)

***

Ephesians 1:23 which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all. 

Colossians 3:11 . . . Christ is all, and in all.

“Over all”

Psalm 47:2 For the LORD, the Most High, is terrible, a great king over all the earth.

Psalm 83:18 . . . the LORD, art the Most High over all the earth.

Psalm 97:9 For thou, O LORD, art most high over all the earth . . . (cf. 99:2)

Psalm 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

Psalm 108:5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let thy glory be over all the earth!

Zechariah 14:9 And the LORD will become king over all the earth; . . . 

Romans 9:5 . . . God who is over all be blessed for ever. Amen. (some translations apply “God” here to Jesus)

***

John 17:2 since thou hast given him power over all flesh, . . .

Ephesians 1:22 and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,

Light

Psalm 4:6 . . . “Lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, O LORD!” (cf. 44:3; 89:15; 90:8)

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

Psalm 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light do we see light.

Psalm 139:12 even the darkness is not dark to thee, the night is bright as the day; for darkness is as light with thee.

Isaiah 2:5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Daniel 2:22 . . . the light dwells with him.

Micah 7:8 . . . when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.

Habakkuk 3:4 His brightness was like the light . . . 

2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

1 Timothy 6:16 who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, . . . 

James 1:17 . . . the Father of lights . . . 

1 John 1:5 . . . God is light and in him is no darkness at all.

***

Matthew 4:16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, . . . 

John 1:4-5 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:8-9 He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. [9] The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.

John 3:19-21 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. [21] But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.

John 8:12 . . . “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

John 12:35-36, 46 Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. [36] While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light. . . . [46] I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 

2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. 

1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 2:9-10 He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still. [10] He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling.

Giver of light

Psalm 43:3 Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, . . . 

Psalm 118:27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. . . . 

Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of thy words gives light; . . . 

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

***

Ephesians 5:14 Therefore it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.”

Acts 26:23 that the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.

Light to replace the sun

Isaiah 60:19 The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. (cf. 60:20)

Revelation 22:5 And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.

***

Revelation 21:23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Redeemer

Psalm 19:14 . . . O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (cf. 78:35)

Isaiah 44:6 . . . his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts . . . 

Isaiah 47:4 Our Redeemer — the LORD of hosts is his name — is the Holy One of Israel. (cf. 41:14; 43:14; 44:24; 48:17; 49:7; 54:5, 8; Jer 50:34)

Isaiah 49:26 . . . I am the LORD your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (cf. 60:16)

Isaiah 63:16 . . . thou, O LORD, art our Father, our Redeemer from of old is thy name.

Luke 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people,”

***

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, . . . 

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (cf. Col 1:14; Heb 9:12, 15)

Titus 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. (cf. 1 Cor 1:30; Rom 3:24; Gal 4:5; Rev 14:4)

Ransomer

Jeremiah 31:11 For the LORD has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. (cf. Ps 49:15; Is 35:10; 51:11)

1 Timothy 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time. (cf. Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Rev 5:9)

“First and last”

Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. (cf. 41:4; 48:12)

Revelation 1:17 . . . Fear not, I am the first and the last, (cf. 2:8; 22:13, 16) 

“Alpha and Omega”

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 21:6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. . . .” 

***

Revelation 22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, . . .” [identified as Jesus in 22:16] 

“Beginning and the end”

Revelation 21:6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am . . . the beginning and the end. . . .” 

Revelation 22:13 I am… the beginning and the end. [identified as Jesus in 22:16]

Satisfier of spiritual thirst

Revelation 21:6-7 . . . To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment. [7] He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. (cf. 22:17)

John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (cf. 6:35; 7:37)

All-powerful “hand”

Deuteronomy 32:39 . . . there is none that can deliver out of my hand. (cf. Jn 10:29)

John 10:28 and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.

Sound of “many waters”

Ezekiel 43:2 . . . the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters . . .

Revelation 1:15 …his voice was like the sound of many waters;

“Horn of salvation”

2 Samuel 22:3 my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, . . . (cf. Ps 18:2)

Luke 1:69 . . . raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 

Divine disciplinarian

Proverbs 3:12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent.

Destroyer of death

Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death for ever, . . . 

2 Timothy 1:10 …our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 

Rewarder according to works

Psalm 62:12 . . . thou dost requite a man according to his work. (cf. Is 40:10)

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man… will repay every man for what he has done. (cf. Rev 22:12)

Separator of sheep and goats

Ezekiel 34:17 “. . .  thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, rams and he-goats.”

Matthew 25:32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,

Receiver of glory

Galatians 1:3-5 . . . God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, [4] who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father; [5] to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. (cf. Rom 11:36; Eph 3:21; Phil 4:20; 2 Tim 4:18; Jude 1:25)

2 Peter 3:18 . . . our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (cf. Rom 16:27; Heb 13:21; Rev 1:6)

Kingdom of whom?

John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (cf. Mt 21:31; Lk 7:28; Acts 1:3; Rom 14:17; 1 Cor 4:20; 15:50; Col 4:11; Rev 12:10)

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (cf. Jn 18:36; Eph 5:5; 2 Tim 4:1; Heb 1:8; 2 Pet 1:1)

“For whom all things exist”

Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. (cf. Rom 11:36)

Colossians 1:16 . . . all things were created . . . for him. (cf. Mt 11:27; Jn 3:35; 13:3; Phil 3:21)

“Through him are all things”

Romans 11:36 For from him and through him . . . are all things. . . . 

Colossians 1:16, 20 all things were created through him . . . [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

“To him are all things”

Romans 11:36 For . . . to him are all things. . . . (cf. 1 Cor 15:28; Col 1:20)

Philippians 3:21 . . . the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself. (cf. Heb 2:8; 1 Pet 3:22)

Majesty

Psalm 93:1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; . . . (cf. 104:1; 145:5; Is 26:10; 35:2; Lk 9:43; Jude 1:25)

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (cf. Mic 5:4; Heb 1:3; 8:1)

“The Spirit of.…”

Acts 16:7 …the Spirit of Jesus… (cf. Rom 8:9: “the Spirit of Christ”; Gal 4:6; Phil 1:19; 1 Pet 1:11; Rom 8:9: “Spirit of God”; 8:11, 14; Gen 1:2; Ex 31:3; Num 24:2; Jud 6:34; 11:29; 1 Sam 10:6; 16:13; Is 61:1; Ezek 11:24; 37:1; Mic 2:7; Mt 3:16; 12:28; Jn 15:26; Acts 5:9; 1 Cor 2:11-12, 14; 6:11; 7:40; 12:3; 2 Cor 3:3, 17; 1 Pet 4:14; 1 Jn 4:2)

“Our hope”

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. (cf. Jer 14:22)

1 Timothy 1:1 . . . Christ Jesus our hope, 

Ruler

Isaiah 33:22 . . .  the LORD is our ruler, . . . 

Revelation 1:5 . . . Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.… (cf. Mic 5:2)

“Mighty God”

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; …and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (cf. Is 10:21; Dt 10:17; Neh 9:32; Jer 32:18)

Source of grace for salvation

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men,

Acts 15:11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, . . .  

Sender of prophets

Judges 6:8 the LORD sent a prophet to the people of Israel . . . (cf. 2 Ki 17:13; 2 Chr 24:19; Jer 7:25; 25:4; 26:5; 29:19; 35:15; 44:4; Hag 1:12; Zech 7:12)

Matthew 23:34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,

Divine “wings”

Deuteronomy 32:11-12 Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, [12] the LORD alone did lead him, . . . (cf. Ruth 2:12; Ps 36:7; 57:1; 63:7; 91:4)

Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! (cf. Mt 23:37)

Angels of whom?

Luke 15:10 “. . . there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (cf. Gen 28:12; 32:1; Lk 12:8-9; Jn 1:51; Heb 1:6; Rev 3:5)

Matthew 13:41 The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, (cf. 16:27; 24:31; 2 Thess 1:7)

Sender of angels

Revelation 22:6 . . . And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel . . . 

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent my angel to you. . . .  

“His saints”

Psalm 97:10 The LORD loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. (cf. 30:4; 31:23; 34:9; 37:28; 85:8; 116:15; 148:14; Prov 2:8; Col 1:26-27)

1 Thessalonians 3:13 . . . the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (cf. 2 Thess 1:10)

Gospel of whom?

Romans 1:1 . . . the gospel of God (cf. 15:16; Mk 1:14; 1 Thess 2:2, 8-9; 1 Pet 4:17)

Romans 15:19 . . . the gospel of Christ, (cf. 1:16; 1 Cor 9:12; 2 Cor 2:12; 1 Thess 3:2)

Church of whom?

1 Corinthians 15:9 . . . the church of God. (cf. 10:32; 11:22; Acts 20:28; Gal 1:13; 1 Tim 3:15)

Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, . . .  (cf. Rom 16:16; Gal 1:22)

Servants of whom?

Titus 1:1 . . . a servant of God . . . (cf. Lk 4:8; Rom 12:11)

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,… (cf. Eph 6:6; Col 3:24)

[servants of both: Jas 1:1; Rev 7:3; 11:18; 19:5]

Sanctified by whom?

Leviticus 20:8 . . . I am the LORD who sanctify you. (cf. 21:8, 15, 23; 22:9, 16, 32; Ex 31:13; Ezek 20:12; 37:28; Jn 17:17; 1 Thess 5:23)

Hebrews 13:12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. (cf. 10:10, 14; Acts 26:18; 1 Cor 1:2, 30; 6:11; Eph 5:26)

13. Image of the Invisible Father

God the Father is Invisible

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God . . . (cf. 1 Jn 4:12)

John 5:37 . . . his form you have never seen; (cf. 6:46)

Colossians 1:15 . . . the invisible God. . . .  (cf. 1 Tim 1:17)

1 Timothy 6:16 who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. . . .

Jesus Reveals, and is the Image of the Father

John 14:7-9 “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.” [8] Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” [9] Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (cf. 12:45)

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, . . . (cf. 2 Cor 4:4; Heb 1:3)

14. Primacy of the Name of Jesus

We find the phrase, “the name of the Lord” about fifty times in the Old Testament and eleven times in the New Testament. In the latter, “name of God” is found seven times and “the name of the Father” eight times, but the “name” as referring to Jesus occurs at least 91 times. Jesus is the fullest revelation of God, and the One through Whom the Father is now speaking (Hebrews 1:1-2). Hence, we find an overwhelming emphasis on His name in the New Testament:

1) Salvation and Faith in Jesus’ Name: Mt 12:21; Jn 1:12; 2:23; 3:18; Acts 4:10, 12; 10:43; 22:16; Rom 10:9; 1 Cor 6:11; 1 Jn 3:23; 5:13.

2) Jesus: the Most Important Name: 1 Cor 1:2; Eph 1:20-21; Phil 2:9-11 (cf. Is 45:23); 2 Thess 1:12; 1 Jn 3:23; Rev 2:3, 13.

3) Who Are We “Witnesses” of?: Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama’ria and to the end of the earth. (Jesus speaking: 1:1, 11)

4) Jesus Talks About the Importance of His Name: Mt 7:22; 10:22; 12:15-21; 18:5, 20; 19:29; 24:9; 28:19-20.

5) Christians Are Baptized in Jesus’ Name: Mt 28:19; Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; 1 Cor 1:13, 15.

6) Christians Suffer For Jesus’ Name: Acts 5:41; 9:16; 15:26; 21:13.

7) Christians Gather in Jesus’ Name: Mt 18:20; 1 Cor 5:4.

8) Men Healed in Jesus’ Name: Acts 3:6, 16; 4:10, 30.

9) Christians Speak, Teach and Preach in Jesus’ Name: Lk 24:47; Acts 4:17-18; 5:28; 8:12; 9:27, 29.

10) Christians Named After Jesus Christ: Acts 11:26; 1 Pet 4:16.

11) Remission of Sins in Jesus’ Name: Acts 10:43; 1 Jn 2:12.

12) Jesus is Called “Lord of Lords”: Rev 19:16.

13) Christians Are to Give Thanks and Praise in Jesus’ Name: Eph 5:20; Heb 13:15.

14) Christians Are to Do All Things in Jesus’ Name: Col 3:17.

15. Jesus Claims to be the Messiah (Christ)

Every time the New Testament refers to Jesus as Christ, it is declaring that He is the Messiah, since Christ is the Greek for the Hebrew Messiah. The latter word appears twice in the New Testament in the RSV, and in both cases, it is shown that Christ is the equivalent term:

John 1:41 He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

John 4:25-26 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things.” [26] Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

Other verses provide further evidence:

Matthew 16:16-17, 20 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”. . .  [20] Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (cf. Mk 8:27-30; 9:41; Lk 4:41; 9:18-21)

Mark 14:61-62 But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” [62] And Jesus said, “I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (cf. Mt 26:63-65; Lk 22:67-71; 24:25-27)

See also Mt 1:16-18; 5:17; 11:2, 10; 21:42; 24:5, 23-24; 26:56, 68; 27:17, 22; Mk 3:11; 5:7; 13:21-22, 26; Lk 1:31-33; 2:11, 26; 4:20-21; 22:37; 23:2, 35, 39; 24:44; Jn 5:39-40, 46-47; 15:25.

Son of Man When Jesus calls Himself “the Son of Man” (e.g., Mt 10:23, 32-33; 19:28; 23:37 ff.; 24:47; Mk 2:19-20; 3:28-29; 8:31, 38; 9:9, 31; 10:33, 38; 14:21, 41; Lk 11:30; 12:8, 49-50; 17:24; 18:6, 8; 21:36; 22:27, 48), He is claiming to be the Messiah, since He is referring (especially in Mk 13:26; 14:62; Jn 5:27; cf. Rev 1:13; 14:14) to a well-known messianic passage:

Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. [14] And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

In Mark 14:61-62, Jesus assumes that the Christ (Messiah) and the Son of Man are one and the same (Himself). Matthew 16:16-17 establishes the fact that the Messiah and “the Son of God” are identical as well. The latter term is used of Jesus 43 times in the New Testament, in RSV.

16. YHWH, the Messiah, and Jesus: Six Parallel Attributes

[passages applying to YHWH are presented first, followed by italicized passages about the (Old Testament) Messiah, and lastly, verses about Jesus]

The Savior

Isaiah 43:11 I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. (cf. 43:3; 45:15, 21; 49:26; 60:16, 63:8; Hos 13:4)

1 Timothy 4:10 . . . the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. (cf. 1:1; 2:10; Lk 1:47; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4; Jude 1:25)

Isaiah 49:6 It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

Isaiah 53:5, 11-12 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. . . . [11] . . . my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities. [12] …he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (cf. 52:10; 59:16; 63:5; Zech 9:9)

Luke 2:11 . . . a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (cf. Jn 1:29; 4:42; 5:24; 10:9; Acts 5:31; 13:23)

Titus 2:13 . . . our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (cf. 1:4; 3:6; Phil 3:20; 2 Tim 1:10)

2 Peter 1:1 . . . our God and Savior Jesus Christ: (cf. 1:11; 2 Pet 2:20; 3:18; 1 Jn 4:14; also, one passage puts both together: Jude 1:25: “the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord”)

Served and Exalted

Deuteronomy 6:13 You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve him, and swear by his name. (cf. 10:20; 13:4; Jer 30:9)

Isaiah 45:23 . . . To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (cf. Rom 14:11)

Revelation 1:6 …God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Daniel 7:14 And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (cf. Ps 2:12)

Isaiah 52:13 Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.

Ephesians 1:20-22 which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come; [22] and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Second Coming

Isaiah 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. (cf. 40:5; Ps 96:13; 98:9)

Isaiah 66:15-16 For behold, the LORD will come in fire, and his chariots like the stormwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. [16] For by fire will the LORD execute judgment, and by his sword, upon all flesh; and those slain by the LORD shall be many. (cf. 59:20; Joel 2:11; Zech 2:10)

Zechariah 9:14 Then the LORD will appear over them, and his arrow go forth like lightning; the Lord GOD will sound the trumpet, and march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.

Zechariah 12:10 . . . when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born. (cf. Jn 19:37)

Zechariah 14:3-5 Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. [4] On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; . . . [5] . .. Then the LORD your God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

Isaiah 11:4 . . .he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.

Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

Matthew 24:30 then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; (Mt 16:27; 26:64; Mk 14:62)

Acts 1:11-12 . . .“This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” [12] Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem . . . (cf. Zech 14:4)

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 . . .when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, [8] inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (cf. Rev 22:12)

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his appearing and his coming.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every one who pierced him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. . . . (cf. Zech 12:10)

Revelation 19:15 From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. (cf. 19:11, 13, 16, 19, 21; Is 49:2)

Judge

1 Samuel 2:10 …The LORD will judge the ends of the earth . . . (cf. Gen 18:25; 1 Chr 16:33; Ps 7:11; 9:8; 96:10; Is 2:4; 33:22)

Psalm 50:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! (cf. 58:11; 67:4; 82:8; 94:2; Jer 11:20)

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (cf. 3:17; Ezek 18:30; 33:20; Joel 3:12)

Zephaniah 1:14-15 The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, the mighty man cries aloud there. [15] A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

Psalm 2:9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Psalm 110:5-6 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. [6] He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth.

John 5:22, 27 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, . . . [27] and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. (cf. 9:39)

Acts 10:42 . . . he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. (cf. 2 Tim 4:1)

Acts 17:31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.

Revelation 14:14-16 Then I looked, and lo, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. [15] And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat upon the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” [16] So he who sat upon the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. (cf. 6:16-17; 19:11)

King

1 Samuel 12:12 . . . the LORD your God was your king. (cf. Ps 95:3)

Psalm 10:16 The LORD is king for ever and ever; (cf. 24:8, 10; 47:2; 84:3; 98:6; 103:19; Zech 14:9, 16)

Isaiah 33:22 . . . the LORD is our ruler, the LORD is our king; he will save us. (cf. 43:15; 44:6; Jer 10:10; Mic 4:7; 1 Tim 1:17; Rev 15:3)

Psalm 2:6 I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. (cf. 2:7-8)

Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom,…

Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (cf. 30:9)

Ezekiel 37:24-25 My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall follow my ordinances and be careful to observe my statutes. [25] . . . David my servant shall be their prince for ever.

Luke 1:32-33 . . . the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end. (cf. 22:29-30; Mt 21:5; 25:34, 40; Col 1:13; Heb 1:8; 2 Pet 1:11; Rev 11:15)

John 18:37 Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, . . . ” (cf. 1:49; 12:13, 15; 18:36; Mt 27:11; Mk 15:2)

Revelation 12:5 she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,

Revelation 17:14 . . . he is Lord of lords and King of kings . . . (cf. 19:16; 1 Tim 6:15)

God’s Throne

1 Kings 22:19 . . . I saw the LORD sitting on his throne. . . . 

Psalm 11:4 . . . the LORD’s throne is in heaven; . . . (cf. 47:8; 93:2)

Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever . . .  (cf. 7:10; 19:4)

Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness as it were of a human form.

Ezekiel 43:7 and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel for ever. . . . “

Matthew 19:28 . . . the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne. . . .  (cf. 25:31)

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, . . . 

Revelation 22:1 . . . the throne of God and of the Lamb . . . (cf. 22:3)

17. Jesus’ Subjection (as Messiah) to the Father

Jesus’ subjection to the Father is seen in such verses as John 14:28: “. . . the Father is greater than I,” 1 Corinthians 11:3: “. . . the head of Christ is God,” and 1 Corinthians 15:28: “When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him. . . .”

These verses and others have been utilized historically by heretics such as the Arians (of whom Jehovah’s Witnesses are a revival), as well as non-trinitarian theists such as Unitarians, to allegedly “prove” that Jesus is lesser than the Father and therefore not God in the flesh. Upon closer inspection, however, a clearer picture emerges.

John 14:28 is to be understood in light of passages such as Philippians 2:6-8, which shows us that Christ in John 14:28 was speaking strictly in terms of his office as Messiah, which entailed a giving up, not of the Divine Nature, but of certain prerogatives of glory and Deity which are enjoyed by the Father. Christ subjected Himself to the Father in order to undertake His role as the Incarnate Son and Mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5).

Similarly, one might say that “the President of the United States is a greater man than I am,” but this would not mean he was necessarily a better man. In any event, he is still a man like us. Jesus is still God, even while “humbling” Himself (Phil 2:8).

When the Father is called the “head” of the Son (1 Cor 11:3), this also does not entail any lessening of the equality between the Son and the Father. The Bible also talks about wives being subject to their husbands (1 Pet 3:1, 5), even while the two are equals (Gal 3:28; Eph 5:21-22), and indeed, “one flesh” (Mt 19:5-6).

Likewise, one Person of the Godhead can be in subjection to another Person and remain God in essence and substance (Phil 2:6-8). Luke 2:51 says that Jesus was “subject” to Mary and Joseph. Yet no orthodox Christian of any stripe would hold that Jesus was lesser in essence than His earthly parents! The same Greek word for “subject” in Luke 2:51 (hupotasso) is used in 1 Corinthians 15:28, and in 1 Peter 2:18 below. Besides, submissiveness and servanthood is not presented as a sign of weakness in Scripture. Quite the contrary:

Matthew 23:11-12 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; [12] whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, . . . 

The word for “greatest” in Matthew 23:11 is meizon, the same word used in John 14:28. Thus, any notion that submissiveness is a lessening of equality is absolutely unscriptural. Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 15:28, the subjection spoken of is that of the Son as incarnate, not the Son as Son in essence. While this verse tells us that God will be “everything to every one” Colossians 3:11 tells us that “Christ is all, and in all.” Thus, Jesus’ office as Messiah and Mediator will cease in time, but not His Godhood, since Scripture teaches that He will be “all in all” just as His Father is.

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[see also the companion paper: Holy Trinity: Hundreds of Biblical Proofs (RSV Edition) ]

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(initial research from 1982 [using KJV]; slightly revised in 1997; revised and reformatted for RSV edition in 2012; expanded and revised  in Nov. 2024)

Photo credit: my book, Theology of God: available for purchase, for as low as $2.99 in e-book formats. The material above was drawn from this book.

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