"Then Moses said to God, 'Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you." Now they may say to me, "What is His name?" What shall I say to them?' And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'; and He said, 'Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, "I AM has sent me to you."' And God, furthermore, said to Moses, 'Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, "YHWH, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you." This is my name forever, and is My memorial-name to all generations.'" (Exodus 3:13-15)References in Old Testament to YHWH find fulfillment in Jesus of New Testament.
"'I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM, you shall die in your sins.'" (John 8:24)
"'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.' Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him..." (John 8:58-59)
"Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, 'Whom do you seek?' They answered Him, 'Jesus the Nazarene.' He said to them, "I AM." And Judas also who was betraying Him, was standing with them. When therefore He said to them, "I AM", they drew back and fell to the ground." (John 18:4-6)
OT "A voice is calling, 'Clear the way for YHWH in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God." (Isaiah 40:3)
NT "The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.'" (John 1:29)
OT "'In that day YHWH will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem... they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born.'" (Zech 12:8-10)
NT "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. (Rev 1:7)
OT "Then YHWH will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east..." (Zech 14:3-4)
NT "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; and they also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.' Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem..." (Acts 1:9-12)
OT "'And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of YHWH will be delivered.'" (Joel 2:32)
NT "...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved... for whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:9,13)
Also, see
Psalm 23:1, Isaiah 40:11 --> John 10:1-14, Heb 13:20, 1 Pet 2:25,5:4Jesus was called "God" by apostles
Psalm 50:1-6 --> 2 Thess 1:7-10
Psalm 68:15-18 --> Eph 4:8
Psalm 102:1,12,25-27 --> Heb 1:10-12
Isaiah 8:12-15 --> 1 Pet 2:8
Isaiah 43:3 --> Acts 3:14
Isaiah 44:6 --> Rev 1:7,8,17,18,2:8,22:13
Isaiah 45:22,23 --> Rom 14:9-12, 2 Cor 5:10, Phil 2:10
Isaiah 62:11,12 --> Rev 22:12
Jer 11:12,17:10,20:12 --> Rev 2:23
"...and the Word was God." (John 1:1)Both Jesus and God are the "First and the Last"
"Thomas answered and said to him, 'My Lord and My God!'" (John 20:28)
"No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." (John 1:18)
"'Be on guard for yourselves and all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.'" (Acts 20:28)
"But of the Son, He says, 'Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawnessnesss; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed Thee...' [Psalm 45:6-7]" (Hebrews 1:8-9)
"...looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2:13-14)
"...by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:1)
"And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved, you and your household.' --> ...and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household." (Acts 16:31,34)
"But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, "Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:38-39)
YHWH:"This is what YHWH says -- Israel's King and Redeemer, YHWH Almighty: I am the first, and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)Both Jesus and God are the "Alpha and the Omega" (first and last letters of the Greek alphabet)
YHWH: "Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last. My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,..." (Isaiah 48:12-13)
Jesus: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!" (Rev 1:17)
Jesus: "...These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again." (Rev 2:8)
God: "I am the Alpha and the Omega", says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Rev 1:8)Both Jesus and God are the "Savior"
God: He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son." (Rev 21:6-7)
Jesus: "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Rev 22:12-13)
God: "'For I am YHWH your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...'" (Isaiah 43:3)Both Jesus and God are the "King"
God: "'I, even I, am YHWH; And there is no savior besides Me.'" (Isaiah 43:11)
God: "'And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior'" (Luke 1:47)
God: "For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers." (1 Tim 4:10)
Jesus: "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." (Matt 1:21)
Jesus: "for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)
Jesus: "'...for we have heard for ourselves and know that this one is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)
Jesus: "'And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.'" (Acts 4:12)
God: "For YHWH is a great God, and a great King above all gods." (Psalm 95:3)Both Jesus and God are "Judge"
God: "'I am YHWH, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.'" (Isaiah 43:15)
God: "But YHWH is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King..." (Jer 10:10)
God: "And YHWH will be king over all the earth; in that day YHWH will be the only one." (Zech 14:9)
Jesus: "'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?'" (Matt 2:2)
Jesus: "...He who is the blessed and only Soveriegn, the King of kings and Lord of lords..." (1 Tim 6:15)
Jesus: "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings..." (Rev 17:14)
Jesus: "And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Rev 19:16)
God: "...For God Himself is Judge." (Psalm 50:6)Both Jesus and God are the "Light"
God: "Before YHWH, for He is coming to judge the earth..." (Psalm 96:13)
God: "...For we whall all stand before the judgment seat of God." (Rom 14:10)
Jesus: "'For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgement to the Son," (John 5:22)
Jesus: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ..." (1 Cor 5:10)
God: "For Thou art my lamp, O YHWH; and YHWH illuminates my darkness." (2 Sam 22:29)Both Jesus and God are the "Rock"
God: "YHWH is my light and my salvation..." (Psalm 27:1)
Jesus: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:4-5)
Jesus: "There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man." (John 1:9)
Jesus: "Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.'" (John 8:12)
God: "'For I proclaim the name of YHWH; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock! His work is perfect..." (Deut 32:4-5)Both Jesus and God are the "Redeemer"
God: "'For who is God, besides YHWH? And who is a rock, besides our God?'" (2 Sam 22:32)
God: "'He will cry to me, "Thou art my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation."'" (Psalm 89:26)
God: "'It is YHWH of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and he shall be your dread. Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over. And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.'" (Isaiah 8:13-14)
Jesus: "Therefore says YHWH God, 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.'" (Isaiah 28:16)
Jesus: "...upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." (Matt 16:18)
Jesus: "He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, which became the very cornerstone." (Acts 4:11)
Jesus: "...for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them, and that rock was Christ." (1 Cor 10:4)
God: "'Thus says YHWH, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel..." (Isaiah 48:17)Both Jesus and God are "Husband"
God: "...And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel..." (Isaiah 54:5)
Jesus: "In Him we have redemption through His blood..." (Eph 1:7)
Jesus: "...He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." (Heb 9:12)
God: "'For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is YHWH of hosts;...'" (Isaiah 54:5)Both Jesus and God are the "Shepherd"
God: "'And it will come about in that day,' declares YHWH, 'that you will call me Ishi [i.e. my husband] and will no longer call me Baali [i.e. my Master].'" (Hosea 2:16)
Jesus: "'Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.'" (Matt 25:1)
Jesus: "'...So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day'" (Mark 2:29-20)
Jesus: "For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin." (2 Cor 11:2)
Jesus: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Eph 5:25)
Jesus: "'Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.'" (Rev 19:7)
Jesus: "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." (Rev 21:2)
Jesus: "'Come here, I shall show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb'" (Rev 21:9)
God: "YHWH is my shepherd. I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)Both Jesus and God are the "Creator"
God: "Oh give ear, Shepherd of Israel..." (Psalm 80:1)
God: "Know that YHWH Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." (Psalm 100:1)
God: "Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes." (Isaiah 40:10)
Jesus: "'I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me'" (John 10:11)
Jesus: "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord" (Heb 13:20)
Jesus: "For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls." (1 Peter 2:25)
Jesus: "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." (1 Peter 5:4)
God: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Gen 1:1)Both Jesus and God are the giver of life
God: "'Of old Thou didst found the earth; and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.'" (Psalm 102:25)
God: "...The Everlasting God, YHWH, the Creator of the ends of the earth..." (Isaiah 40:28)
God: "'...I, YHWH, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by myself, and spreading out the earth all alone.'" (Isaiah 44:24)
Jesus: "All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being." (John 1:3)
Jesus: "For by him all things were created, both in the heavens and the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created by Him and for Him. And he is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Col 1:16-17)
Jesus: "Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth. And the heavens are the works of thy hands;" (Heb 1:10)
Jesus: "For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God." (Heb 3:3-4)
God: "'See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; it is I who put to death and give life...'" (Deut 32:39)Jesus had authority to raise even Himself from the dead
God: "'YHWH kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.'" (1 Sam 2:6)
Jesus: "'For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes." (John 5:21)
Jesus: "...I myself will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:40)
Jesus: "...and I give eternal life to them..." (John 10:28)
Jesus: "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25)
Jesus: "'...and you are unwilling to come to me, that you may have life.'" (John 5:40)
"'Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up'...He was speaking of the temple of His body." (John 2:19,21)Jesus has authority to forgive sins -- only God can forgive sins
"'For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.'" (John 10:17-18)
"And Jesus, seeing their faith said to the paralytic, 'My son, your sins are forgiven.' But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 'Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?'" (Mark 2:5-7)Jesus received worship -- only God can receive worship
"...He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions," (Col 2:13)
"'...For it is written [Deut 6:13] "You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only"'" (Matt 4:10)Jesus is omnipresent (Is present everywhere at the same time)
Barnabas and Paul rebuked people for worshipping them (Acts 14:11-18)
Angels refuse worship (Rev 19:10, Rev 22:9)
Angels commanded to worship Jesus (Hebrews 1:6)
"'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.'" (Matt 2:2)
"...and they fell down and worshipped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh."
(Matt 1:11) "And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took ahold of His feet and worshipped Him." (Matt 28:9)
"And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him..." (Matt 28:17)
"And he said, 'Lord, I believe.' And he worshiped Him." (John 9:38)
"'For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.'" (Matt 18:20)Jesus is omniscient (Is all-knowing)
"(Now this expression, 'He ascended,' what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)" (Eph 4:9-10)
"'Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.'" (John 16:30) "'...Lord, you know all things...'" (John 21:17)Jesus is omnipotent (Is all-powerful)
"'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth'" (Matt 28:18)Jesus is pre-existant (Existed before all things)
"'I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again, and going to the Father." (John 16:28)Jesus is eternal (beyond the limits of time)
"He was in the beginning with God." (John 1:2)
"'And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.'" (John 17:5)
"...And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)Jesus is immutable (does not change)
"...His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2)
"'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.' (John 8:58)
"...and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end." (Luke 1:33)
"Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he [Melchizedek] abides a priest perpetually." (Heb 7:3)
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." (Heb 13:8)Jesus spoke with authority
"Truly, Truly I say unto you..." (not "Thus saith the Lord")Disciples prayed to Jesus
"'Consequently, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.'" (Mark 2:28)
"'Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes...'" (Matt 23:34)
"'If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.'" (John 14:14)
"follow Me." (not just "follow God")
"And the went on stoning Steven as he called upon the Lord and said, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!' And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them!' And having said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:59-60)Problem scripture:
"Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it [thorn in flesh] might depart from me. And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me." (2 Cor 12:8-9)
"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (1 John 5:13-14)
"'Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I wee that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.' But Simon answered and said, 'Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me'" (Acts 8:22-24) [In verse 16, Jesus is the "Lord"]
"Hear, O Israel! YHWH is our God. YHWH is one!" (Deut 6:4)Explanation: Hebrew word for "one" is <achad>, which means "united" one, rather than <yachid>, which means "only" one. <achad> is same word used in Gen 2:24 "For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh" Problem scriptures:
"the Father is greater than I"Explanation: Jesus lowered Himself while on earth, giving up many of his privileges as God. Jesus provided example to men about how to lead a perfect human life. Jesus was both perfect God and perfect man. Problem scripture:
Jesus didn't know "day or hour" of his return
Jesus prayed to the Father
etc.
Jesus was "begotten"Explanation: "begotten" does not mean "created". What God begets is "God", just as what man begets is "man" and what animal begets is "animal". What God creates is not God (e.g. man, angels), and what man creates is not man (e.g. house, computer).
Problem scriptures:
Jesus was the "firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15)Explanation: Word used for "firstborn" is <prototokos>, not <protoktistos>, which means "first-created". "Firstborn" can mean either literal "first person born", or "pre-eminent" one. In Jewish culture, the literal "firstborn" male normally inherited the position of pre-eminence ("heir", "first in rank"). [See Jeremiah 31:9 -- "Ephraim is my first-born". Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and Manasseh was the literal firstborn (Gen 41:50-52). In Genesis 48, Ephaim is given title of "firstborn". Also see Psalm 89:27 which says that God will appoint Jesus as "firstborn" -- verb is future tense, thus Jesus "firstborn-ness" must have been bestowed upon Him after Psalm was written. Problem scripture:
Jesus said he was the "beginning of the creation of God" (Rev 3:14)Explanation: Greek word for "beginning" is <arche>, which can also mean "source" or "origin". <arche> is used in Rev 21:6 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end", and in John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word...". Problem scripture:
"God said, 'Let us make man in Our image'..." (Gen 1:26)Explanation: The word for "God" in the Hebrew is [Elohim], which is plural. We know that no "seperate being" participated with God, because Isaiah 44:24 teaches us that YHWH was alone when He created the universe, that He did it by Himself. Problem scripture:
"No man has seen God at any time..." (John 1:18)Explanation: Careful examination of the passage yields one of two possible interpretations: 1. It is the "Father" being referred to in the first part of the sentence. 2. The passage is stating that no one has seen God in His entirety. Remember that God manifested Himself physically to men many times in the Old Testament. Problem scripture:
"Why do you call me 'good'? No one is good except God" (Mark 10:18)Explanation: Jesus was 'good' -- there was nothing 'bad' about Him. Therefore he must be either be God, or He is not 'good'. Jesus is challenging us to evaluate what we think about Him. Perceiving Him as a "good teacher" is not good enough. We must believe that He is God. And following "God" is not good enough. Jesus said in verse 21:
"...follow Me"
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