Question
How could Jesus have been fully human and fully God?
Response
In the Bible we see evidence of both Jesus’ humanity and divinity.
The evidence for Jesus’ humanity is extremely compelling. He was born in the usual way, he had a human body and emotions, he developed physically and intellectually, he ate food, he was tempted, and he experienced tiredness, hunger, thirst and pain. (Luke 2:6-7, 40, 52, John 11:35, Luke 22:14-15, Mark 1:13, John 4:6, Matthew 4:2, John 19:28 and Mark 14:32-34.)
However, Jesus’ life was far from normal. There was much evidence to suggest, and claims made, that he was in fact divine – that he was God.
There’s his virgin birth (Luke 1:34-36), perfection (2 Corinthians 5:21), miracles (Matthew 4:23, 8:27), teaching (Mark 1:21-22), transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9) and resurrection (Luke 24:6). Then there are the claims Jesus made about himself (e.g. Luke 4:12, Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 16:15-17, Matthew 26:63-64) and the claims others made about him (e.g. Matthew 27:54, John 20:28, Romans 9:5, Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1 and 1 John 5:20). Colossians 2:9 asserts that Jesus is both human and divine, ”For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,”
Jesus’ humanity and divinity are both essential. Richard Bewes says, “Who is the person achieving our salvation? A man? A superman? Half god, half man? Get it wrong and the whole message of salvation crumbles.”
In his book, Answers – A Quest For Truth, Bewes continues by identifying various incorrect theories about Jesus that have been put forwards:-
- The Phantom Theory: Jesus wasn’t a real man but just appears to be.
- The Modal Theory: The Son and the Holy Spirit were just different modes of God.
- The Envelope Theory: Jesus took a human body but not a human mind.
- The Subordinationist Theory: The Son was a created being and less than God.
- The Pantomime Theory: The divine Son and the human Son shared a body.
- The Transmutation Theory: When Jesus became human his human nature was changed into divine nature.
All of these theories have serious flaws and in order to understand the atoning sacrifice that Jesus made we must recognise that he was both fully human and fully God.
Why do we struggle so much with the idea of Jesus being both fully God and fully human?
One of the problems with the various theories just outlined is that they all begin from the wrong place. They assume that the question of humanity and divinity is a problem to be solved. However, the relationship between his humanity and divinity is only a problem to be solved if we begin with a concept of God divorced from Jesus Christ. Theologian Karl Barth emphasises that our primary revelation of God is in Jesus Christ. As Christians, we do not have to begin with a hypothetical concept of God and then try and work out how that concept can be squeezed down into a living, breathing human. Rather, we can begin with Jesus Christ. We first and foremost know God as God and man.
Fully Man, Fully God…But surely he had limitations?
One of the classic objections is, “God is Omnipresent, but while Jesus was on earth he couldn’t be in more than one place at once! So therefore he wasn’t fully God.” Philippians 2:6-7 reveals a great deal about the incarnation. In the 5 Minute Theologian Rick Cornish explains how when Jesus became a human His divine nature did not become any less than that of the Father’s or Spirit’s divine nature. However, he did have to accept certain limitations on how He used His divine attributes. He goes on to say,
”He temporarily, voluntarily set aside the independent use and full display of His divine attributes and glory.”
This can be illustrated by using theologian Millard Erickson’s analogy of the world’s fastest sprinter running a three-legged race. He still possesses all his award-winning attributes, but he has voluntarily chosen to be temporarily restricted for the purpose of this particular race.
Key Bible Passages
Colossians 2:9
Philippians 2:6-7
"Who is the person achieving our salvation? A man? A superman? Half god, half man? Get it wrong and the whole message of salvation crumbles." [Richard Bewes]
This response was written by Nigel James. Copyright © April 2007.
- What is the evidence for Jesus’ humanity? (Read some of the following verses Luke 2:6-7, 40, 52, John 11:35, Luke 22:14-15, Mark 1:13, John 4:6, Matthew 4:2, John 19:28 and Mark 14:32-34)
- What is the evidence for Jesus’ divinity? (Read some of the following verses Luke 1:34-36, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 4:23, 8:27, Mark 1:21-22, Matthew 17:1-9, Luke 24:6, Luke 4:12, Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 16:15-17, Matthew 26:63-64, Matthew 27:54, John 20:28, Romans 9:5, Colossians 2:9, Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1 and 1 John 5:20)
- What are some of the problems associated with each of the theories regarding Jesus’ nature?
- Why is it so hard for us to understand that Jesus was both fully man and fully God?
- Why is it important that we recognise that Jesus was both fully man and fully God?
- What can we learn about God because of the incarnation?
FAQ Disclaimer:
FAQ responses are designed to promote clear biblical thinking about subjects that are often difficult and confusing. The responses are all considered to be compatible with the Evangelical Alliance’s basis of faith but beyond that should not be assumed to represent the Evangelical Alliance’s ‘official standpoint’ on any particular doctrine or issue.
