Did the disciples know that Jesus was God before his resurrection?

tonychanyt · Sep 1, 2024

Not exactly, but they knew Jesus was the Son of God, and they were learning what that meant.

Gabriel spoke to Mary in Luke 1:

35b “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God

After John baptized Jesus in Matthew 3:

17 a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

The disciples began to learn that Jesus was the special, unique Son of God. What does that mean?

John 3:

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

They learned that the Son of God would save the world.

Before Jesus resurrected Lazarus in John 11:

4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

The Son of God shared the glory of God.

Jesus spoke to the antagonistic Jews in (NIV) John 10:

32 Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

These Jews thought Jesus claimed to be God. Jesus did not say, "I am not God."

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’ ? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

The Son of God was God. It was a divine mystery.

Jesus walked on water in Matt 14:

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

The disciples began to see that the Son of God was God. They did not say, "Truly you are God".

Did the disciples know that Jesus was God before his resurrection?

It was a divine mystery. Because of that, they were somewhat ambiguous about it. After the resurrection, John 20:

27 [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The apostles became increasingly assertive that Jesus was God. Jesus was a man, the Son of God, and God. It was a divine mystery.

Reluctant Theologian · Sep 2, 2024

tonychanyt said:
Not exactly, but they knew Jesus was the Son of God, and they were learning what that meant.

Gabriel spoke to Mary in Luke 1:

After John baptized Jesus in Matthew 3:

The disciples began to learn that Jesus was the special, unique Son of God. What does that mean?

John 3:

They learned that the Son of God would save the world.

Before Jesus resurrected Lazarus in John 11:

The Son of God shared the glory of God.

Jesus spoke to the antagonistic Jews in (NIV) John 10:

These Jews thought Jesus claimed to be God. Jesus did not say, "I am not God."

The Son of God was God. It was a divine mystery.

Jesus walked on water in Matt 14:

The disciples began to see that the Son of God was God. They did not say, "Truly you are God".

Did the disciples know that Jesus was God before his resurrection?

It was a divine mystery. Because of that, they were somewhat ambiguous about it. After the resurrection, John 20:

The apostles became increasingly assertive that Jesus was God. Jesus was a man, the Son of God, and God. It was a divine mystery.

Yeshua is God because GOD begot Him before all ages (which is also the confession of the Early Church). But logically speaking it is impossible to be the son of <a> and be <a> as well in the identity sense. But if <a> brings forth a son, the essence of both are the same; just as my children are human because I am human.

Yeshua is God/god, but in a different sense as God the Father is - otherwise God the Father would not be described as the God of Yeshua, and Yeshua Himself would never have said (John 17:3):

.. and this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent, ..

Or Paul (1 Thess 1:9-10):

.. to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven ..

The fullness of YHWH dwells in Yeshua, He created all, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him ... yet He is not the same in the identity sense as God the Father. The Son cannot be the Father as well .. they are distinct. Both have proper, personal but different names .... YHWH is the Father (Isaiah 63:16, Isaiah 64:8), Yeshua is the Son.

Understanding the relationship between God the Father and the Son of God this way creates much less logical problems IMHO. Yeshua IS YHWH in the representational sense (Shaliah) ...

And still I can confess with Thomas 'Yeshua is my Lord and my God ... '

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Did the disciples know that Jesus was God before his resurrection?

tonychanyt

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Reluctant Theologian

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