Did Jesus Really Say He Was God?: Making Sense of His Historical Claims
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
How to Make Sense of Jesus’ Divine Claims
Do you ever wonder if Jesus really claimed to be God? Maybe you’ve heard people say, “Jesus never said he was God,” or you’ve been asked, “Why believe Jesus is divine if he never claimed it?” These challenges aren’t just from non-Christians—they show up in church, too. Even if you’re not coming from a place of skepticism, you might still question how well church teachings about Jesus match up with what he actually said. So, did the historical Jesus really claim to be divine?
This book is here to give you confidence in the historicity of Jesus’ claim to divinity. It’s designed to help you explain your faith in a world that increasingly doubts the Bible’s portrayal of Jesus. Instead of focusing on what Jesus’ followers believed, this book takes a different approach—it looks at what Jesus’ enemies thought. How did they interpret his words and actions? Their perspective can help you understand the historical validity of Jesus’ divine claim.
In this book, biblical scholar Mikel Del Rosario
If you’re a Christian, this book will equip you to defend your faith against theories that suggest Jesus only claimed human authority, not divine. If you’re someone who sees Christianity differently, this book offers a serious investigation into the claims of the historical Jesus, providing evidence that any theory of his identity must address. Whether you’re searching for answers to your own questions or trying to share about Jesus with others, this book will help you communicate Jesus’ divine claim with clarity and confidence.
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- Gives you confidence in the historicity of Jesus’ claim to divinity.
- Analyzes ancient Greco-Roman, Jewish, and biblical sources.
- Argues that Jesus claimed divine authority.
Who is Jesus?’ is a good question. But ‘Who did Jesus say he was?’ is even better. In this book, Mikel Del Rosario probes that very question with historical acumen and intellectual verve. He explores the biggest question of them all: Did the man Jesus of Nazareth claim to be a divine person? Not just a prophet, king, or a miracle-worker, but the personal expression of the God of Israel? Mikel gives an answer that is well-reasoned, convincing, and—some may even find—startling. An amazing exploration of a fascinating subject.
--Michael F. Bird, deputy principal at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia
Claiming to be a prophet speaking on behalf of God is an audacious claim. But such pales in comparison to claiming to be God! Although Jesus is not reported to have ever said ‘I am God,’ the Gospels portray him as claiming things about himself that are virtual equivalents. But did he actually say these things? This is one of the most important questions one can ask. In this volume, Mikel Del Rosario answers yes, combining solid historical scholarship with an accessible presentation. This excellent investigation will equip you with key talking points for discussing Jesus’ divinity with others.
--Michael Licona, professor of New Testament Studies at Houston Christian University