Meaning of DEITY OF CHRIST

It is implicitly presented and clearly announced in the OT. The theophanies of the Angel of Jehovah (see ANGEL OF JEHOVAH) must have made the patriarchs understand that God would one day exercise a ministry of salvation, by assuming human form (Gen. 16:7-13; 18:1-2, 10, 13 , 17; 32:24-30; cf. Hos. 12:4-5; Zech. 3:1-5).

It is expressly written that the Messiah will be the Son of God (Ps. 2; 110:1; cf. Mt. 22:44), and God himself (Ps. 45:6-7). His miraculous birth is announced (see VIRGIN), so that He can be Immanuel, God with us (Is. 7:14; Mt. 1:22-23). He receives divine names (Is. 9:5).

His ministry and his sufferings are expressly presented as those of the Lord: it is Jehovah who is sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:4, 13); the Savior of Jerusalem will present himself as both God, the Angel of Jehovah, and the representative of the house of David (Zech. 12:8); It is Jehovah himself who says: “And they will look at me, whom they have pierced” (Zech. 12:10).

The shepherd wounded by the sheep is called “the companion of Jehovah” (Zech. 13:7). The eternity of the Messiah is expressly affirmed (Mi. 5:1).

Christ himself highlights his divinity. He applies Jehovah's "I am" to Himself (John 8:24, 58). The Jews understood without a shadow of a doubt his claim to divinity, and wanted to stone him (John 8:59; cf. 5:18; 10:30-33). Jesus affirms that He is the Lord of the OT (Mt. 22: 42-45) and that he is, in essence, one with the Father (John 10:38; 14: 9-11; 17: 3, 11, 22 ). He possesses the divine attributes:

omnipresence (Mt. 18:20; Jn. 3:13),
omniscience (John 2:24-25; 11:11-14; Mr. 11:6-8),
omnipotence (Mt. 28:18; Lk. 7:14; Jn. 5:21-23),
eternity (John 8:58; 17:5);
holiness (John 8:46),
saving grace (Mark 2:5-7; Luke 7:48-49).

Jesus accepts and approves the worship of men (Mt. 2:11; 14:33; 28:9; Luke 24:52; Jn. 5:23; 20:28).
The NT writers attribute divine titles and attributes to Christ (John 1:1, 3, 10; Rom. 9:5; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2, 8-12; 13:8 ; 1 Jn. 5:20).

They teach that he should be worshiped as well as the Father (Acts 7:59-60; 1 Cor. 1:2; Phil. 2:6, 10-11; Col. 2:9-10; Heb. 1: 6; Rev. 1:5-6; 5:12-13). His resurrection from the dead was dazzling proof of his divinity (Rom. 1:4).