Mar 58 min read

“Understanding the Relationship Between Jesus and God: Is Jesus God?” 🙏📖

Updated: Mar 6

"Is Jesus God?"

God the Father: Creator and Protector

In the Bible, Jehovah is often referred to as “the Father.” While this language may evoke a masculine image, it’s essential to recognize that God transcends human gender. God is the Great I Am, the Almighty, Jehovah and the creator of the universe. Throughout Scripture, we encounter stories of God’s power, mercy, and love. Jehovah rescues and redeems His people, ultimately sending His Son, Jesus, as the path to salvation. Interestingly, Isaiah 66:13 even compares God’s love to that of a mother comforting her child.

Jesus: The Son of God

Jesus, as written in the New Testament, is believed to be the Son of God. He is also referred to as the Son within mainstream Christian denominations. Christians recognize Jesus as the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. His birth, life, teachings, death, and resurrection hold immense significance. But how does Jesus relate to God?

Jesus and His Relationship with God

No One Has Seen God Except Jesus: John 1:18 states, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” This verse emphasizes that Jesus uniquely reveals God to humanity. If you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve encountered God’s Spirit in him, but you did not see God. Bible states in Exodus 33:20 “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” Which means Jesus was not God, as if Jesus were God, then everyone would have died that looked upon him.
Jesus’ Words About His Father: Jesus acknowledges the Father’s greatness. He says, “My Father (Jehovah) is greater than I” (John 14:28).
Why Did Jesus Say, “Why Do You Call Me Good?”: When someone addressed Jesus as “good,” He responded, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God (Jehovah) alone” (Mark 10:18). Jesus didn’t claim equality with God in every aspect.
Jesus’ Prayers to God (Jehovah): Jesus prayed to God, demonstrating His dependence and relationship with the Father Jehovah. His prayers were genuine, not for show. For instance, in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed fervently before His arrest (Matthew 26:36-46).
Ye Are gods: In Psalm 82:6, it says, “I said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’” Jesus referenced this passage when confronted by the Jews who accused Him of making Himself equal to God (John 10:34-36). The context suggests that humans, as God’s representatives, are called “gods” (with a lowercase “g”).
The Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Word are "ONE" as stated in 1 John 5:7. Just as a married couple becomes "ONE" flesh, they work together as "ONE", as stated in Mark 10:8. This does not mean two fleshly bodies become one flesh in fleshly body, just means two people are working together as one.

"Did Jesus Pray to Himself?"

Hebrews 5:7

"Jesus offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One (Jehovah) able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety."

Luke 3:21"Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while Jesus was praying, heaven was opened,"

Matthew 14:23"After He had sent the crowds away, Jesus went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone."

(This verse shows us that Jesus was not praying to show others how to pray, because Jesus went by himself to pray alone, and praying to his Father Jehovah.)

Mark 6:46After bidding them farewell, Jesus left for the mountain to pray.

Luke 6:12It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and Jesus spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Mark 1:35In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Luke 5:16But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Luke 9:18And it happened that while Jesus was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?”

Matthew 26:36Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

Matthew 26:39And Jesus went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father (Jehovah), if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Matthew 26:42Jesus went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father (Jehovah), if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

Matthew 26:44And Jesus left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.

Mark 14:32They came to a place named Gethsemane; and Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.”

Mark 14:35And Jesus went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by.

Mark 14:39Again Jesus went away and prayed, saying the same words.

There are several more verses where Jesus prayed to Father Jehovah, but it will take of the entire page writing them. You get the picture though.

“The Divine Name: Unveiling Jehovah in Scripture”

The name Jehovah holds profound significance in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is a name that encapsulates the divine attributes and serves as a powerful symbol of God’s presence and authority. Let us explore the biblical references where this sacred name appears in the King James Version (KJV).

1. Psalms 83:18

"That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."

In this verse, the psalmist acknowledges God’s supremacy by emphasizing that His name—JEHOVAH—stands alone as the highest authority over the entire earth.

2. Isaiah 12:2

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation."

Isaiah extols the Lord as the source of salvation, emphasizing that JEHOVAH is not only the strength of His people but also their song of deliverance.

3. Exodus 6:3

"And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them."

In this passage, God reveals His name JEHOVAH to Moses, highlighting its significance as a revelation distinct from His previous interactions with the patriarchs.

4. Isaiah 26:4

"Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."

Isaiah emphasizes that JEHOVAH provides unwavering strength—an eternal foundation for trust and reliance.

5. Genesis 22:14

"And Abraham called the name of that place JEHOVAHjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen."

6. Exodus 17:15

"And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it JEHOVAHnissi:"

7. Judges 6:24

"Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it JEHOVAHshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Remember, the King James Version preserves the sacredness of this name, allowing us to connect with the Almighty through the ages. Other translations have removed God's name JEHOVAH in the Bible, and some translations have removed JEHOVAH all together and replaced it with the name Lord. "The More You Know"

Understanding the Capitalization of “God” in Religious Texts

The intricate world of religious texts often presents linguistic challenges, and one such puzzle revolves around the capitalization of the word “God.” Let’s delve into the historical context and explore the nuances surrounding this topic.

Origins of the New Testament and Old Testament

The New Testament:

The original text of the New Testament was composed in Greek. Early Christian writers penned the Gospels, epistles, and other texts in this language.
Interestingly, Greek manuscripts used all capital letters for writing, making it challenging to discern specific capitalization rules.
Consequently, when translating these Greek texts into other languages, including English, the question of capitalizing “God” arose.

The Old Testament:

Unlike the New Testament, the Old Testament has a more diverse linguistic origin.
It was written in three primary languages:
Hebrew: The majority of the Old Testament is in Hebrew.
Aramaic: Some portions, particularly in the books of Daniel and Ezra, are in Aramaic.
Greek: The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, played a significant role in early Christianity.

The Challenge of Capitalization

Greek and the New Testament:

In "Original" Greek manuscripts, the word for “God” (θεός, pronounced “theos”) was consistently written in capital letters.
When translating into English, the decision to capitalize, or make lowercase "g" in “God” became crucial. As the "Original" Greek was all uppercase letters, not knowing whether to translate with a lowercase "g" or an uppercase "G" in the word God.

Hebrew and the Book of Isaiah:

The Book of Isaiah, part of the Old Testament, was originally written in Hebrew.
Unlike Greek, "Original" Hebrew has lowercase letters.
Consequently, the Hebrew word for “God” (אֵל, pronounced “El”) lacks capitalization cues.
Translating into English, there is no way to know whether to have a uppercase "G" or lowercase "g" in the word God. As the "Original" Hebrew text is all lowercase letters.

The Messiah and Confusion

Isaiah’s Prophecy:

Isaiah refers to the coming Messiah as “God” (El) in several passages. Which was a mistake in translation. Original text of the Book of Isaiah was written in the "Original" Hebrew text, which is all lowercase letters. Which should have been translated as "god" and not "God".
In Psalm 82:6, it says, “I said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’” Jesus referenced this passage when confronted by the Jews who accused Him of making Himself equal to God (John 10:34-36). The context suggests that humans, as God’s representatives, are called “gods” (with a lowercase “g”) as we are all children of the Most High.

God Is Not the Author of Confusion:

The Bible asserts that God is not the source of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Yet, variations in capitalization have indeed caused confusion among readers.

Jesus and His Identity

New Testament Context:

In the New Testament, Jesus faced accusations of equating Himself with God.
When mocked, Jesus responded by quoting Psalm 82:6: “Ye are gods” (with a lowercase “g”).
This suggests that all humans share a divine connection as God’s children.

The “g” in Jesus’ Divinity:

Jesus, while distinct from God the Father Jehovah, is described as divine.
The lowercase “g” emphasizes His unique relationship with God. Even as we have.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father Jehovah except "through" me" (John 14:6).
This is why when you pray, you always end your prayer, "In Jesus Name I Pray Amen" because you cannot get to Father Jehovah except "through" Jesus.

Conclusion

In the intricate tapestry of religious texts, capitalization decisions carry profound implications. As we explore these ancient words, let us seek understanding and unity, recognizing our shared humanity and spiritual heritage.

It is important to clarify that while English translations of the Bible were indeed derived from Latin versions. Additionally, while there were historical conflicts over translation practices, it is essential to approach these topics with a nuanced understanding of the historical context and complexities involved.

"And, Jesus said, the truth will set you free." John 8:32