In theology, a doctrine is a set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group. It serves as a foundational principle that guides understanding and practice.
One of the most profound and essential doctrines of Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human. This seemingly paradoxical truth lies at the heart of Christian faith and has significant implications for how we understand God, ourselves, and salvation.
The concept that Jesus is divine is evident throughout the New Testament.
John 1:1, 14 NLT[1] In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[14] So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
These
verses clearly identify Jesus, the "Word" who became flesh, as being divine, existing with God from the very beginning. Thomas's exclamation upon seeing the risen Christ further emphasizes the early disciples' recognition of Jesus' deity.
John 20:26-28 NLT Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. (emphasis mine)
Here is what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in the city of Colossae a city located in what is now modern-day Turkey.
Colossians 2:8-9 NLT Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. (emphasis mine)
Simultaneously, the Scriptures unequivocally portray Jesus as fully human.
Galatians 4:4 NLT But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
Matthew 4:2 NLT For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
John 19:28 NLT Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”
John 4:6 NLT Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.
John 11:33-36 NLT When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” (emphasis mine)
He experienced the full range of human emotions, including joy, sorrow, and anger. Jesus' humanity was crucial for his role as the perfect sacrifice for sin. His shared human experience allows him to empathize with our struggles and intercede on our behalf.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (emphasis mine)
The union of deity and humanity in one person, Jesus Christ, is a mystery that theologians have pondered for centuries. The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD provided a crucial definition, stating that Christ is "acknowledged in two natures without confusion, without change, without division, without separation." This means that his divine and human natures are distinct yet perfectly united in one person, without either nature diminishing or altering the other.
Understanding this doctrine is vital because Jesus' deity demonstrates that God himself has entered into human history to redeem humanity. His humanity allows him to be the perfect representative of humankind and the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The bridge between God and humanity is found in the person of Jesus Christ, who is both fully God and fully human.
One of the most profound and essential doctrines of Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human. This seemingly paradoxical truth lies at the heart of Christian faith and has significant implications for how we understand God, ourselves, and salvation.
The concept that Jesus is divine is evident throughout the New Testament.
John 1:1, 14 NLT[1] In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[14] So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
These
verses clearly identify Jesus, the "Word" who became flesh, as being divine, existing with God from the very beginning. Thomas's exclamation upon seeing the risen Christ further emphasizes the early disciples' recognition of Jesus' deity.
John 20:26-28 NLT Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. (emphasis mine)
Here is what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in the city of Colossae a city located in what is now modern-day Turkey.
Colossians 2:8-9 NLT Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. (emphasis mine)
Simultaneously, the Scriptures unequivocally portray Jesus as fully human.
- He was born of a woman
Galatians 4:4 NLT But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
- He experienced hunger and thirst
Matthew 4:2 NLT For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
John 19:28 NLT Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”
- He got tired
John 4:6 NLT Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.
- He cried
John 11:33-36 NLT When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” (emphasis mine)
He experienced the full range of human emotions, including joy, sorrow, and anger. Jesus' humanity was crucial for his role as the perfect sacrifice for sin. His shared human experience allows him to empathize with our struggles and intercede on our behalf.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (emphasis mine)
The union of deity and humanity in one person, Jesus Christ, is a mystery that theologians have pondered for centuries. The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD provided a crucial definition, stating that Christ is "acknowledged in two natures without confusion, without change, without division, without separation." This means that his divine and human natures are distinct yet perfectly united in one person, without either nature diminishing or altering the other.
Understanding this doctrine is vital because Jesus' deity demonstrates that God himself has entered into human history to redeem humanity. His humanity allows him to be the perfect representative of humankind and the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The bridge between God and humanity is found in the person of Jesus Christ, who is both fully God and fully human.
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