Scripture calls Jesus God: "the Word was God" (John 1:1), "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30), and "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). Thomas confessed, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). The Father addresses the Son, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever" (Hebrews 1:8).
Is Jesus God? These twelve King James passages are classic proof texts for the deity of Christ—who He is, not only what He did to save us. They focus on titles, claims, and worship that belong to God alone. For how to be saved, see our salvation page; for the Christmas nativity story, see christmas.
The Word was God
1. John 1:1
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John's Gospel opens by placing Jesus (the Word) as eternal and truly God—not a created afterthought.
2. John 1:14
"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."
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Deity did not stay distant; God the Son took on true humanity without ceasing to be God.
3. John 8:58
"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
Before Abraham was, I am. Jesus takes the divine name-language of Exodus 3. His hearers understood the claim; that is why they took up stones.
4. John 10:30
"I and my Father are one."
I and my Father are one. Unity of essence and purpose—Jesus claims a oneness with the Father that made His opponents charge blasphemy (John 10:33).
Confessed and declared God
5. John 20:28
"And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God."
Thomas answered, My Lord and my God. The risen Jesus receives worship that belongs only to God, and He does not correct Thomas.
6. Colossians 2:9
"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Not a partial share of divinity—the fullness of deity in bodily form.
7. Colossians 1:15-17
"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
He is the image of the invisible God; by Him were all things created; He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. Creator and Sustainer language is God-language.
8. Hebrews 1:8
"But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. The Father Himself addresses the Son as God.
God over all; true God
9. Titus 2:13
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Paul joins "great God" and "Saviour" in naming Jesus.
10. Romans 9:5
"Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."
Christ... who is over all, God blessed for ever. Paul's doxology places Christ as God over all.
11. Hebrews 1:3
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power. The Son perfectly expresses and sustains what only God is and does.
12. 1 John 5:20
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."
This is the true God, and eternal life—spoken in a context that identifies the Son. Knowing Jesus is knowing the true God.
A short prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the Word who was God, one with the Father, the fullness of the Godhead bodily. I confess with Thomas: my Lord and my God. Fix my eyes on who You are, and help me worship You as You deserve. In Your name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the Bible say Jesus is God?
Yes. John 1:1 says the Word was God; John 20:28 records "My Lord and my God"; Colossians 2:9 says the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him; Hebrews 1:8 has the Father calling the Son "O God."
Where does Jesus say "I and my Father are one"?
John 10:30. In context, His opponents understood it as a claim to deity (John 10:33).
What does "the Word was God" mean?
In John 1:1, "the Word" is Jesus. He was with God in the beginning and was God—eternal deity who later became flesh (John 1:14).
Is calling Jesus God the same as the gospel of salvation?
They belong together, but this page focuses on who Jesus is. For repentance and faith unto salvation, see our salvation page.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about salvation · Bible verses about faith · Bible verses about Christmas · Bible verses about the resurrection of Jesus · Bible verses about truth
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