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Arianism
This teaching includes belief in God as “being one and only one who could never share his being with
anyone or anything else.” God created a Son; who was “an only-begotten Son before eternal times. . .
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He made him exist at his own will, unalterable and unchangeable.” Simply put, Jesus is not God. Arius’
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teachings were denied at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, Council of Ephesus in AD 431, Council of
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Constantinople I in AD 381 , Council of Constantinople II in AD 553, Council of Chalcedon in AD 451,
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and Council of Constantinople III in AD 680-81.

Deity of Christ (Fully God)
The doctrine of the salvation hinges on the deity of Jesus Christ. Both Testaments
make strong assertions concerning the eternality and preexistence of Jesus Christ
(Isa. 9:6; Mic. 5:2; John 1:1). Lewis Sperry Chafer said that “The Deity of the Son is
asserted in the Bible as fully and as clearly in every particular as is the Deity of
the Father or the Spirit.” Charles Ryrie maintains that “denying the deity of
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Christ must be accompanied by a denial of the accuracy of Scripture, for there is simply too much
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evidence in Scripture for His deity to do otherwise.” Erickson adds: “One of the most controversial and
yet crucial topics of Christian theology is the deity of Christ. It lies at the heart of our faith. For our faith
rests on Jesus’ actually being God in human flesh. . .”
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Claims of Jesus’ Deity

Personal Claims.
There are numerous New Testament passages that cite Jesus’ own claims to His deity. He claimed to be
eternal before the creation of the heavens and the earth. Only God is eternal (cf. John 6:35-59; 8:12; 9:5;
10:7, 9, 11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1). Also, we know from the Old Testament that the Messiah would be God
with us (Isa. 9:6). Jesus also confirmed His Messiahship to the Samaritan woman (John 4:26).

Trinitarian Claims.
Jesus claimed that The Father and Him are one (John 10:30). Here, He identifies
Himself as one with the Father or as God the Son. Other passages demonstrate that
the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are all God (cf. Matt 28:20; John 14:10; 1
Pet 1:2).

Claims by God the Father
While verifying the supremacy of Jesus Christ over the angels, God the Father says that “Your throne, O
God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice” (Heb. 1:8 [NLT]). Here, God the Father
addresses the Son as God, co-equal with Himself.

Claims by the Witnesses of Jesus Christ
In response to Jesus’ appearance, Thomas—one of Jesus’ disciples—said, “My Lord and my God!” (John
20:25, [28 NET]). Present in that response is the claim that Jesus is God. Martha’s response to Jesus’
claim that He was the resurrection and the life shows that Jesus is God (John 11:25-26).

Affirmations by Demons
Unclean spirits said, “You are the Son of God!” (Mark 3:11 [NRSV]). Again, a man with—probably “five to
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six thousands” —demons (legion [Mark 5:9, 15]), acknowledged that Jesus was the “Son of the Most
High God” and appealed to Him by God to not “torment” him (Mark 5:7-8 [ESV]).

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