JESUS IS GOD
Yes, that's right! Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, was seen by the early Christians as God. Note, however, that the religious scene in Israel, at that time, was strongly monotheistic. Daily, in their prayers, they recited the shema, which, among other things, proclaims: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one..." (Deuteronomy 6:4). Thus, to claim that someone was God constituted blasphemy, worthy of being punished by stoning. But the authors of the New Testament were not afraid to put this statement in their writings. There are numerous passages where it appears indirectly and discursively. But at least Paul, John and Peter afirmed it very clear in their texts: "Jesus is God".
The Apostle Paul, for example, alone wrote three times. To the Romans, speaking about the Jews, he said, "theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen" (9:5). To the Philippians, he said, "let your attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who, though he was God, did not consider that being equal with God was something to be attached to..." (2:5,6). Now, addressing Titus, about divine grace, this apostle said: "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions... while we wait for the blessed hope —the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..." (2:11-13).
As for the Apostle John, his literature is rich regarding the divinity of Christ. In his gospel, he narrated the episode in which Jesus, after his resurrection, appeared to the disciples and Thomas, touching the marks of his crucifixion, exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28).In Revelation 1:12-18, he gives a description of Jesus Christ in his glorious state. Already, Peter begins his second letter, writing, "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours..." (2Peter1:1,2).
The Lord Jesus himself declared himself to be God. According to John, in a conversation with Jesus. Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us". Then Jesus answered him, "don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father... (John 14:8,9). Earlier, on another occasion, Jesus spoke clearly: "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). The beloved Apostle also recorded, in his vision of Revelation on the island of Patmos, that God the Father, at the very beginning of the vision, declared, "I am the Alpha and the Omega" (1:8). But at the end of the vision, the one who makes this declaration is Jesus.
According to McGrath (2005, p.411), there is, in the New Testament, a series of passages that relate Jesus with functions or tasks linked to God. Jesus as Savior: The Old Testament asserts that there is only one savior of humanity: God. In fact, Smith (2001, p.158) states, "...Israel knew God as savior before they knew him as Lord". But, the New Testament is rich in statements that say that Jesus is the savior of the world. Jesus as worthy of worship: in the context of Israel at that time, only God was to be worshiped. "However, the early church worshiped Christ as God" (McGRATH, 2005, p.411). Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:2, speaks of Christians as those who "call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," using language referring to the worship and adoration of God typical of the Old Testament (Gen4:26;13:4; Ps105:1).
Obviously, to claim that Jesus is God implies important philosophical and theological questions. Brunner (2010, p.369) understands that one cannot construct a "contradiction between God and reason." However, he claims that "the God of revelation cannot be understood by means of any rational categories”. Yes, the reason of fallen man does not reach the instances of divine revelation. Only by the way of faith can this mystery be understood. Faith is necessary, but not just any faith, because even demons believe (James 2:19). But a conscious faith, which generates commitment to God, which promotes a movement toward Him. Faith is the language by which God is read and understood. Thus, to man it remains only to surrender to the mystery in order to achieve his salvation.
Antônio Maia – M.Div.
Copyrights
BRUNNER, Emil. Dogmática. Volume 1 – Doutrina Cristã de Deus. São Paulo: Fonte Editorial, 2010.
McGRATH, Alister. Teologia Sistemática, Histórica e Filosófica. São Paulo: Shedd Publicações, 2005.
SMITH, Ralph L. Teologia do Antigo Testamento – História, Método e Mensagem. São Paulo: Vida Nova, 2001.
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