a grayscale of the holy bible
Stephen Kneale

10 times Jesus is explicitly called God in the Bible

It is sometimes said that Jesus is nowhere explicitly referred to as God. There are lots and lots of examples in the Bible of Jesus doing things only God can do, operating in ways only God operates and accepting things that only God ought to receive. I was speaking with a Muslim the other day – who affirmed Jesus as a good prophet – and said, considering Jesus went around forgiving sin and receiving worship from people without correcting them, he was either God incarnate or an extremely bad prophet who encouraged severe blasphemy! The one thing he can’t be is a good prophet who is less than God.

But there are a number of places where the scriptures explicitly affirm that Jesus of Nazareth is God. I am not talking about the places where we have to do a great deal of explaining. I don’t mean places where we have to talk about the Greek ego eimi or we have to do some entirely legit, but nevertheless necessary, logical reasoning. I am just talking about ten times the Bible explicitly and directly says Jesus is God. I am not going to comment on them, I am just going to list them below. If we take the Bible at all seriously, these should put the matter beyond doubt: Jesus Christ is fully God.

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. — John 1:1 (CSB)

John 20:28

Thomas responded to him, ‘My Lord and my God! ’ — John 20:28 (CSB)

Romans 9:5

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises. The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen. — Romans 9:4-5 (CSB)

Titus 2:13

while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. — Titus 2:13 (CSB)

Hebrews 1:8

but to the Son:

Your throne, God,

is for ever and ever,

and the sceptre of your kingdom

is a sceptre of justice. — Hebrews 1:8-9 (CSB)

Hebrews 1:10

And:

In the beginning, Lord,

you established the earth,

and the heavens are the works of your hands — Hebrews 1:10-11 (CSB)

2 Peter 1:1

Simeon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ:

To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. — 2 Peter 1:1 (CSB)

1 John 5:20

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one ​– ​that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. — 1 John 5:20 (CSB)

Isaiah 9:6

For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6-2 (CSB)

Matthew 1:23

See, the virgin will become pregnant

and give birth to a son,

and they will name him Immanuel,

which is translated ‘God is with us.’ — Matthew 1:23-24 (CSB)