To some, this might seem like a strange subject for a study. To others it might even seem heretical. However, it's based on several verses in the Bible that caught my eye. The first one is from Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:3:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Notice it says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" I'm comfortable with the idea of Jesus Christ having a Father. But if this verse is true (as I believe the whole Bible is), then Jesus Christ also has a God! Read the verse again. If this verse is true, Jesus Christ has a God! − Then who is his God? That's the subject of this study.
Now I need to digress a bit. Regardless of whether or not you believe the Bible is The Word of God, it is the only concrete source that most Christians will agree contains true information about God. Therefore this study will consider only what the Bible actually says − not the King James version, from which the quotations are taken, nor any other version, but as close to the original text of the Bible as is known today.
The truth revealed here − even the very subject of this study − is not only commonly disbelieved today, but often is received with anger, hatred, and ridicule toward those who believe it, and more so toward those who promote it. However, if you believe the Bible to be true, more true than tradition, then I challenge you to line up your thinking and your believing with what the Bible actually says, not what some preacher tells you it says.
Notice what Romans says:
Romans 3:3-4:
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Unbelief will never make the faith of God without effect! Nor will it change even one tiny, little piece of the Word of God! This is not man's opinion; it's what God says in His Word. If you don't believe what God says in His Word, you're not fighting against me; you're fighting against God. I choose to believe what God says in His Word so I will be justified in my sayings and will overcome when I am judged.
Now back to our subject, "Who is Jesus Christ's God?"
Ephesians 1:3:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
I checked every critical Greek text. (You can, too, if you have an Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, which you can get at any Bible bookstore.) There are no variations. Every critical Greek text reads the same. According to this verse, Jesus Christ has a Father and Jesus Christ has a God!
But what do other verses say? Do other verses agree with this verse, or could this verse be a forgery, in disagreement with the rest of scripture? Well, let's look further.
Ephesians 1:17:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Notice it says, "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ." If someone is "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ," then Jesus Christ must have a God!
That also agrees with 2 Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 11:31:
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
Notice it says, "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Most of the critical Greek texts read, "The God and Father of the Lord Jesus.") Once again, the Bible is talking about the God of the Lord Jesus and the Father of the Lord Jesus.
So far we've looked only at the "Pauline" epistles. But is this just Paul's idea?
(Actually, no part of the Bible is just Paul's idea because Paul, like the other writers of books of the Bible, wrote verbatim what God told him by revelation to write.)
What did God tell Peter to write?
1 Peter 1:3:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Here again it says, "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" − word for word the same phrase used in Ephesians 1:3. And like Ephesians 1:3, there are no variations in the critical Greek texts!
So both Paul and Peter believed that Jesus Christ has a God! (And since God told them to write that, He also must believe the same thing.)
But what about Jesus Christ, himself? What did he have to say?
Matthew 27:46:
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Notice that Jesus is calling to his God. Therefore he must have a God − someone who is God to him. After all, he never lied!
So we have God, Paul, Peter, and now Jesus Christ, and, since he wrote it, Matthew, who all believed that Jesus Christ has a God!
But the same event is recorded in Mark.
Mark 15:34:
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Again, Jesus is calling to his God.
So according to God, Paul, Peter, Jesus Christ, Matthew, and Mark, Jesus Christ has a God! But who is his God?
Let's look at a record that happened before the crucifixion.
John 17:1-3:
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Look at that! Jesus Christ is talking to his Father and he calls Him, "the only true God!" Wow! Think about that for a minute. Jesus Christ, who never lied, said that his Father is "the only true God!" He would know, wouldn't he? If the Father of Jesus Christ is the only true God, then Jesus, himself, must not be the only true God. And if he's not the only true God, he must not be a god at all!
For those of you who think he is, think about this. I didn't make that up! You can check every critical Greek text; they all say the same thing!
Jesus Christ, who you revere and who you say that you believe, said that his Father is the only true God!
Well, you either believe him or you don't! And if you don't believe Jesus Christ on this point, how can you say you believe him at all?
Ah, yes. But some will say he said that because he was in his human form. Really? Have you ever read John 20? This is a record that took place after God raised Jesus from the dead.
John 20:17:
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Jesus was talking to Mary in the garden and he told her to go to his brethren and tell them that he would ascend to his Father and their Father and his God and their God. And notice this was after God raised him from the dead, after Jesus was glorified.
That makes it God, Paul, Peter, Jesus Christ, Matthew, Mark, John, and probably Mary and the brethren, who all believed that Jesus Christ has a God! Pretty impressive list, isn't it?
So, even after the resurrection, as the glorified Son of God, not only does he still have a God, but he also has human brothers and sisters. And his God is their God and his Father is their Father.
This agrees with Romans.
Romans 8:29:
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Notice it says, "the firstborn among many brethren." So Jesus Christ has many brothers and sisters. This also agrees with Hebrews.
Hebrews 2:9-12:
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Notice it says that God ("him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things") is "bringing many sons unto glory." And because Jesus Christ who sanctifies, and we who are sanctified (or set apart), are all of one (that one being God), Jesus Christ, the captain of our salvation, is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters! Wow! What an honor! If I hadn't read it in God's Word, I wouldn't believe it!
But notice it says, "he is not ashamed to call them brethren." That's in the present tense! He still, long after God raised him from the dead, long after he ascended into heaven, in all his glory, calls us his brothers and sisters!
Now let's take another look at the verses we started with, that specifically mention the God of the Lord Jesus.
Ephesians 1:3:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:17:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
2 Corinthians 11:31:
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
1 Peter 1:3:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Notice that these verses were all written after Jesus' death, after God raised him from the dead, after he ascended into heaven, and after God seated him at His own right hand (Ephesians 1:20). The risen, ascended, glorified Jesus Christ has a God today! Him being "in his human form" (a phrase that's not found in the Bible) has nothing to do with it!
So who is Jesus Christ's God? According to the Bible, which is God's Word, right now, today, the resurrected, ascended, glorified, seated-at-the-right-hand-of-God Jesus Christ is our brother. His Father is our Father and his God is our God!
There is only one true God!
Here are more verses on the same subject, some of which have variations between the King James version and the critical Greek texts.
The King James, or Authorized Version, was translated from the Stephens text of 1550. There are also seven "critical" Greek texts, compiled from ancient manuscripts which are in various archives and, therefore, unavailable for practical purposes to most of us. The later critical Greek texts tend to be more accurate than the earlier ones because they were compiled from more ancient manuscripts which had not yet been discovered when the earlier Greek texts were compiled. The variations from those texts have been taken from the Interlinear Greek-English New Testament (which you can find in any Bible bookstore) and the sources of the variations have been abbreviated as follows, to agree with the notes in that work:
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Here are some verses that plainly say that Jesus has a God:
Matthew 27:46:
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mark 15:34:
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
John 17:1-3:
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 20:17:
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Romans 15:6:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:3:
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
2 Corinthians 1:3:
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2 Corinthians 11:31:
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
Ephesians 1:3:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:17:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Colossians 1:3:
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
1 Peter 1:3:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
"The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ" is the title that God uses of Himself many times in the New Testament.
Now here is a unique, interesting passage:
Hebrews 1:8-9:
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Notice God says to "the Son" (who is Christ), "Thy throne, O God, is for ever." God is calling Jesus Christ "God!" But then, in the next verse, God, still talking to "the Son," talks about his God, saying, "therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."
So God calls Jesus Christ "God," and immediately talks about Jesus Christ's God, saying that Jesus Christ's God has anointed Jesus Christ above his fellows.
It is also interesting to note that since Jesus Christ's God has anointed him above his fellows, he must have fellows (more than one) which he is now above. None of those fellows could be his God and Father because 1 Corinthians 15 says:
1 Corinthians 15:27-28:
For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
God put all things under Jesus Christ's feet. But it's manifest (or obvious) that God is excepted Who put all things under Jesus Christ. And when all things are subdued unto Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ will still be subject to God, Who put all things under Jesus Christ.
So Jesus Christ's God called Jesus Christ "God" and anointed Jesus Christ above his fellows, none of whom is his God and Father since Jesus Christ is still subject to Him.
Jesus' comment on a verse similar to Hebrews 1:8-9 should be noted here.
John 10:33-36:
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Notice that Jesus is acknowledging that God, at times, will call people "gods" (which doesn't make them the one true God). But Jesus doesn't call himself "God;" he calls himself "the Son of God" (and more often, "the Son of man").
Here are a few of the verses that tell us there is only one God:
John 17:1-3:
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Ephesians 4:6:
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1 Timothy 1:17:
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 2:5:
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
There are many other verses that say that there is only one God, not two or three.
Here are verses that tell us Jesus prayed. To whom does one pray if not to his God?
Matthew 14:23:
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
Matthew 26:36:
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
Matthew 26:39:
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Matthew 26:42:
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Matthew 26:44:
And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Matthew 26:53:
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Mark 6:46:
And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
Mark 14:32:
And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
Mark 14:35-36:
And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Mark 14:39:
And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
Luke 3:21:
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
Luke 5:16:
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Luke 6:12-13:
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
(That's a good indication of what he prayed about and that he got answers!)
Luke 9:18:
And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
Luke 9:28-29:
And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
Luke 11:1-2:
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luke 22:31-32:
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Luke 22:41-45:
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
(He not only prayed; he prayed earnestly!)
John 17:9:
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
John 17:15:
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
John 17:20:
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Jesus prayed. (Notice it says in John 17:20 that he prayed for you, if you believe on him.) To whom does one pray if not to his God? But it also says that he prayed to his Father. His Father is his God, who is also your God and Father if you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and believed in your heart that God has raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9&10).
Now look at John 8.
John 8:54:
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
Notice Jesus said that his Father is the One whom they claimed was their God. His Father is also our God, our Father, and his God.
Here are some verses that say that Jesus Christ is a high priest. Of whom is one a priest, if not his God?
Hebrews 4:14-15:
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 5:5-6:
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
(God is calling Jesus a priest. I guess He would know, wouldn't He?)
Hebrews 5:10:
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 6:20:
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:14-17:
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:21-8:1:
(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
(Jesus Christ is not like a mortal priest because he will live forever. Notice verse 27 says, "he offered up himself." To whom does one offer sacrifices if not to his God?)
Hebrews 9:11:
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Hebrews 9:24:
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Only the priests could enter into the holy places. Jesus is our high priest. Of whom is one a priest if not his God? To whom does one offer sacrifices if not to his God?
A priest is one who represents the people to God − one who intercedes on behalf of the people with supplications (prayers asking for something) and sacrifices − a mediator between God and man. It is not possible for anyone to sacrifice to himself, nor is it possible for God to be a priest to himself.
This is not intended to be a study of who Jesus Christ is. It's simply a study on "Who is Jesus Christ's God?"
There are verses relating to who Jesus Christ is that people often use to attempt to contradict this truth. But the verses listed here are clear and simple.
Regardless of who he is, Jesus Christ has a God. His God is his Father, Who is also our Father and our God.
There is only one true God.
If you've been blessed by this study, you may want to share it with others. When you do, please walk with God. Ask Him to whom, how, and when to share it. As I indicated at the beginning, the truth revealed here is often very difficult for people to receive. But God knows who can receive it and how and when to present it to a particular person to give him the best chance to receive it.
Ephesians 4:15:
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Notice it says, "speaking the truth in love." We are not to shove the Word down people's throats. Nor are we to blurt it out without thinking. But we are to speak the truth in love. God knows what would be loving to each person with whom you speak. So ask Him! He'll tell you when to speak, what to say, and how to say it.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2:
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
There are some things in God's Word that some (or many) people cannot bear. God knows what those things are for each individual. Walk with Him. Ask Him what to share with each person. And allow each person the opportunity to grow up before giving him parts of the Word like this, that so thoroughly contradict traditional beliefs − beliefs he may have held since early childhood.
This study has been entirely from the Bible, God's Word. But most people have not been taught from God's Word, and therefore do not trust God's Word. Show them how God's Word can be trusted. And be kind and gentle with them. Remember, it's the goodness of God that leads people to repentance (Romans 2:4).
And above all, do not be discouraged or take it personally when people reject the truth you teach them. They rejected Jesus Christ before you. It's not you they're rejecting; it's God and His Word.
God bless you!
By Jeffrey Moore, Southern California
Copyright © 1993 - 2012, Jeffrey Moore