What religion believes Jesus is God?
The belief that Jesus is God is a central tenet of several major religions, primarily Christianity. This concept has been deeply rooted in Christian theology for centuries and has played a crucial role in shaping the faith and practices of billions of adherents worldwide. While the understanding of Jesus as God varies across different Christian denominations, the core belief remains consistent.
In the Christian faith, Jesus is seen as the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christians believe that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, embodying the nature of God while also having a human life. This belief is often summarized in the doctrine of the Trinity, which posits that God exists as three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are co-eternal, co-equal, and co-existent, forming a single divine essence.
The New Testament, which is the sacred scripture of Christianity, provides ample evidence for the belief in Jesus as God. The Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament, narrate the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Throughout these accounts, Jesus is portrayed as having divine attributes and performing miracles that only God could perform. For instance, in the Gospel of John, Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), a statement that has been interpreted as a claim to divine equality with God.
The early Christian church, which emerged in the first centuries after the death of Jesus, also embraced the belief in Jesus as God. The Council of Nicaea in AD 325 was convened to address various theological disputes, including the nature of Jesus. The council ultimately adopted the Nicene Creed, which explicitly states that Jesus is “eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.” This statement solidified the doctrine of the Trinity and reinforced the belief in Jesus as God.
While Christianity is the primary religion that believes Jesus is God, other faiths also hold similar beliefs. In Islam, Jesus (known as ‘Isa) is considered a revered prophet, but not God. However, some Muslim scholars argue that Jesus was the Messiah and had divine attributes, similar to the Christian understanding. In some Gnostic Christian texts, Jesus is also depicted as having divine qualities.
In conclusion, the belief that Jesus is God is a cornerstone of Christian theology and is supported by both scriptural evidence and historical developments within the faith. While interpretations of this belief may vary across different Christian denominations and other religions, the core belief remains a fundamental aspect of these faith traditions.
