The Divinity of Jesus Christ:
A New Apostle
Question: Does the New Testament identify Jesus as God?
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Overview
The divinity of Jesus is established in the New Testament by Jesus claiming divine attributes and divine authority. In addition to this, the New Testament authors apply to Jesus the exclusive titles and descriptions of God (Jehovah) from the Old Testament. It should be noted that although Jesus is God, Jesus is not the Father and Jesus is not the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Second Person of God: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit.
The following is an example of Jesus being identified as God in the New Testament.
A New Apostle
Acts 1 can be divided into two sections. The first section describes the final departure and ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:1-14) and the second section the selection of a new apostle to replace Judas Iscariot and reconstitute the Twelve Apostles (Acts 1:15-26). In selecting a new apostle, the Eleven Apostles (as well as those gathered with them) choose two candidates and ask the Lord in prayer to make the correct choice known. Matthias, in contrast to Barsabbas, is then chosen to replace Judas.
Three considerations suggest that the prayer of the Eleven Apostles was addressed to Jesus as God.
First, the prayer identifies God as ‘Lord’. The Lord, according to Acts 1, is a title that applies to Jesus (Acts 1:6 & 1:21-22). It should be noted that God the Father is also identified as ‘Lord’ in Acts (Acts 4:23-31 & 17:16-34), which means that the context should be used to determine the person or subject in view.
Second, the prayer states that God must select the apostle to replace Judas. It was Jesus, according to Acts 1, who previously chose and commissioned the Twelve Apostles (Acts 1:1-2, see also Luke 6:12-16).
Third, the prayer acknowledges that God knows the hearts of all people. Jesus, according to Revelation 2, searches the hearts of all people (Revelation 2:18-29, see also Psalm 7:6-9 & Jeremiah 11:20). This is the divine attribute of omniscience or knowing all things.
In summary, the context of Acts 1 (the title of Jesus as ‘Lord’ and Jesus selecting the Twelve Apostles) as well as other considerations (Jesus knowing the hearts of all people according to Revelation 2) indicate that the prayer in Acts 1:24-25 was directed to Jesus as God. The Apostolic Church, and specifically the Eleven Apostles, were asking Jesus to continue directing the work of the apostles on earth by exercising divine power from heaven. See additionally other occasions in Acts when Jesus performs miracles from heaven (Acts 9:32-35) and speaks with authority to those on earth (Acts 9:1-19). Consider also the promise that Jesus made to build the church through the apostles (Matthew 16:13-20) as well as the assurance that Jesus gave to the apostles of his continual presence (Matthew 28:16-20). Each of these, whether considered individually or collectively, necessitates Jesus being God.
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Bible Passages
Psalm 7:6-9
(6) Arise, LORD, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.
(7) Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high. (8) Let the LORD judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.
(9) Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure - you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.
Jeremiah 11:20
(20) But you, LORD Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.
Matthew 16:13-20
(13) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
(14) They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
(15) “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
(16) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
(17) Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (18) And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (20) Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Matthew 28:16-20
(16) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. (17) When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. (18) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Luke 6:12-16
(12) One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. (13) When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: (14) Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, (15) Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, (16) Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Acts 1:1-14
(1) In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach (2) until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. (3) After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (4) On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (5) For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
(6) Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
(7) He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. (8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(9) After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
(10) They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. (11) “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
(12) Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. (13) When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. (14) They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 1:15-26
(15) In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) (16) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. (17) He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
(18) (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. (19) Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
(20) “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, ‘May another take his place of leadership.’ (21) Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, (22) beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
(23) So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. (24) Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen (25) to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” (26) Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 4:23-31
(23) On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. (24) When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. (25) You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? (26) The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’ (27) Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. (28) They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. (29) Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. (30) Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
(31) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 9:1-19
(1) Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest (2) and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. (3) As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. (4) He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
(5) “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. (6) “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
(7) The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. (8) Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. (9) For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
(10) In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
(11) The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. (12) In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
(13) “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. (14) And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
(15) But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. (16) I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
(17) Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (18) Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, (19) and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Acts 9:32-35
(32) As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. (33) There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. (34) “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. (35) All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Acts 17:16-34
(16) While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. (17) So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. (18) A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. (19) Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? (20) You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” (21) (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
(22) Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. (23) For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship - and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
(24) “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. (25) And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. (26) From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. (27) God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. (28) ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
(29) “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by human design and skill. (30) In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (31) For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
(32) When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” (33) At that, Paul left the Council. (34) Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Revelation 2:18-29
(18) “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. (19) I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
(20) Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. (21) I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. (22) So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. (23) I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
(24) Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, (25) except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
(26) To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations - (27) that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’ - just as I have received authority from my Father. (28) I will also give that one the morning star. (29) Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.