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Deity of Jesus: Called “Lord” (“Kurios”) and “God” (“Theos”)

Deity of Jesus: Called “Lord” (“Kurios”) and “God” (“Theos”)

Last updated on: May 29, 2017 at 3:37 pm by Dave Armstrong

Deity of Jesus: Called “Lord” (“Kurios”) and “God” (“Theos”) 2017-05-29T15:37:03-04:00 Dave Armstrong

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Christ Carrying the Cross, by Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

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(10-24-11)

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[all Bible passages: RSV. Kurios is Strong’s word #2962 and Theos is Strong’s word #2316]

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“I have no problem calling Jesus my Lord and my God, in the qualified sense in which the Bible presents him as a divine being. But Thomas may not have addressed Jesus as such (see my book for details). You are the one who has the problem, for neither Thomas nor any other Bible personage uses the term “God” in a manner consistent with trinitarianism. Yet, you and others appeal to these verses as if they support your theology!”

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(Arian, former Jehovah’s Witness Greg Stafford, in debate with trinitarian Rob Bowman)

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God the Father Called “Lord” (Kurios)

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Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes;

Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord‘s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

Mark 13:20 And if the Lord had not shortened the days, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, . . .”

1 Timothy 6:15 . . . the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

God the Son, Jesus, Called “Lord” (Kurios)

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Luke 2:11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Acts 7:59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (cf. Lk 23:46)

Acts 10:36 You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

1 Corinthians 12:3 . . . no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 2:10-11 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[this cites Isaiah 45:23, and attributes to Jesus what is applied to God there (therefore, Jesus is God): “By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: `To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.'” ]

Hebrews 1:10 And, “Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; [God the Father calls God the son, “Lord”]

Revelation 17:14 they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.

Revelation 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.

[“Lord of Lords” was applied to God the Father in 1 Tim 6:15: see section immediately above]

God the Father and God the Son, Jesus, Both Called “Lord” (Kurios) in One Passage

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Matthew 22:41-45 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, [42] saying, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” [43] He said to them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, [44] `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet’? [45] If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son?” (cf. Mk 12:36-37; Lk 20:42-44; Acts 2:34)

Romans 10:9-13 because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. [11] The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. [13] For, “every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

[Romans 10:13 cites Joel 2:32: “And it shall come to pass that all who call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.” Thus, the NT is applying OT passages about God directly to Jesus, since He is God, and He and His Father are one (Jn 10:30).]

God the Father Called “God” (Theos)

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Luke 16:15 . . . God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

John 8:47 He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.

Acts 22:14 And he said, `The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth;

Romans 11:1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! . . .

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Peter 1:2 chosen and destined by God the Father . . .

God the Father Called “Lord” (Kurios) and “God” (Theos) in One Passage

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Matthew 22:37-38 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment.” (cf. Lk 10:27)

Mark 12:29-30 Jesus answered, “The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; [30] and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

Luke 1:32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

Luke 1:46-47 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, [47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”

Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people,

Luke 20:37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

Acts 3:22 Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.’

Revelation 18:8 . . . for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

God the Son, Jesus, Called “God” (Theos)

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Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel”
(which means, God with us).

John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.. . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . .

Titus 2:13 awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son he says, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom.

[God the Father calls God the Son, “God”; The larger passage cites Ps 102:25-27, which is applied to God]

2 Peter 1:1 . . . in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to 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.

God the Son, Jesus, Called “Lord” (Kurios) and “God” (Theos) in One Passage

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John 20:28-29 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” [29] Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

[also true of Hebrews 1:8 and 1:10, if seen as one passage in the larger context; and God the Father uses both words for Jesus]

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