The identity of Jesus of Nazareth still fascinates people, even 2,000 years after his death. Many people are convinced through the Bible’s teaching, prophetic and historical evidence, as well as their personal experience, that Jesus Christ was much more than a poor carpenter from Nazareth. “Deity” is an important word that people use to describe Jesus but what does it actually mean?
The “deity” of Jesus Christ refers to the Bible’s teaching that he is God. The word deity means God, yet it can also refer to a truth about him like one of his attributes. Deity describes Christ’s identity as observed in who he was, what he said, what he did, and observations that his followers made.
What is the definition and origin of the word deity? Is it exclusive to Christianity? What is the evidence in the New Testament that Jesus is God? Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions and others.
Also see Did Jesus Claim To Be God? to learn more.
What does the word deity describe?
The general definition of the word “deity” refers to a god but doesn’t specify a particular religion or worldview. The term can refer to a god or goddess in a polytheistic or monotheistic faith.
In relation to Christianity, the term applies to a single God who the Bible says is the Creator (Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16) and Sustainer of all things (Psa. 55:22).
The English word “deity,” meaning “divine nature” or “godhood” comes from an Old French word, deite, which has Latin origins. The Latin word for God is “Deus,” from the root dyeu meaning “to shine in heaven.”
| Word | Merriam-Webster Dictionary |
|---|---|
| deity | the rank or essential nature of a god |
| divine | of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God |
| divinity | the quality or state of being divine |
Author C.S. Lewis once wrote, “The doctrine of Christ’s divinity seems to me not something stuck on which you can unstick but something that peeps out at every point so that you’d have to unravel the whole web to get rid of it.”
Also see What Did Jesus Christ Look Like? to learn more.
The deity of Christ is observed in how people worshiped him
“Depend on it, my hearer, you never will go to heaven unless you are prepared to worship Jesus Christ as God.” – Charles Spurgeon, 19th-century English pastor
| God the Father | God the Son | |
|---|---|---|
| Receives honor | Exod. 20:2-3, 34:14; Deut. 5:6-7 | John 5:23; Heb. 3:3-4 |
| Receives glory | Exod. 15:2; Psa. 29:1-3; cf. Matt. 5:16; Rom. 15:6-9 | 2 Tim. 4:18; Heb. 13:20-21; 1 Pet. 4:11 |
| Receives worship | Deut. 6:13; Psa. 97:7; Isa. 45:23; Rev. 19:10 | Matt. 2:2, 11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9, 17; Phil. 2:10-11; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 1:17, 5:14 |
| Receives prayer | Gen. 4:26; 1 Chron. 16:8; Psa. 65:2; Isa. 44:17; 45:20-22; Joel 2:32 | John 14:14; Acts 1:24-25; 7:59-60; Rom. 10:12-13; 1 Cor. 1:2; Rev. 22:20-21 |
| God the Father | God the Son | |
|---|---|---|
| Worship songs dedicated to him | Exod. 15:21; Psa. 7:17, 9:11, 92:1, 95:1, 96:2, Isa. 42:10 | Eph. 5:19; Rev. 5:9-10; cf. Phil. 2:6-11 |
| Is the object of faith | Gen. 15:6; Isa. 28:16; 43:10; Mark 11:22; Heb. 6:1; 11:6 | Matt. 9:28; John 1:12; 3:15-18; 6:35, 40; 14:1; 20:31; Acts 3:16; 10:43; 16:31; 20:21; 22:19; Rom. 9:33; Gal. 3:26; 1 Pet. 2:6; 1 John 3:23; 5:1-13 |
| Is revered or feared | Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Prov. 1:7; 2:5; 9:10; Isa. 8:12-13 | 2 Cor. 5:10-11; Eph. 5:21; 6:7-8; Col. 3:22-25; 1 Pet. 3:14-16 |
| Is the object of devotion | Deut. 6:13; cf. Matt. 4:10 | Matt. 26:2, 18, 26-29; Mark 14:12-16, 22-25; Luke 22:8-20; Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; 1 Cor. 10:16-22 |
| Is the object of affection | Exod. 20:6; Deut. 5:10; 6:4-5; 11:1, 13:6-11; 19:9; 30:6-8-20; 33:9; Josh. 22:5; Neh. 1:5; Dan. 9:4; Matt. 22:37 | Matt. 10:37; Luke 14:26; John 14:15, 21; 15:10; Eph. 6:24 |
Also see Where Was Jesus Christ Crucified? to learn more.
The deity of Christ is observed in his attributes
“He is called God, the mighty God, the great God, God over all; Jehovah; Lord; the Lord of lords and the King of kings. All divine attributes are ascribed to Him. He is declared to be omnipresent, omniscient, almighty, and immutable, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” – Theologian Charles Hodge
| God the Father | God the Son | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-existence | The Father has always existed (see verses below) | Matt. 9:13; 20:28; 23:34; Mark 10:45; Luke 4:43; 5:32; 13:34; 19:10; John 8:42; 10:36; 13:3; 16:28; Rom. 8:3; Gal. 4:4-6; Phil. 2:6-7 |
| Eternal | Psa. 90:2; 102:25-27 | John 1:1-3; 8:56-59; 17:5; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2, 10-12; 7:3 |
| Uncreated | Gen. 1:1; Isa. 43:10 | John 1:3, 10; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2, 10-12; cf. Prov. 8:22; Rev. 3:14 |
| Immutable | Num. 23:19; Psa. 102:26-27; Mal. 3:6; James 1:17 | Heb. 1:10-12; 13:8; cf. 2 Cor. 1:20 |
| Loving | Deut. 7:8; 10:15, 18; Psa. 146:8; Prov. 3:12; Isa. 63:9; Jer. 31:3; Hos. 3:1 | John 13:34; 15:9, 12-13; Rom. 8:35-39; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:19; 5:2; Rev. 1:5; cf. Rom. 5:8 |
| Omnipotent | Job 42:2; Luke 1:37 | Matt. 28:18; John 2:19-22; 10:17-18; 1 Cor. 1:23-24; 2 Cor. 12:9; Eph. 1:19-21; Col. 2:10; 1 Peter 3:22 |
| Omnipresent | Gen 28:15; 1 Kings 8:27; Psa. 139:7-10; John 4:20-24 | Matt. 8:5-13; 18:20; 28:20; Mark 7:24-30; Luke 7:1-10; John 1:47-49; Eph. 4:10-11 |
| Omniscient | John 4:20–24; 1 Kings 8:39; Ps. 139:1–4; Isa. 46:9–10; Matt. 10:30; 1 John 3:20 | Matt. 9:4; 12:25; Mark 2:6–8; Luke 6:8; 21:20–24; John 4:16-18; 11:11–15; 13:10–11, 21–29, 36–38; 16:30–31; 21:17; Acts 1:24; 1 Cor. 4:5; |
| Incomprehensible | Isa. 40:18 | Matt. 11:27; cf. Luke 10:22 |
The deity of Christ is observed in his names
“When Jesus was called ‘Son of God,’ it was understood categorically by all as a title of deity, declaring Him equal with God and (more significantly) of the same essence as the Father. That is precisely why the Jewish leaders regarded the title Son of God the ultimate high blasphemy.” – Pastor John MacArthur
| God the Father | God the Son | |
|---|---|---|
| Name above every name | Exod. 3:15; 20:7; Deut. 5:11; 28:58; Pss. 8:1, 9; 20:7; Isa. 45:21–23; Joel 2:32; Luke 1:49; Rom. 2:24; 1 Tim. 6:1; Rev. 11:18; 13:6; 15:4; 16:9 | Matt. 7:22; 24:9; Mark 9:38–39; Luke 10:17; 21:12, 17; John 1:12; 15:21; 20:31; Acts 2:21, 36, 38; 3:6, 16; 4:7-18; 5:28, 40–41; 8:16; 9:14, 21, 27–28; 10:43, 48; 15:26; 16:18; 19:5, 17; 21:13; 22:16; Rom. 10:12–13; 1 Cor. 1:13–15; 6:11; Eph. 1:21; Phil. 2:9–11; Col. 3:17; 1 Peter 4:14; 1 John 2:12; 1 John 3:23; 5:13; 3 John 7; Rev. 2:3, 13; 3:8 |
| God | Deut. 4:35, 39; 32:39; 2 Sam. 22:32; 2 Chron. 15:3; Isa. 37:20; 43:10; 44:6–8; Jer. 10:10; John 5:44; 17:3; Rom. 3:30; 16:27; 1 Cor. 8:4–6; Gal. 3:20; Eph. 4:6; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 Tim. 1:17; 2:5; James 2:19; 1 John 5:20–21; Jude 25 | Isa. 7:14; 9:6; John 1:1, 18; 20:28; Acts 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1 (cf. 1:11; 2:20; 3:18) |
| Lord (YHWH/ Kurios) | Gen. 2:4; Exod. 3:15– 18; Deut. 3:24 LXX [etc.]; 6:4; Pss. 34:8; 118:25; Isa. 8:12–13; 40:3, 13; 45:23; Joel 2:32 | Matt. 3:3; 7:21–22; 8:25; 14:30; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; 6:46; Acts 1:24; 2:21, 36; 7:59–60; Rom. 10:9–13; 1 Cor. 1:2, 2:16; 4:4–5; 5:4; 6:11; 7:17, 32–35; 8:6; 10:21–22; 16:22–23; Phil. 2:9–11; 1 Peter 2:3; 3:13–15 |
| Bridegroom/ Husband | Isa. 54:5; 62:5; Jer. 31:32 | Matt. 22:2; 25:1–13; Mark 2:19; John 3:29; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25–27; Rev. 19:7–9; 21:2, 9 |
| King of Kings & Lord of Lords | Dan. 4:37; 1 Tim. 6:15; cf. Deut. 10:17; Ps. 136:2–3 | Rev. 17:14; 19:16 |
| Savior | Deut. 32:15; Pss. 25:5; 27:9; 62:2, 6; 65:5; 79:9; 95:1; Isa. 12:2; 17:10; 45:15, 21; Mic. 7:7; Hab. 3:18 | Luke 2:11; John 4:42; Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim. 1:10; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:11; 2:20; 3:2, 18; 1 John 4:14 |
| I Am | Deut. 32:29; Isa. 41:4; 43:2, 5, 10–11, 25; 46:4; 52:6; cf. Exod. 3:14 | John 4:26; 6:20; 8:24, 28, 58; 13:18–19; 18:5–8 |
| First & Last/ Alpha & Omega/ Beginning & End | Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Rev. 21:6 | Rev. 1:7–8, 17b–18; 2:8; 22:12–13 |
Also see How Many Years Has It Been Since Jesus Died? to learn more.
Jesus performed acts that only God can do
“When the Bible says that Christ is God, it does not ask us to forget a single thing that it has said about the stupendous majesty of God. No, it asks us to remember every one of those things in order that we may apply them all to Jesus Christ.” – Gresham Machen
| God the Father | God the Son | |
|---|---|---|
| Creating and sustaining all things | Gen. 1:1; 2:7; Neh. 9:6; Psa. 95:5–7; 102:25; Isa. 44:24; Jer. 10:16; 51:19; Acts 4:24; 14:15; Rom. 11:36; Heb. 2:10; Rev. 4:11 | John 1:3, 10; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16–17; Heb. 1:2-3, 10 |
| Sovereignly ruling over the forces of nature | Gen. 8:1; Exod. 14:21; Job 38:8–11; Pss. 33:7; 65:7; 74:13–14; 77:16–20; 104:4–9; Prov. 8:22–31; Isa. 17:12–13; 35:4–6; Jer. 5:22; 31:35 | Matt 8:23–27 (cf. Mark 4:35–41; Luke 8:22–25); Matt 14:13–21 (cf. Mark 6:32–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15); Matt 15:32–39 Matt 17:24–27; Mark 5:19–20 (cf. Luke 8:39); Luke 5:1–11; 7:11–16; John 2:1–11 |
| Illumination and revelation | Gen. 40:8; 41:15–16; Ps. 119:18; Dan. 2:20–23; Amos 3:7 | Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 1:4–5, 9, 18; 2 Thess. 2:8; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 1:10; 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13 |
| Speaking with divine authority | Cf. “Thus says the Lord” (over 400x); Isa. 40:8; 52:6; 55:11–12 | Matt. 5:20–22, etc.; 7:24–29; 24:35; Mark 1:22; 13:31; Luke 4:32; John 4:26; 7:46; cf. “Amen I say to you” (74x) |
| Word of the Lord | 1 Kings 13:1, 2, 5, 32; 20:35; 2 Chron. 30:12; cf. 2 Sam. 16:23; 1 Chron. 15:15 | Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48–49; 15:35–36; 16:32; 19:10, 20; 1 Thess. 4:15 |
| God the Father | God the Son | |
|---|---|---|
| Salvation | Exod. 15:2; Deut. 32:15; Pss. 3:8; 24:5; 25:5 (etc.); 62:1–2, 6–7; 118:14, 21; 130:8; Isa. 45:15, 21; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4 | Matt. 1:21; Luke 19:9–10; John 3:17; 10:9; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 16:31; 1 Cor. 15:1–4; 1 Tim. 1:1, 15; Titus 1:4; 2:13–14; 3:6; Heb. 5:9; Rev. 7:10 |
| Showing mercy | Pss. 6:2; 9:13; 31:9; 41:4, 10; 56:1; 86:3; 123:3; Isa. 33:2 | Matt. 15:22; 20:30, 31 |
| Forgiveness of sins | Exod. 34:6–7; Psa. 51:4; 130:4; Isa. 43:25; 44:22; 55:7; Jer. 31:34; Dan. 9:9 | Matt 9:1–8 (cf. Mark 2:1–12; Luke 5:17–26); Luke 7:47–49; Acts 5:31; Col. 3:13 |
| Sending the Spirit & his gifts | Joel 2:28–29; John 14:26; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:6 | Matt 3:11; Luke 24:49; John 1:33; 7:37–39; 15:26; 16:7–14; 20:22; Acts 2:33; 16:6–7; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:5; Eph. 4:8–11; Phil. 1:19 |
| Giving and being life | Gen. 2:7; Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 36:9; Jer. 2:13 | John 1:4; 3:15–16; 5:21–26; 10:10; 14:6; 17:3; 20:30–31; Acts 3:15; Rom. 6:23; Phil. 1:21; Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:3–4 |
| Raising the dead | Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6; Gal. 1:1 | John 2:19–22; 5:28–29; 6:40, 54; 10:17–18, 27–28; 11:25–26; Acts 2:24 |
| Source of all spiritual blessings | (See references to the right) | Eph. 1:2–3; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2; 2 John 3; Rev. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:16–17 |
| Judging all people | Gen. 18:25; Deut. 1:17; Pss. 7:9–11; 50:4, 6; 62:12; 75:7; 96:12–13; Prov. 24:12; Isa. 40:9–11; Jer. 25:31; Joel 3:12; Rom. 2:3; 14:10 | Matt. 16:27; 25:31–46; John 5:22–23; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 1 Cor. 4:4–5; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7–8; 2 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:23 |
Also see Who Washed Jesus’ Feet? to learn more.
The deity of Christ is observed in his authority
“Any other Jewish teacher made very sure that his teaching was documented with extensive quotations from Scripture and with the names of his teachers added to give weight to his opinion; his authority must always be second-hand. But not Jesus. He simply laid down the law.” – Bible scholar R.T. France
| God the Father | God the Son | |
|---|---|---|
| God’s highest possible throne | Dan. 4:34–35; Rom. 14:10; Rev 4:2; 5:1; 20:11; cf. 7:15 | Ps. 110:1; Matt. 22:44; 25:31; 26:64; Mark 12:36; 14:62; 16:19; Luke 20:42–43; 22:69; Acts 2:33–35; 5:31; 7:55–56; Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:25; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 1:20; 2:6; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12–13; 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Rev. 3:21; 7:17; 22;1, 3 |
| Claiming to be equal to God | Exod. 20:3, 7; Deut. 5:7, 11; cf. Ps. 110:1; Dan. 7:13–14; cf. Ezek. 1:26–28; see also Exod. 14:20; 34:5; Num. 10:34; Ps. 104:3; Isa. 19:1 | Matt. 9:3 (cf. Mark 2:7); Mark 14:61–64; John 5:17–18; 8:58–59; 10:27–33; 19:7 |
| Ruling over all things | Isa. 44:24; Jer. 10:16; 51:19 | Matt. 11:25–27; 28:18; Luke 10:21–22; John 3:35; 13:3; 16:15; Acts 10:36; 1 Cor. 15:27–28; Eph. 1:22; Phil. 2:10; 3:21; Heb. 1:2; 2:8; Rev. 5:13 |
| Ruling forever | Psa. 9:7; 45:6; 93:2; Lam. 5:19; Dan. 4:34–35; Rev. 5:13 | Luke 1:33; Eph. 1:19b–21; Heb. 1:8; Rev 11:15; cf. Eph. 5:5; Rev. 22:1, 3 |
English pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones has written, “If you do not believe in the unique deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, you are not a Christian, whatever else you may be.”
Lloyd-Jones continues: “We are not looking at a good Man only, we are not interested merely in the greatest Teacher the world has ever seen; we are face to face with the fact that God, the Eternal Son, has been in this world, and that He took upon Him human nature and dwelt among us, a Man amongst men – God-Man.”
Lloyd-Jones concludes: “We are face to face with the mystery and the marvel of the Incarnation and of the Virgin Birth. It is all here, and it shines out in all the fullness of its amazing glory. “What manner of Man is this?” He is more than Man. That is the answer – He is also God.”
Also see What Is the Law of Christ? to learn more.
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