Similarities Between Jesus and God
The relationship between Jesus and God the Father has been a subject of intense theological debate for centuries. Many readers notice striking similarities in their roles and attributes while exploring the New Testament. This article examines these parallels and the biblical evidence for their distinct identities.
Parallels in Divine Attributes
| Attribute | The Father | The Son | Understanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judge sin | Genesis 18:25 | Matthew 10:32-33; John 5:22; 1 John 2:1 | The Father is the Judge; the Son chooses (judges) whom he will confess/deny (Matthew 10:32-33; 1 John 2:1) before the Father |
| "The Life" | Deuteronomy 30:20 | John 14:6 | Jesus is the means to the life of God the Father. |
| Can heal | Exodus 15:26 | John 4:46-54, 5:8-9 | Both can heal |
| Has emotions | Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:17 | Psalm 2:12 | Both are persons (not impersonal forces) |
| Forgives sin | Numbers 14:19-20; Matthew 6:14-15 | Matthew 9:2-8; Mark 2:10 | The Father is the final Judge; the Son chooses whose debt (sin) was paid by him |
| "The Shepherd" | Psalm 23:1, 95:7; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:2 | John 10:14 | Both take care of the "sheep" (believers) |
| "The Light" | Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:1-5,19-20; 1 John 1:5-7 | John 1:5, 3:19, 8:12 | Jesus is the means to the light of God the Father |
| Carries our burden | Psalm 55:22 | Matthew 11:30 | Both are able to carry our burdens |
| "The King" | Psalm 95:3 | Matthew 21:5; John 1:49, 18:37 | Jesus rules as the King under the authority of God the Father |
| "The First and the Last" | Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, 48:12; Revelation 1:8, 21:5-8, 22:13 | Revelation 1:17 | Both are called "First and the Last" |
| Is our saviour | Isaiah 43:11; 1 Timothy 1:1, 2:3, 4:10; Titus 2:10, 3:4; Jude 25 | Philippians 3:20; 2 Peter 1:11, 2:20, 3:18; Acts 13:23 | Jesus would not have been able to save us if the Father did not make it possible |
| Will return to judge the world | Matthew 16:27-28; Revelation 14:1, 19:11-16, 22:1-5 | Matthew 16:27-28; Revelation 22:1-5 | Both the Father and the Son will return to judge the world |
| Can raise people for the dead | John 5:21; Acts 2:24; Romans 4:17; Galatians 1:1 | John 5:21 | The Son can only raise people from the dead with the power of the Father |
| Glorify each other | John 8:55, 13:32, 17:1,5 | John 17:1; Philippians 2:11 | The Father glorify the Son so that the Son can glorify the Father |
Sharing similarities does not necessarily imply that the Son and the Father are the same person or being. Many attributes are not shared between them. Furthermore, believers also share certain attributes with the Son and the Father, yet this does not equate them to God.
The observation that Jesus acted like the Father leads some to conclude that he must be the Father. However, disciples are also called to act as God's agents, which does not grant them divinity.
Jesus Is a Different Person From His Father
The New Testament provides extensive evidence that Jesus and His Father are distinct individuals. This distinction is affirmed by several witnesses:
- God announced Jesus is a different person (Matthew 3:16-17)
- Jesus says himself that he is a different person (Matthew 12:49-50, 19:17, 23:9; John 5:19,44-45, 8:17-18, 14:1-2, 17:3)
- Luke testified that Jesus is a different person (Luke 2:52)
- John testified that Jesus is a different person (Acts 10:38)
- Paul testified that Jesus is a different person (Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5)
- The author of Hebrews testified that Jesus is a different person (Hebrews 3:1-2)
- Even the devil believed Jesus is a different person (Matthew 4:3-10)
Jesus' Equality With God
Some Bible translators add section headings such as "Jesus Is Equal with God". These additions reflect a specific theological understanding that may not have been intended by the original authors. While these headings help organize the text, they may conflict with the recorded words of Jesus.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all — John 10:29 (NKJV)
and
Jesus answered him: ... "You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I." — John 14:28 (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah emphasized the uniqueness of God:
I am the LORD (YHVH), and there is no other, besides Me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides Me;
I am the LORD (YHVH), and there is no other.
...
For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens (He is God!), Who formed the earth and made it (He established it; He did not create it empty, He formed it to be inhabited!):
"I am the LORD (YHVH), and there is no other."
...
To whom will you liken Me and make Me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?
...
Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done.
— Isaiah 45:5-6,18;46:5,8-10
Many scholars will look at this prophecy and reason that Isaiah was referring to the Godhead and there is only 1 Godhead, but inside the Godhead we have an equal Father and Son. However, Isaiah believed that YHVH (translated as "the LORD") Who was speaking is the Father:
For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD (YHVH), are our Father. — Isaiah 63:16 (ESV)
O LORD (YHVH), you are our Father. — Isaiah 64:8 (ESV)
Jeremiah also believed that YHVH is the Father:
“I said, 'How I would set you among My sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations.'
And I thought you would call Me, 'My Father', and would not turn from following Me.
Surely, as a treacherous wife leaves her husband, so have you been treacherous to Me, O house of Israel", declares the LORD (YHVH).
— Jeremiah 3:19-20 (ESV)
Malachi noted that there is only one Father:
Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? — Malachi 2:10 (ESV)
Jesus addressed his Father as Lord:
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth — Luke 10:21
If Jesus was "equal" with the Father, then why does he address his Father as "Lord"?
| Strong's Concordance | |
|---|---|
| Greek: | κύριος |
| Transliteration: | kurios |
| Phonetic: | koo'-ree-os |
| Word Origin: | From κῦρος kuros (supremacy) |
| Bible Usage: | God Lord master Sir. |
| Part of Speech: | Noun Masculine |
Philippians 2:6
Trinitarians often quote Philippians 2:6 to proof that Jesus is God, because some translations read:
Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us. Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. — Philippians 2:6-8 (CEV)
or
Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. — Philippians 2:6-8 (NKJV)
or
Christ Jesus look to Him as your example in selfless humility who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it; but emptied Himself without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man. After He was found in terms of His outward appearance as a man for a divinely-appointed time, He humbled Himself still further by becoming obedient to the Father to the point of death, even death on a cross. — Philippians 2:6-8 (AMP)
However, Paul was not giving a lecture on how Jesus turned into a human being.
Instead, in the context of the letter to Philippians, Paul was writing to a congregation that had problems of “selfish ambition” (Philippian 1:15, 2:3); “vain conceit” (Philippian 2:3), arguing and lack of consideration for others (Philippian 2:4,14) and a need for humility, purity and blamelessness (Philippian 2:3,15). Paul wrote these scriptures to explain to the congregation that their attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus. Then he goes on:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
— Philippians 2:3-11 (KJV)
Paul was encouraging his readers to follow Jesus example ("Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus"). The Amplified translation goes even so far to write:
Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus look to Him as your example in selfless humility, ... — Philippians 2:5 (AMP)
Then Philippians 2:6 explains what this "attitude" or "mind of Christ" is, namely:
- Christ Jesus did not try to become equal with God
- Christ Jesus did not seek reputation (popularity) among people
But instead:
- Christ Jesus served as a servant like all other men
- Christ Jesus was obedient to God even "unto death"
That is the message that Paul tried to communicate.
Paul explained that the humility of Christ Jesus was rewarded by God with a "name" or authority that is far above any other authority in creation, so that every person should pay respect ("bow the knee") to this humble "servant" so that God (as "the Father" of Jesus) could receive the glory.
This message is sometimes obscured in modern English translations that lean heavily toward Trinitarian perspectives. For example, a more direct translation provides a different emphasis:
Christ Jesus, who, though being in the form of God, he considered equality with God not something to be grasped at, but instead he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, becoming like the rest of humankind. And being found as an ordinary human, he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death — even death on a cross! — Philippians 2:6-8 (REV)
The question arises as to which translation most accurately reflects the original intent. If one assumes that Paul believed Jesus was God, several questions require explanation:
- Why would Jesus "grasp" for equality with himself?
- To whom was Jesus obedient if he was already the highest God (Philippians 2:8)?
- How can an immortal God die (Philippians 2:8)?
- How can Jesus be humble if he were the one exalting himself (Philippians 2:9)?
- Why does Paul differentiate between bowing the knee to Jesus and the glory of God the Father?
- How would the transformation of a divine being into a human encourage a congregation to live humbly with one other?
- How are readers expected to follow the example of Christ if his primary act was a unique metaphysical change?
Some interpretations prioritize traditional theological frameworks over a literal reading of the passage.
Conclusion
The evidence presented demonstrates that while Jesus and God the Father share many attributes, they remain distinct persons. Scriptural testimony from multiple sources confirms that Jesus is a different person from the Father.
Furthermore, Jesus' own statements and those of the apostles regarding his equality with God suggest a relationship defined by obedience and delegation rather than shared ontology.
Finally, the context of Philippians 2 emphasizes Jesus as an example of humility through his choice not to grasp for equality with God.