THE SCRIPTURAL PROOFS OF THE ABSOLUTE DEITY OF CHRIST.

CONTENTS, PREFACE, AND INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER 1. CHRIST'S UNIQUE SONSHIP PROVES HIS ABSOLUTE DEITY.

CHAPTER 2. THE TITLE "FIRSTBORN," "PROTOTOKOS," PROVES CHRIST'S DEITY.

CHAPTER 3. THE DEITY OF CHRIST IS MANIFESTED IN CHRIST'S HUMANITY.

CHAPTER 4. THE DIVINE TITLES EXCLUSIVE TO YAHWEH ARE APPLIED TO JESUS.

CHAPTER 5. MANY SCRIPTURES THAT SPEAK OF YAHWEH ARE APPLIED TO JESUS.

CHAPTER 6. CHRIST IS REPEATEDLY CALLED GOD IN THE SCRIPTURES.

CHAPTER 7. JESUS CHRIST IS OUR LORD AND GOD.

A. Jesus is our Eternal Lord and Great Creator.

B. Jesus is our Worshipped Lord.

C. Jesus is our Unlimited Lord.

D. Jesus is our Redeeming Lord.

E. Jesus is our Returning and Judging Lord.

APPENDIX 1. THE DEITY AND PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

APPENDIX 2. THE SCRIPTURAL PROOFS OF THE TRINITY.

APPENDIX 3. THE GLORY AND VICTORY OF OUR LORD'S HUMANITY.

Preface. The first edition of this book was poorly written, and the print quality was appalling. I trust that readers will think that there is an improvement in both clarity and content in this edition. I have added quite an amount of additional material, which I hope will be helpful. I also want to put on record my thanks to my wife Pauline for typing this book, and my other books, on to the computer, her considerable typing efforts, and her purchase of a PC for me, has made the rewriting of my books a lot easier for me. I dedicate this book to her.

When I first wrote this book I used Jehovah for the great name of God, because it was intended to be a defence for Christians against the false doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses. These are our modern day advocates of the teaching of Arius, died A.D. 336, a leading heretical opponent of the truth of the eternal pre-existent deity of Christ.. I trust that no one will be put off by the fact that in this edition I have nearly always used "Yahweh" instead of Jehovah, since this more accurately renders His great name, for the Hebrew "Hallelu-Yah," proves that "Yah" is the first part of God's great Name. I pray that this book will help all who read it to realise, in a new and deeper way, the deity and glory of the Lord Jesus, and to deal more effectively with the arguments of false teachers, like Jehovah's Witnesses, who deny the deity of our Lord. They take the name of God as their title, but deny Jesus His place, the only means of being reconciled to the Father.

The subject matter could not be more important, it is the central theme of our Faith, that God came down to earth to save and redeem us. "Amazing love! How can it be? That Thou, my God, should die for me?" W. H. Turner. October 4th. 2000.

Introduction. Nobody has made the claims that Christ made and substantiated by His character, life, teaching, miracles and actions. Jesus claimed that He had shared an eternal fellowship, oneness and equality of glory with God the Father. Mt.11v27. Jn.1v18. 5v18. 10v30. 16v15. 17v1,5,9,10,20-23,25. Jesus said that He had been sent by the Father to live on earth the beautiful divine life that He had lived in heaven with the Father. Jn.5v17. 16v28. 20v21. "Through the tender mercy of God: the dayspring from on high has visited us." Lk.1v78. Jesus said that His life was the perfect expression of the Father's being and character, and that He and the Father share an interfusion of nature and being. Jn.10v38. 17v20-23. 14v7-11. Heb.1v3.

Jesus claimed, enjoyed, and will for ever receive, the worship and praise that can only be given to God. Jn.5v23. Phil.2v9-11. Rev.1v5,6. 5v11-14. etc. In heaven Christ shared with the Father the divine qualities and prerogatives that only belong to God; omnipotence, Mt.28v18-20. Rev.1v8.; omnipresence, Mt.18v20. 28v19,20.; omniscience. Rev.2v23. with 1Kings.8v39. Jesus claimed he had authority to forgive sins. Mk.2v5-10. Lk.24v46-48. He also not only proved that He had the authority and power to raise the dead, but said that at His command all the dead would be raised, and that He is the Judge who will decide the eternal destinies of all mankind on the great judgement day. Jn.5v22-29. 6v39,40,44,54. 10v17,18. 11v25. Mt.25v31-46.

The Scriptures warn us that many false prophets and teachers would arise and deny the deity of Christ and His atonement. 2Pet.2v1-3. These heretics are not Christians, and until they repent and believe the truth, they can have no place in the kingdom of God. Acts.4v12. Gal.1v6-12. 1Jn.5v12. 2Jn.v9,10. Jude.v4. The deity of Jesus is a fundamental Christian truth and acceptance or rejection of Jesus as our God and Saviour, will decide our eternal destiny. 2Pet.1v1. R.V. Acts.8v35-37. 20v28.

The full complement of the Divine qualities of character are fully revealed in Christ. Col.2v3,9. The disciples who lived and walked with Jesus viewed His life with awe and wonder, and gave unanimous testimony to the fact that He was "that eternal life, which was with the Father." John proclaims the awesome truth, "The Word was God, --- and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Jn.1v1,14. 1Jn.1v1-3. True Christians worship the Lord Jesus and say with Thomas, "My Lord and my God." Jn.20v28.

CHAPTER 1. CHRIST'S UNIQUE SONSHIP PROVES HIS ABSOLUTE DEITY.

The sonship of Christ is unique and superior to any other person who is called "a son of God."

A. Christ's Sonship is unique and superior to the sonship of angels.

Angels are called "the sons of God," in Gen.6v4. Job.1v6. 2v1. 38v7.. However, Heb.1v1-14. emphatically declares that Christ's sonship is greatly superior and different to the sonship of angels, these verses clearly state that Jesus is the great Yahweh who created all things, and whose throne is for ever and ever.

B. Christ's Sonship is unique and superior to the sonship of men.

a. Christ's Sonship is Superior to Adam's sonship.

In Lk.3v38., in the genealogy proving Christ's physical descent from Adam; Adam is called a son of God. However, this is only showing that Adam was the direct creation of God, and had no human parents. The Scriptures clearly state that the sonship of Adam is inferior to that of angels and the redeemed sons of God. Jn.1v12,13. Ps.8v4,5. with Heb.2v5-7. 1Cor.15v45-50.

b. Christ's Sonship is superior to Israel's sonship.

In Hosea.11v1., we read that God looked upon the whole of Israel as His son. God also calls the judges and rulers of Israel by the name "elohim," because as judges they represent Him and take an oath to perform justice. Ps.82v1,6. Ex.7v1. 21v6. 22v8,9,28. Jn.10v34-39. The sonship of Christ is far superior to that of any Israelite or earthly ruler.

c. Christ's Sonship is superior to the sonship of the New Testament sons of God.

Believers in Christ are also called "sons of God." Jn.1v12. Rom.8v14-19. 9v25,26. Gal.3v26. 4v4-7. Phil.2v25. 1Jn.3v1,2. However, this sonship is only by adoption and grace, and not by right of divine primacy and absolute deity, which is the origin of Christ's sonship.

C. Christ's unique sonship is stated and proved in the Scriptures.

a. God the Father testified to the unique sonship of Christ.

God twice openly declared, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Mt.3v17. 17v5. 2Pet.1v17,18. 1Jn.5v9-13.

b. The Jews recognised that Christ claim of unique Sonship meant equality with the Father.

In Jn.5v15-18., and 10v30-39., the Jews were infuriated over Christ's claim to a unique Sonship and oneness with God, they said He was claiming absolute deity, and making Himself equal to God, and were so enraged that they tried to kill Him. In Jn.8v56-59., our Lord's claim to "I Am" deity also angered them to the point of attempted murder.

c. Our Lord was crucified for His claims to a unique sonship and absolute deity.

At His trial our Lord Jesus could have escaped death by denying His claim to unique Sonship and deity, but He affirmed His divine sonship more strongly, even though it meant His death. Mt.26v63-65. Jn.19v7.

d. Many Scriptures state that our Lord's unique Sonship affirmed His absolute deity.

Jesus is called "the Son of God" in a definite unique sense of absolute deity in the following passages. Mt.4v3,6. 8v29. 14v33. 16v16. Mk.1v1. 3v11. Lk.1v32,35. Jn.1v34,49. 6v69. 9v35. 10v36. 11v27. 20v28-31. Acts.8v37. 9v20. Rom.1v4. 2Cor.1v9. Gal.2v20. Eph.4v13. Heb.4v14. 6v6. 7v3. 10v29. 1Jn.3v8. 4v15.

D. The title "The ONLY begotten Son of God" is proof of Christ's deity.

Jesus is called the " ONLY begotten Son of God." Jn.1v14,18. 3v16,18. 1Jn.4v9. The French Bible translates "His only begotten Son," as "Son Fils unique," which means, "His unique Son," and "monogenes" certainly carries the meaning "unique," and "only one of its kind."

In Jn.1v18., Burgon, follows the vast majority of manuscripts and a majority of Church Fathers, and says that "vios," "Son;" is the correct text, and rejects the reading "only begotten God," and says that it is an alteration introduced into the text by the Gnostic Valentinus, and his followers. (Valentinus lived about A.D. 150, when Gnosticism was at its height.) See Appendix 2.

The Scriptures also state that THE SON WHO WAS TO BE GIVEN WAS CHRIST THE LORD, GOD WITH US. Is.7v14. 9v6. Mt.1v18-26. Lk.1v35. 2v11. In Jn.1v1,14., John tells us that the only begotten Son of God, is none other than God the Word manifested in human flesh. In Jn.1v14., "the only begotten from the Father," "hos monogenous para Patros," does not mean that Christ was created, it declares His unique relationship with the Father, for the Scriptures teach that as God, Jesus had no beginning: His going have been "FROM EVERLASTING." Micah.5v2. Ps.90v1,2. Jn.1v1. Heb.1v8. 7v1-3. Rev.1v8-11. etc.

N.B. 1. The quotation in Heb.1v5., from Ps.2v7., "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee;" is a declaration by the Father of Christ's unique Sonship and Deity. For the context in Heb.1v1-14., affirms Christ's eternal deity by saying that Jesus is "the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person:" and in a quotation from Ps.45v6,7., we read in Heb.1v8.that the Father says to Jesus, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." In another quotation from Ps.102v25-27., we read in Heb.1v10-12., that Jesus is the immutable and unchangeable Yahweh who laid the foundations of the earth. People have to be spiritually blind to miss, or wilfully ignore, such clear Biblical declarations from God the Father of Christ's unique sonship and absolute deity.

In Heb.1v5,6., "begotten," refers to the time when Jesus took upon Himself our humanity, the day of the incarnate Saviour's birth, "Thou art my Son, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE;" the day is specifically said to be, "when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world." It is interesting to note that the quote from Ps.2v7., "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten Thee;" that is applied in Heb.1v5,6. to the incarnation and birth of Christ upon a certain day; is applied in Acts,13v32-34. to Christ being raised from the dead on a certain day; and in Heb.5v5,6. to the start of Christ's high priestly ministry on that day of resurrection and ascension.

CHAPTER 2. THE TITLE "FIRSTBORN," "PROTOTOKOS," PROVES CHRIST'S DEITY.

1. "Firstborn" is used as a title of position and honour in relation to Jesus.

"Firstborn," "prototokos," is used to describe the firstborn of a human family, and is used to describe Jesus as being Mary's firstborn Son, Lk.2v7. Mt.1v25.; and in Heb.11v28., of the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. However, it can be clearly seen from the Scriptures that "firstborn" is used in a special and unique sense in reference to the Lord Jesus. The Scriptures show His right to be the Head and Lord of the Church, and His brethren, of all creation, and of the dead. Jesus is "the firstborn of many brethren," Rom.8v29.; "the firstborn of every creature," Col.1v15.: "the firstborn from the dead," Col.1v18.; "His firstborn," Heb.1v6.; "Head of the Church of the firstborn," Heb.12v23.; "the firstborn of the dead." Rev.1v5. Jesus is the Head of all things not just because of His absolute deity, but through His glorious sacrificial love, which brought about our salvation. Phil.2v1-13.

N.B. Paul uses "prototokos," "firstborn;" not "protoktisteos," "first creation."

Some heretics and false teachers have said that the word "prototokos," which is translated "firstborn," shows that Christ is the first creation of God. However, if Paul had meant that Christ was the first creation of God, he would have used the Greek word "protoktisteos," meaning, "first creation." The Scriptures clearly state that Christ had no beginning and was from everlasting. Micah.5v2. Ps.90v1,2. and Neh.9v6,7. with Jn.1v1-3. Is.9v6. Heb.1v8-12. 7v1-3. Rev.1v8-11. etc. Jesus is, "That eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us." 1Jn.1v2. These Scriptures, and many more, definitely state that Christ was the uncreated Yahweh Creator God of creation.

2. "Firstborn" is used as a title of pre-eminence, not just in a time sense.

In the Scriptures "firstborn" is not only used in a time sense, it describes a title of pre-eminence, leadership and special honour as well, for God uses it of men who were not the firstborn child.

a. Jacob was the firstborn in God's eyes, even though Esau was the firstborn by natural birth.

God rejected the carnal and godless firstborn Esau, and gave Jacob the position of firstborn because of his integrity and godliness. Gen.25v23,27. 27v29. Mal.1v1-3. Rom.9v12,13. Heb.12v15-17. with Gen.25v33,34. In Gen.25v27. "plain" is "tam," (Strong 8535); which is used to describe Job as being "perfect" in Job.1v1. and 2v3. See Job.8v20. 9v20-22. Ps.37v37.

b. Joseph was given the title "firstborn" that Reuben lost because of his sin.

Reuben forfeited his position as firstborn because of his immorality. Gen.49v3.4. Jacob recognised that God had given the birthright to Joseph, because of his godliness. Gen.49v22-26. N.B. v26. The coat of many colours signified the priesthood and spiritual leadership of the family. Gen.37v2-11. We also read that later on in Israel's history, "Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler." Gen.49v3,4. 1Chron.5v1,2.

c. God said the whole nation of Israel were His firstborn. Exod.4v22,23.

Israel was chosen by God to be the spiritual leader and head of all the nations of the earth. Israel was not the first of God's creation, but was given the position of honour and spiritual leadership among all the nations, because of the faith and faithfulness of the patriarchs.

d. God said that David, Jesse's last-born son, was to be His firstborn. Ps.89v20,27.

By giving David the title "firstborn," God was saying that David was His appointed leader and head of God's people. God was certainly not saying that David was the first of His creation. David was ordained the shepherd and leader of Israel, because of His loving shepherds heart and his faithfulness to God.

e. Jesus is called "the firstborn from the dead," even though others were resurrected before Him.

Christ is called "the firstborn out from among the dead," "prototokos ek ton nekron," Col.1v18.; "the firstborn of the dead," "ho prototokos ton nekron." Rev.1v5. In a time sense others were raised from the dead before Christ; however, only Christ has conquered death and Hades, and owns and holds the keys to them. Jesus alone is the Lord of life and death, He holds the primacy of position over all the dead. Rev.1v18. Jn.11v25,26. Jesus delivered all the redeemed from the power of death and Satan by His death, and so takes the position of primacy over the dead by right. Heb.2v14,15.

f. The Jews used the title "firstborn" of Yahweh to show His pre-eminence.

The title "firstborn" was used to denote pre-eminence, indeed, the Jewish people applied it to God Himself, to show God's pre-eminence over the rest of Creation. The Jews called Yahweh, "the firstborn of all the world," and "the firstborn of all creation," to signify that He was the Creator and Head of all things. This is the sense in which the title "firstborn," "prototokos," is given to Jesus, it is used to show His pre-eminence over all creation, as the New English Bible shows by its translation of Col.1v15.; "He is the image of the invisible God; His is the primacy over all created things." The title "firstborn" is applied to Christ to show His pre-eminence, and supreme position of honour.

N.B. Among the Israelites the firstborn son possessed special privileges. He was the successor to his father as the head of the house. He received a special blessing from his father, and twice as much of his father's possessions as any other son. Gen.27v4,19,27-29. Ex.22v29. Deut.21v17. The firstborn was consecrated to God's service and was the priest for the family until the giving of the Law at Sinai, when the Levites became the priests instead of the firstborn. Num.8v13-19. Priests had to be physically perfect to take their place as priests, no blemish could be upon them. Lev.21v16-24. Our High Priest is "holy, without guile, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens." Heb.7v26.

3. Paul uses the title "firstborn" to teach the absolute deity and divine Majesty of Christ.

In Col.1v12-20., Paul affirms the eternal being, divine majesty, and absolute deity of Christ in the most definite way. Paul corrects the false speculative philosophy of the Gnostic teachers at Colosse, who used a misinterpretation of the title "firstborn" to deny the uncreated and eternal deity of Jesus. These instructive verses, state the same truths about Christ's deity as Jn.1v1-18. Phil.2v4-13. and Heb.1v1-14.

a. In Col.1v15., the "Firstborn," the Lord Jesus, is said to be "the image of the invisible God."

Paul states that the Lord Jesus is the image of the invisible God. In Col.1v15., "image" is "eikon," which shows that Christ is the perfect likeness of God the Father, for "eikon" carries the thought of reality and exactness of likeness. Paul definitely states that Christ Jesus is not a vague and shadowy resemblance ("skia") of God; He is the very exact and perfect image of the Father. In Christ Jesus all the glories of the invisible God become visible. The essential nature, perfections, attributes and character of the invisible God are clearly seen in the incarnate Son, "For in Him there is continually and permanently at home all the fullness of absolute deity in bodily fashion." Col.2v9. Christ is the very image of the Father, He completely portrays the boundless and infinite love of God.

Jesus communicates to us the otherwise unknowable immensity and incommunicable attributes of the invisible God.

The word translated "invisible," "aoratus," means "incommunicable" as well as "unseen," it occurs in Rom.1v20. Col.1v15,16. 1Tim.1v7. and Heb.11v27.. Paul tells us in Rom.1v19,20., that the majesty of the creation clearly reveals the eternal power, beauty, and divinity, of God's invisible nature and attributes; however, only the Son can perfectly and experimentally declare and reveal the Father to the souls of men. Lk.10v22. Jn.1v18. Only God can reveal Himself perfectly to man, no creature can perfectly reveal God, only the God the Word can perfectly reveal God the Father. Through the incarnate Jesus the glories of the invisible God's character are clearly revealed. We see the amazing sacrificial love of God in the incarnate God the Word.

In 2Cor.4v4. Paul again states that Christ is the image, "eikon," of God; Jesus shares in the Father's being and is a perfect manifestation of that being. Jesus is the perfect revelation of the Father, as He said to Philip, he who has seen Me has seen the Father. Jn.14v9. Jesus is God with us. Mt.1v23. with Is.7v14. Paul tells us in Phil.2v6. that Jesus existed in "the 'morphe' of God," that is "the essential form, being, nature and essence of God," and He came to earth to reveal it to mankind.

N.B. By putting off the old man and putting on the new man, and by contemplating our Lord's glory and wonderful character we can be progressively transfigured from glory to glory by the Spirit of God into our Lord's image; when this occurs the divine purpose to conform us to the image ("eikon") of Christ will be fulfilled. Col.3v10. 2Cor.3v18. Rom.8v29. In Rom.8v29. "conformed to the image," is "summorphous tes eikonos," the use of the adjective "summorphous," from "sun," "with," and "morphe," "form," shows that the conformity to the image is inward, deep and real. Phil.2v6. We are not deified, that alone is God's prerogative, but through the God's precious promises we are made partakers of the divine nature. 2Pet.1v4.

In Heb.1v3. the Firstborn Son is said to be "the express image" of God the Father.

In Heb.1v3. Paul uses a different word from Col.1v15. when he says that Jesus is the "express image" of the being and substance of God the father. "Express image" is a translation of the word "charakter," from which we get our word "character." The Greek word "charakter" is used to speak of THE EXACT REPRODUCTION of an engraved character, or THE EXACT IMPRESSION made by a die upon a coin, or a seal upon wax. Like a die produces an exact impression upon metal, or a seal upon wax. Paul writes that Jesus is "the exact reproduction of the Father's very being," "charakter tes hupostaseos." "Hupostasis" speaks of that which lies or is placed underneath, and in common usage it speaks of the foundation or substratum, and in Heb.11v1. it is used of the faith being "the foundation" and "title deeds" (so used in papyri) of things hoped for. "Hupostasis," is also used to describe essential being and essence, "ousia." If we are wise we will accept the meaning given to "hupostasis" by the early Church, and avoid the philosophical reasoning and speculative terminology on the nature of God that brought such great controversy into the Church in later Church history. It is enough for us to know that Jesus is the exact representation, as a die produces upon metal, or as a seal produces upon wax, of the Father's very being and character. Only God the Son can be the exact representation of God the Father.

b. The Firstborn, the Lord Jesus, is definitely stated to be the great Creator.

Christ is set forth as the architect, constructor, sustainer and purpose behind creation. Col.1v16,17. Jesus is the great Creator God. Ps.90v1,2. Neh.9v6,7. with Jn.1v1-3. Heb.1v8-12. Jesus is the great First and Last Yahweh Creator. Rev.1v8,11,17. 2v8. with Is.44v6. and 48v12,13. Jesus existed eternally before all things, and all things hold together through Him, He is the sustainer of the creation. Col.1v17. All creation, angelic or human, heavenly or earthly, exists because of Christ our Lord. We will consider this aspect at greater length later. In Rev.1v11., the Majority Text and Critical Texts omit, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. However, Rev.1v17. 2v8. and 22v12-16., which state that Jesus is "The First and the Last," are in the original Greek text. The conclusion cannot be denied, Jesus is Yahweh, our great Creator God.

c. The Firstborn, the Lord Jesus, is the Lord our Redeemer.

The firstborn, the Lord Jesus, has reconciled all things unto Himself by the blood of His cross. Col.1v20,21. cf. 2Cor.5v18,19. We are reconciled to God the Father by the blood of Christ. The Scriptures state that it is Yahweh who is the Redeemer and the righteousness of His people; Christ is our righteousness and our redeemer, the promised Branch, the Son and Lord of David. Jer.23v5,6. We will consider this at greater length later, however, we can see by these brief comments, that the "Firstborn" is the incarnate and glorious God the Word, who was manifested in the flesh for our salvation.

N.B. "ALL the fullness of the Godhead dwells permanently in Jesus.

In Col.2v1-10. Paul rejects the attack on Christ's deity by the proud Gnostics, by stating that "ALL the treasures of divine wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ," and are available to His Church. Paul warns against the vain philosophy and deceit of the Gnostics, and affirms that in Christ, "there is continuously and permanently at home all the fullness of absolute deity in a bodily form." "ALL the fullness ('pleroma') of the Godhead," not just limited and certain aspects of deity, permanently dwell in Jesus in bodily form; "and we are made full and complete in Him." "Godhead," here, is "theotetos," (from "theos," and "deitas") which emphasises the divine essence and nature of God; and it is to be distinguished from "theiotes," (from "theios") in Rom.1v20., which speaks of the divine attributes, God-like qualities. Jesus was not gilded with divine attributes for a season, and with a splendour and glory which were not His own, His was the nature and being of absolute deity. The word "Godhead," "theotes," means that the exclusive and essential nature of God belonged to Christ. Jesus came to live on earth the life that He had lived in heaven, to reveal God to men, He is the very image of our unseen heavenly Father.

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