Page 66 - Advanced Apologetics and World Views Revised

Could it be that Jesus was just sincerely deluded about who he was? Or maybe he was
insane?

So, if Jesus didn't consciously lie about who He was -- maybe He was really a good person, very idealistic,
actually believing He was God, but surely wrong about it. After all, it is possible to be both sincere and
wrong.

The problem with that view is that Jesus PROVED He was God by the thousands of miracles He
performed. He raised people from the dead, restored sight to the blind, the crippled walked again, He
spoke to the wind and waves and they obeyed Him, He fed 5000 men plus women and children with a
few loaves of bread and two fish. He walked on water and cast out demonic hordes. Could a deluded
person who claimed to be God do these things? Absolutely not!

If Jesus was insane, then at some point or time this would have become evident to others. After all his
disciples, all down-to-earth men, followed him for three to four years and believed in what he said
(Matthew 16:13-16). And they all but John eventually died claiming Him to be the Christ, God with us.

Do we have evidence for His deity in the Bible besides His own claim?

There is a plethora of verses which clearly state that Jesus was God in human flesh. Here are just a few:

In talking about Jesus Christ…

Colossians 1:15-17

16
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn [preeminent one] of all creation. For by him all
things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers
17
or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him
all things hold together.

Again, as Creator, Jesus Christ is preeminent (firstborn = prototokos or preeminent son – vs. 15) One
who created all things whether visible or invisible. We are informed that, as God, Jesus Christ holds the
Creation together.

In a middle eastern family, the preeminent son in the family was considered the firstborn son and had
right to a double portion of the family inheritance. Regardless of birth order, the preeminent son was
considered the firstborn son if he was to receive that preeminent position. Ex., Esau/Jacob,
Ephraim/Manasseh, David/brothers. Isaac/Ishmael.

If Paul wanted to communicate that Jesus was the first created being, he would have used a different
Greek word: protoktisis which means “first created.” This Greek word is never used about Christ in the
Scriptures.

Colossians 1:19

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

65