Is Jesus Yahweh, God Almighty

Is Jesus Yahweh, God Almighty?

.Richard K. McPherson

Here are two views on this issue.

Some teach there is a pecking order of the Godhead.

1.) God the Father

2.) God the Son (Jesus)

3.) God the Holy Spirit

Each one is separate and has certain jobs and responsibilities. The text they use is 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 and others.

Another teaching goes like this:

1.) God the Father

2.) The Son (Jesus) is a “god”. A created being made by the Father to do His purpose or will.

3.) God the Holy Spirit

This view is common to the Jehovah’s Witness. I recommend a book called: “Jehovah of the Watchtower” by Walter R. Martin. This book will explain how the Watchtower changed the original Greek of the New Testament to disclaim the Deity of Christ.

Let us start by looking at some words in the Greek and in Hebrew. I will be using the Goodrick/Kohlenberger and Strongs Concordance. I am NO scholar when it comes to Greek or Hebrew, but I will do my best.

God

The word “God” in the Greek is “Theos” # 2536 Goodrick/Kohlenberger and #2311 Strongs. The meaning is this: “The Triune God, corresponding to the Hebrew title “elohiym” and the name known as the Tetragrammaton “Yahweh”. Regarding the doctrine of God, or theology proper, biblical Christian faith teaches that there is only one true God, namely the God revealed in the Holy Scriptures (Jeremiah 10:10, Deuteronomy 6:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:9). He alone is the Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer of the universe, and is the sole proper object of all worship (Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:8). The Scriptures reveal that God is a spirit (John 4:24, 1 Timothy 1:17) possessing true personality and having all His attributes in perfection and completion (Matthew 5:48). Furthermore, the Scriptures reveal that the one God exists in three persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17, John 10:30, 2 Corinthians 13:14).

God is used 3969 times in the NIV Bible. The Hebrew word “elohiym” is used throughout the Old Testament except for the following texts: Malachi 1:9, 2:10. In these verses the word “El” is used, which means “God, mighty one”. The word “El” appears in the Old Testament as a proper name, such as Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14).

Let’s start with John 1:1 “...and the Word was with God (Greek-Theos, Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh) ....and the Word was God”. (Greek-Theos, Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh)

John 5:18 “For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God (Greek-Theos, Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh) his own Father making himself equal with God.” (Greek-Theos, Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh)

John 20:28 Thomas tells Jesus “My Lord and my God.” (Greek-Theos, Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh)

Romans 9:5 (NIV)

"Theirs are the patriarch, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen."

Greek-English Interlinear Bible

Of whom the fathers, and from who the Christ--according to flesh; the one being over all God blessed unto the ages, amen.

I Timothy 3:16

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. "

For those who like to separate "God" , "God was manifest in the flesh.." Is this God the Father or God the Son? Why did Paul use the word "God" instead of "Jesus"?

Is God Yahweh?

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Yahweh)

Psalm 144:15 “….blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.” (Yahweh)

Deuteronomy 30:20 “and that you may love the Lord (Yahweh) your God.”

The Father is called God in Ephesians 1:2-3. Verse 2: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father….”, verse 3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….”

If the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are called God and God is called “Lord” (Yahweh), would it stand to reason that all three are God and Lord (Yahweh).

Oneness of God

The Bible tells us there is ONE God, not three, but it also talks about the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of them had a part in the plan from Creation to today. It takes all three to become one. This is hard to really comprehend. Here are some examples of being “ONE”:

When a man and a woman are joined together through marriage, they become one. Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:8, Matthew 19:5, Ephesians 5:31

Jesus says the same thing about the Father, "...I pray that them (the disciples) be one like we are one..." John 10:30, 11:52, 17:21-22.

1 John 5:7-8 “ For there are three that testify in Heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.”

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord (Yahweh) our God, the Lord (Yahweh) is one.

Trying to understand what being “one” means is something, we’ll never really grasp. We may have ideas on what it means, but I would hesitate to say that any of us comprehends it completely. Understanding PERFECT UNITY, PERFECT LOVE, and PERFECT everything is beyond man. It is impossible to try to separate the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three of them work together in PERFECT UNITY for a common purpose.

Turn to Deuteronomy 6:4. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord (Yahweh) our God, the Lord (Yahweh) is one...” Did the meaning of the word “Lord” change when Jesus said this in Mark 12:29. The Jews knew exactly what he meant. In 1 Corinthians 8:4 it says, “...there is no God, but one.” And in verse 6, “yet for us there is but one God, the Father....there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ..”

Now what??? John 10:30 and Mark 12:29. You can not separate the Father from Jesus or Jesus from the Father.

John 12:45 “When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.”

John 13:40 “I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

John 14:9 “...Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father...”

John 10:38 "But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in him."

John 1:1-3, 14,18

verse 1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the Beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

verse 14 “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

verse 18 “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.”

John’s gospel is the only one, which begins with a discussion of the eternal existence of Jesus rather than the time He appeared on earth. He is called the “logos” word, the term used by the Greeks in reference to governing power behind all things. The Jews used the term to refer to God. God is spirit (John 2:24). Jesus has manifested the Father (verse 14). The Lord Jesus became that which He was not before, a physical being (verse 14 and Philippians 2:6-8 concerning the nature of Christ. The term “monogenes”, translated “One and Only” (verse 14 and 18), shows the very unique relationship of God the Son to God the Father.

Please notice verse 18: “...ever seen God, but God the One and Only....”. If the phrase “One and Only” in verse 14 refers to Jesus, then the phrase “One and Only” in verse 18 is Jesus also, but the word “God” is used to refer both the Father and the Son.

It would sound quite silly if someone tried to interpret verse 18 like this: "…No one has ever seen God (the Father), but God (the Father)…who is at the Father's side.."

Here is something to think about being one. You created with a body, soul, and spirit and yet you are one. Jesus had the Father, Himself, and the Holy Spirit and yet are one.

LORD

Now let us look at the usage of the word “Lord”. In the Greek it is “kyrios” # 3261 Goodrick/Kohlenberger and #2951 Strongs. The Hebrew meaning is “Yahweh” the Lord. “The covenant name of God, most prominently known in connection with His relationship with the nation of Israel. It was never pronounced by the Jews, who generally substituted a synonym such as “donay”, sovereign, the Lord.” This Hebrew word is used around 6551 times in the Old Testament in the NIV. I am not going to quote all, but here are a few that will make a point or two.

In the Greek, the meaning is “might, power. Lord, master, owner. Ii is spoken of God and Christ. Of God as supreme lord and Sovereign of the universe, usually corresponding to Jehovah (Matthew 1:22, 5:33, Mark 5:19, and others) . The same word is used with a lower case “L” , which denotes master of a household or a title: example “lord” is used in England, and what Sarah called Abraham. (Genesis 18:12, 1 Peter 3:6. KJV uses “lord” while the NIV uses the word “master”)

Psalm 23:1: “The Lord (Yahweh) is my shepherd...” and John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd...”.

How could Jesus make that statement, since in Mark 10:18 Jesus says, “...Why do you call me good? No one is good, except God (Greek-Theos, Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh) alone.”

Jeremiah 23:5-6 “”The days are coming,” declares the Lord (Yahweh), “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord (Yahweh) Our Righteousness.””

1 Kings 18:39b “....the Lord (Yahweh) – he is God! The Lord (Yahweh) – he is God.” (Greek-Theos, Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh)

Isaiah 45:5 “I am the Lord (Yahweh), and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.

Isaiah 29:5-6 “But your many enemies will become like fine dust, the ruthless hordes like blown chaff. Suddenly, in a instant, the Lord (Yahweh) Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.”

Isaiah 40:3“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord (Yahweh), make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Greek-Theos, Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh)

Mark 1:1-3 “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—“a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord make straight paths for him.’ “

John 1:23 “John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ “

Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord (Yahweh) comes.”

Joel 2:31 “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. (Yahweh)” (Matthew 24:29, Acts 2:20)

Isaiah 43:3 “For I am the Lord (Yahweh), your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Psalm 38:22 “Come quickly to help me, O Lord (Yahweh) my Savior.

The Scriptures teach that Jesus is our only Savior.

1 John 4:14 “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.”

2 Timothy 1:10 “but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,....”

Jude 1:25 “to the only God (Greek-Theos; Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh) our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages now and forevermore! Amen.”

Titus 2:13 "…while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,"

Beginning

What does the word “beginning” mean as in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning...” John 1:1 “In the beginning...” and 1 John 1:1 “...was from the beginning...”

The Greek word for “beginning” in both New Testament texts is “arche”, which means: “beginning, ruler. Christ is called the beginning, because He is the efficient cause of the creation. Rule, authority, dominion, power, position of authority (Luke 20:20, 1 Corinthians 15:24, Titus 3:1). High ranking spiritual being (Romans 8:38, Ephesians 1:21)” In Genesis, the Hebrew word is “Resiyt”, which means: The first as to place, time, order, or rank. Used to signify the beginning of a fixed period of time. (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 11:12)

If Jesus is not “Yahweh”, how could He say?

Revelation 22:12-13, “Behold, I am coming soon!...I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was , and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Tell me, who is “the Almighty” and “...who is to come.” What event happened in 70 AD? In Revelation 1:7, who came in 70 AD? Verse 8 has the answer. Who is coming in Revelation 22:12? Look at verses 13, 16 and 20 they have the answer. Jesus (Yahweh)! Some say that God the Father is talking through Jesus and that gives Him the right to say this, but there is a problem with that. Look at verse 18: "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever!" Was it the Father or Jesus that died on the cross?

Isaiah 44:6 “This is what the Lord (Yahweh) says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord (Yahweh) Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me, there is no God.

Right Hand

The Greek word of the phrase “right hand” is “dexios”, which means: “A person of high rank who puts anyone on his right hand gives him equal honor with himself and recognizes him as equal dignity.” ” # 1288 Goodrick/Kohlenberger and # 1188 Strongs.

Matthew 26:24b “....but I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of God sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62, Luke 22:69)

Acts 7:56 “Look,” he said (Stephen), “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Acts 5:31 “God (Greek-Theos, Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh) exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”

Romans 8:34 “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who as raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Please look at Hebrews 1:3, 1:13, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22, Colossians 3:1, Ephesians 1:20. AS you are reading these verses, please remember the meaning of the phrase “right hand”.

Questions

Who raised Jesus from the dead?

God----Romans 10:9 “...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God (Greek-Theos, Hebrew-elehiym + Yahweh has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Father----Galatians 1:1 “…and God the Father, who raised him from the dead…”

Jesus----John 2:19-21 “Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple (Jesus’ body), and three days I (first person) will raise it up. Then the Jews said, “It has taken 46 years to build this temple, and You will raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body,”

Spirit----Romans 8:11 "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead …"

Who is the Rock?

Lord----II Samuel 22:2 “And he said, The Lord (Yahweh) is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;”

God----Psalms 42:9 "I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"

Jesus----1 Corinthians 10:4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock is Christ.”

Who is the true God?

Lord---Jeremiah 10:10 “But the Lord (Yahweh) is the true God, he is the living God and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation.”

Jesus---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.”

Who has “LIFE”?

Lord---Deuteronomy 30:20 “and that you may love the Lord (Yahweh) your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord (Yahweh) is your life,....”

Jesus---John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life..””

Who created the Heavens and the Earth?

God----------Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Father----Isaiah 64:8 “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father, We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Lord----------Genesis 14:22 ”I have raised my hand to the Lord (Yahweh) God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.”

Jesus----John 1:3 “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

Jesus-------See comments on Colossians 1:15-18

Spirit---Job 33:4 “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

Note: That in this text the Spirit is call the “Almighty”

Who is Sovereign?

Lord---------Jeremiah. 32:17 “Sovereign Lord (Yahweh), you have made the heavens and the earth..”

Jesus-------Jude 1:4 “…and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”

Who judges man?

Father-------1 Peter 1:17 “Since you call on a Father, who judges each man’s work impartially….”

God----------Romans 2:16 “This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets….”

Jesus-------John 5:22 “…the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgments to the Son,…”

:25 “And he (the Father) has given him (the Son) authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.”

Lord---------Deut.32:36”The Lord (Yahweh) will judge his people…”

Who indwells inside of us?

Lord --- Jeremiah 32:38 In verse 26 it states that the “Lord” (Yahweh) is doing the talking. “They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for ther won good and the good of their children after them.”

God—2 Corinthians 6:16 “…For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “ I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.””

Jesus---Colossians 1:15-17 (See comments)

Spirit----John 14:17 "the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him nor know Him. But you know Him, for He abides with you and shall be in you."

Notice, that in the following text there are some names that we do not normally associate with Jesus. For example: “Mighty God and Everlasting Father”, and yet this text is referring to Jesus. People read this text every Christmas and not understanding what it is saying.

ISAIAH 9:6-7

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

Look at the following chart breakdown.

For to us a child is born, and to us a son is given	Genesis 3:15, Luke 2:11, John 3:16	Jesus
and the government will be on his shoulders	Matthew 28:18	Jesus
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor	John 14:16,17,26, 15:26	Jesus and Holy Spirit
Mighty God	Joshua 22:22, Titus 2:13, Matthew 26:64 Mark 14:62, Revelation 1:8, 4:8	Lord (Yahweh), Father, Jesus
Everlasting Father	Isaiah 9:6	Jesus
Prince of Peace	Acts 5:31	Jesus
Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end	Luke 1:33, John 12:34-36	Jesus
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,	2 Timothy 2:8, Luke 1:68-75, Matthew 1:1,	Jesus
Establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.	Revelation 5:5, 22:16, John 7:42	Jesus

THE IMAGE OF GOD

Let us go to Philippians 2:5-11. Certain words in this text will have the Greek word and its meanings. This will help you have a better understanding of what it is saying.

“Your attitude (phroneo- to think, hold an opinion) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being (huparcho- to have, possess, exist) in the very nature (morphe-form, character) God did not consider equality (eimi-exist, be present + isos-equal, same) with God something to be grasped (harpagmos-something to hold onto), but made (kenoo-to emply) himself nothing (kenoo-to empty), taking the very nature (morphe-form) of a servant (doulos1-slave), being made (morphe- form) in human (anthropos-human being) likeness (homoioma-appearance). And being found in appearance (achema-form,outward appearance) as a man he humbled (tapeinoo-to humble or lower oneself) himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven (epouranios- celestial, heavenly realms) and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (kyrios-master, spoken of God as supreme Lord and Sovereign of the universe corresponding to Jehovah) to the glory of God the Father (Pater - God is spoken of as a Father in His divine essence as Father of Christ’s human nature).”

Jesus Christ is declared to be “in very nature God”, the possessor of “equality with God” (verse 6, John 10:30). The statement that Christ “made himself nothing” (verse 7) is not an indication that Jesus somehow gave up part of His deity in coming to earth. It means that Jesus relinquished the glory that He had with God. Jesus lacked recognition and glory by men while He was on earth, but He never became any less that fully God.

Jesus’ purpose in “taking the very nature or form of a servant” or slave and coming “in human form”...in appearance as a man (verse 7-8) was to die for the sins of all mankind. Thereby satisfy God’s righteous indignation against man’s sin (1 John 2:2). The fact that Jesus came in human form did not cause Him to become less divine. It simply allowed Jesus to carry out His Father’s will. Even while, Jesus was dying on the cross, Christ was equal with God.

Jesus demonstrated true humility in coming to earth (verse 8). Althorugh fully God, Christ willingly set aside that glory and “humbled himself and became obedient to death” in order to accomplish God’s will. Jesus never allowed anything to turn His attention away from the cross (Hebrews 12:2) or lead Him into sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Colossians 1:15-18

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

Jesus Christ is declared the “image of the invisible God” (verse 15). Eikon “image”, always assumes a prototype (the original form from which the image is drawn), not merely a thing it resembles. Paul was stating that Jesus has a “prototype” in God the Father, who is invisible (see John 1:18 and Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus is also called the “firstborn over all creation” (verse 15). A reference to the fact that He was first to rise from the dead with a transformed body (see 1 Corinthians 15:20)

****Side note****Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

The Hebrew meaning for the word “image” is similar to the Greek. The word is “Selem” and the meaning is likeness, resemblance. Used to refer to man as being created in the image of God, (Genesis 1:26-27, 5:3, 9:6), signifying a spiritual intellectual and moral likeness. “Selem” does not signify an exact duplicate, but only the shadow of a thing, representing the original in an imprecise manner and lacking the essential characteristics of the original. So, in a sense, if you want to know what God looks like, look at yourself in a mirror.

Who Intercedes Us

Romans 8:26-27 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

This verse clearly states the it is the Spirit or God the Spirit intercedes for us, but in verse 34 it states the Jesus is the one that intercedes for us or God the Son.

Romans 8:34 “…is at the right hand of God and also interceding for us.”

In Hebrews 8:6, 9:15, 12:24 and 1 Timothy 2:5 states that Jesus in our interceder or mediator.

I AM

How could Jesus say in John 8:19b, “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” In verse 23, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” Jesus was born on this earth just like everyone else, then how could he say, “I am from above...I am not of this world.” How could Jesus also say, “before Abraham was born, I am!”