Is Jesus God?

Understanding Jesus' identity as the Son of God — distinct from Jehovah

What the Bible Says

Many people assume that Jesus is God Almighty, but the Bible consistently shows Jesus to be distinct from his Father. Jesus himself said: 'The Father is greater than I am.' (John 14:28) He also taught his disciples to pray to 'our Father in the heavens.' (Matthew 6:9) If Jesus were God, these statements would make no sense.

The apostle Paul wrote: 'There is actually to us one God, the Father, from whom all things are, and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are.' (1 Corinthians 8:6) This verse clearly distinguishes Jehovah as God and Jesus as Lord — two separate persons.

  • John 14:28: The Father is greater than I am.
  • 1 Corinthians 8:6: There is one God, the Father… and one Lord, Jesus Christ.
  • John 17:3: This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Is the Son of God, Not God Himself

Scripture repeatedly calls Jesus the 'Son of God.' At his baptism, a voice from heaven declared: 'This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.' (Matthew 3:17) A son is a separate individual from his father. Jesus had a beginning — he was 'the firstborn of all creation.' (Colossians 1:15)

Jesus himself said: 'I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I am.' He also acknowledged there were things he did not know, saying that no one knows the day or the hour 'except the Father.' (Matthew 24:36) These limitations would be impossible if Jesus were Almighty God.

  • Matthew 3:17: This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.
  • Colossians 1:15: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
  • Matthew 24:36: Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.

The Trinity Doctrine — Biblical or Traditional?

The word 'Trinity' does not appear anywhere in the Bible. The doctrine was formalized at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, long after the apostles died. The New Catholic Encyclopedia acknowledges that 'the doctrine of the Trinity is not taught in the Old Testament.' Early Christians clearly understood that Jehovah God and Jesus Christ were two distinct persons.

Praying to Jehovah through Jesus Christ is the pattern shown throughout the New Testament. Jesus is our High Priest and mediator — roles that make sense only if he is distinct from God the Father. (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25)

  • 1 Timothy 2:5: There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man Christ Jesus.
  • Hebrews 7:25: He is able to save completely those who approach God through him.

Keep Studying with JW Study

JW Study is a free Bible reading tracker for Jehovah's Witnesses. Read Is Jesus God? in the New World Translation, take personal study notes, and build a consistent reading habit. For deeper research, use the Insight on the Scriptures volumes and publications available at wol.jw.org alongside JW Library.

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  • The Trinity Is Not Biblical — Key Verses — Scripture consistently distinguishes the Father from the Son — the Trinity doctrine has no Bible basis
  • The Angel of the Lord Is Michael — Key Verses — Scriptural evidence connecting the angel of Jehovah, Michael the archangel, and Jesus Christ
  • What Is the Soul? — The Bible defines the soul as a living being — not an immortal inner entity
  • What Happens When We Die? — Death is a state of unconscious sleep — not heaven, hell, or purgatory
  • God's Kingdom — What Is It? — A real government in heaven that will rule over a paradise earth
  • Why Does God Allow Suffering? — Understanding the issue of universal sovereignty and why Jehovah permits evil for now
  • The Sanctity of Blood — Why Jehovah commands us to abstain from blood — and what this means today

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