Did Jesus ever say that He was the Son of God?

Bible Question:

Bible Answer:

Did Jesus ever say that He was the Son of God? Yes! Jesus said that He was the Son of God. On several occasions Jesus openly declared that He was God. Many examples exist in the Bible that reveal Jesus Is God. However, only four examples are given here.

Jesus Said He Is the Son of God

John 5:18 — Equal with God

Early in Jesus’ ministry the Jewish religious leaders understood that He claimed to be equal with God. Jesus had just healed a man and a discussion followed between Jesus and the religious leaders. John 5:18 states,

For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18 (NASB)

The religious leaders thought that Jesus was claiming to be “equal” with God. The Greek word that is translated as “equal” is isos. Isos means “pertaining to that which is equal, either in number, size, quality, or characteristics.”[1] That is, the religious leaders understood that Jesus was claiming to be more than just a man. But they did not understand that Jesus was claiming that He was more than just isos. They missed the point that Jesus had claimed to be God.

John 8:58 — I AM WHO I AM

About a year later Jesus was speaking with the Jewish religious leaders. They hated Him. John 5:18 and John 7:19 have already told us they wanted to kill Him. Then in John 8:48-55 we are told the religious leaders accused Him of being possessed by a demon because He said, “If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.” For they stated that Abraham and the prophets had died. So, Jesus had a demon.

Then Jesus said,

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” John 8:56-58 (NASB)

Now notice that Jesus called Himself, “I AM.” This is the same statement that God or Yahweh called Himself in Exodus 3:6 and 14.

He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” . . . God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” . . . Exodus 3:6, 14 (NASB)

Immediately, the Jews understood exactly what Jesus claimed to be true. Jesus had declared that He was the very God they worshiped – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then they picked up stones to kill Him (John 8:59) because he had declared that He was God. This is a very clear statement where Jesus stated that He was God. He was the Son of God.

John 10:33 — Make Yourself Out to Be God

Sometime later Jesus clearly said that He was God and the Jewish leaders once again understood.

“I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” (NASB) John 10:30-33

When Jesus said, “I and the Father are one,” the Jewish religious leaders clearly understood that Jesus said He was God. So they wanted to stone Him to death. That was the penalty for blasphemy. Jesus responded by asking them to give a reason for their actions. They answered that He had blasphemed. Their answer was pointed and specific. They said that He was a man and could not be God. That is, they understood that He claimed to be God. But they rejected His statement just as others have.

Some people may claim that Jesus never said He was God, but the religious leaders understood that He did. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons claim that Jesus was only claiming to be united in purpose with God. But the Jewish religious leaders who there during the full discussions had a much better understanding. They understood Jesus said He was God.

The expression “Son of God” was a phrase that meant Jesus is God. It did not mean that Jesus was God’s offspring or that He was a child of God. Jesus explained the meaning of the phrase Himself in John 10:36 (compare John 10:33 with 10:36). Later in John 19:7, the Jewish leaders used this claim against Jesus once again. For more information about the meaning of Son of God visit:

What is the meaning that Jesus is the Son of God?

What does Son of Man and Son of God mean?

What does Son of God mean relative to Christ?

1 John 5:20 — The True God

After Jesus was crucified and resurrected, He spoke with the apostle Thomas. Here is John 20:28,

Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28 (NASB)

If Jesus had never taught them that He was God, why would Thomas say that? Thomas believed Jesus was God and he declared it. Also, notice the words written at the end of 1 John.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20 (NASB)

Jesus is God. Please visit “Did Jesus ever claim to be God?” for further elaboration.

Conclusion:

Jesus said that He was God, the Son of God. The disciples believed He was God and the writers of the epistles in the New Testament believed that He was God. Anyone who says that He never claimed to be God and that the New Testament never says that He is God has never seriously read the New Testament or they did not understand what they were reading. May God bless you.

References:

1. Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 588.