The question, “Is Jesus God?” is incredibly simple to ask, but its answer is the very bedrock of Christian faith.

This topic has become very personal to me. My dad grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness household, and though he left that faith, he never really gave traditional Christianity a chance. Now that my younger brother and I are following Christ, there’s a chance he might show an interest. If that happens, I need to be ready to defend my belief, and I believe all Christians should be able to do the same.

A History of Debate

The debate about Jesus’s nature is nothing new. It can be traced all the way back to the 4th century (around 300 AD) when a Christian priest named Arius taught that Jesus was merely a holy man created by God, and therefore could not be God Himself. This teaching, known as Arianism, caused significant conflict within the early Church.

The Church finally addressed this in 325 AD at the First Council of Nicaea, where the Nicene Creed was established. This creed affirmed the biblical truth that Jesus was “one in being with the Father.” Arius refused to sign the creed, was identified as a heretic, and was exiled.

It is important to note that groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses do not completely align with Arianism, but they share a similar core belief: They believe Jesus is a god, but the Father is the God. Jehovah’s Witnesses often believe that Jesus existed before His birth as the archangel Michael.

Let’s look at why this belief contradicts the core message of the Bible by examining a few key Scriptures.

1. John 1:1: The Word Was God

The book of John starts with one of the most powerful statements in all of Scripture:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, NIV)

• Similarity: Both religions believe “the Word” refers to Jesus
• The Christian view: Since the Bible teaches there is only one God, this verse clearly states that Jesus is divine. He is God.
• The Jehovah’s Witness view: In their New World Translation (NWT), the last phrase is rendered, “and the Word was a god.” This slight but profound change supports their belief that Jesus is a powerful, divine being, but separate from and subservient to the Father.

2. Colossians 2:9: The Fullness of Deity

Paul provides another clear statement about Jesus’s divine nature:

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9, NIV)

• The Christian view: Deity means “divine nature or quality.” If all the fullness of God’s nature is found in Jesus, then Jesus must be God.
• The Jehovah’s Witness view: They believe many “gods” exist because the word “gods” can refer to powerful and divine beings. Therefore, possessing “Deity” doesn’t necessarily mean Jesus is the one, true God.

3. Titus 2:13: Our Great God and Savior

Here is a verse where the two titles are explicitly linked:

“…while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13, NIV)

This verse is a prime example of the Granville Sharp Rule in Greek grammar, which suggests that when two nouns (like “God” and “Savior”) are linked by a single article (“the”), they refer to the same person. In other words: Jesus Christ is both our great God and Savior.

• The Jehovah’s Witness view: Again, the NWT translates this to separate the two: “…the glorious manifestation of the Great God and of our Savior, Christ Jesus.” By adding the extra “and of”, they separate God and Christ into two distinct persons.

4. John 10:30: “I and the Father Are One”

Perhaps the most explicit claim Jesus makes about Himself is found here:

“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30, NIV)

• The Christian view: This is a truth claim of equality and shared deity. The Jewish reaction immediately following this verse confirms Jesus’s intent, as they pick up stones to kill him for blasphemy. They understood exactly what He was claiming.
• The Jehovah’s Witness view: They believe Jesus is stating unification in purpose or will rather than deity.

Looking at the full context of John 10:22-39, the Jewish listeners were not angry because Jesus said He had the same purpose as God; they were angry because they believed He was “making himself God” (John 10:33).

5. Mark 10:17-18: Why Do You Call Me Good?

The final note often raised is from this exchange:

“‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good—except God alone.’” (Mark 10:17-18, NIV)

• The Jehovah’s Witness view: They argue this is a direct statement from Jesus that He is not God.
• The Biblical view: Jesus isn’t denying He is good; He is challenging the man to consider the depth of the title he is using. Since Jesus is without sin (and therefore perfectly good), this exchange doesn’t deny His goodness. If anything, it actually further supports that Jesus is God.

A Final Question

If Jesus never claimed to be God, why did the Jews repeatedly attempt to stone Him for blasphemy?

The Christian faith stands on the belief that Jesus is fully God and fully man. The question is: Will you choose to follow the religion that aligns with the original text or one that has slightly altered it to align with a pre-determined belief?