“Does Jesus claim to be God (Co Equal with the Father) in the Gospels?”

The subject of this post is the resolution of a debate that was scheduled for Sunday, September 28, 2025, with "DeenResponds."  (it was held then as well, as can be seen at this link)  This post was drafted before the debate, so there may have been some last minute changes, revisions, rewordings, etc. that do not precisely match what was said in the debate.

The question is not whether Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God.  Everyone knows that we do.

The question is not whether Christians have always believed that Jesus Christ is God. Nor is the question whether there have ever been people who called themselves Christians but who denied this important truth. 

The question is not whether Jesus himself claims to be God.  We see him say this in the first chapter of Revelation.

The question is not whether Jesus' apostles believed that Jesus was God.  We see that testimony from the apostle Peter, from the apostle John, and from the apostle Paul.

The question is narrowly focused on the Gospels, and I am - of course - limiting myself to the four canonical gospels, which were given by inspiration of God to his people.

John's Gospel explains the reason that the Gospel was written:

John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Moreover, the very beginning of John's Gospel begins with an affirmation that Jesus is God:

John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

The question that I've been asked to defend is even more narrow than just whether the Gospels claim that Jesus is God.

The question is whether in the Gospels, Jesus himself claims to be God.  And, of course, he does.  The phrasing of the question suggests specific reference to one account that is recorded in John's gospel: 

John 5:10-24 

The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry [thy] bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in [that] place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

The key element to this passage relevant to this debate is the phrase that Jesus "said ... that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." 

This is the first time that Jesus does this in John's Gospel, although it is not the last time.  Indeed, it is a frequent claim by Jesus.

[Five minute mark]

The Gospel According to Matthew

1. [Mat 7:21 KJV] 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
2. [Mat 10:32-33 KJV] 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
3. [Mat 11:27 KJV] 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].
4. [Mat 12:50 KJV] 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
5. [Mat 16:17 KJV] 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
6. [Mat 18:10, 19 KJV] 10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. ... 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
7. [Mat 20:23 KJV] 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared of my Father.
8. [Mat 24:36 KJV] 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
9. [Mat 25:34 KJV] 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
10. [Mat 26:39, 42, 53 KJV] 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]. ... 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. ... 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

The Gospel According to Luke

1. [Luk 10:22 KJV] 22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and [he] to whom the Son will reveal [him].
2. [Luk 22:29 KJV] 29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
3. [Luk 24:49 KJV] 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

The Gospel According to John

1. [Jhn 6:32, 65 KJV] 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. ... 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
2. [Jhn 8:19, 28, 38, 49, 54 KJV] 19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. ... 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. ... 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. ... 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. ... 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:
3. [Jhn 10:17-18, 29-30, 32, 37 KJV] 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. ... 29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. 30 I and [my] Father are one. ... 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? ... 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
4. [Jhn 12:26 KJV] 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour.
5. [Jhn 14:7, 12, 20-21, 23, 28 KJV] 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. ... 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. ... 20 At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. ... 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. ... 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
6. [Jhn 15:1, 8, 15, 23-24 KJV] 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ... 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. ... 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. ... 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
7. [Jhn 16:10 KJV] 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
8. [Jhn 18:11 KJV] 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
9. [Jhn 20:17, 21 KJV] 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. ... 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

There are also three more such references in Revelation: while the question was limited to the gospels, Jesus' words are not limited to the gospels:

1. [Rev 2:27 KJV] 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
2. [Rev 3:5, 21 KJV] 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. ... 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

The keen observer will note that in the preceding discussion, I did not include the Gospel According to Mark, because the exact phrase "my father" is not used in that gospel.  However, Jesus prays to God as "Father" in Mark 14:36 and refers to God as "Father" and himself as "Son" in Mark 13:22, and similarly in Mark 8:38.  I have not included such similar usage in the other gospels, in order to avoid multiplying the already overwhelming evidence.

In fact, the debate could be stopped right here.  We have established that Jesus called God his Father, making himself equal with God.

None of this denies that there is an economic subordination of the Son to the Father.

John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

John 10:29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.

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.

However, this debate is not about reconciling such economic subordination with Jesus' divinity.  Christian systematic theology tackles this question in fascinating ways, but how to reconcile them is not the question before us.

(about another 5 with a lot of glossing over)

Moreover, this is not the only way that Jesus identified himself as God in the Gospels.

John 8:33-59 

They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, [even] God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell [you] the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear [them] not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 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: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Notice the similarity of the reaction of the people in this account.  When they say that Jesus has a devil, they are saying he is crazy.  The key observation is Jesus saying: "Before Abraham was, I am," and the key reaction to that is to try to stone him.  The reason is that Jesus is calling himself God, I am is one of the titles of God and the un-declined way that he's using it here indicates he intends the double meaning.  The reason is that Jesus is referring to a very special name of God, the tetragrammaton, which has the meaning, "The Being One."

[Another 5 or so minutes on this]

I've focused on the Gospel of John because Jesus being the Son of God is a central theme of that gospel.  On the other hand, I barely mentioned Mark's Gospel.  One of Jesus' parables in Mark, however, demonstrates the fact that Jesus is more than just a Servant of God:

Mark 12:1-12 

And he began to speak unto them by parables. A [certain] man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about [it], and digged [a place for] the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught [him], and beat him, and sent [him] away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded [him] in the head, and sent [him] away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed [him], and cast [him] out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Notice how Jesus identifies himself uniquely as the Son and how the Jews sought to kill him, not because they didn't understand, but because they did understand.

What are some of the other ways that Jesus announced his divinity?

Saying that he came down from heaven:

John 3:10-17 

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 6:38&42 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. ... And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

Saying that he was with the Father before the world existed:

John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Affirming that he was the Christ, the Son of God

Matthew 26:63-64 

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Matthew 16:16-17 

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

This may seem surprising that the title, "Christ," or "Messiah," which means "anointed" should have a link with divinity.  The reason is from passages like:

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Or:

Psalm 110:1 [[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Jesus himself posed this question:

Luke 20:41-44 

And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son? And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

Similarly, Isaiah 40:3

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

John's Gospel records that John the Baptist called himself the voice crying in the wilderness, and pointed people to Jesus.  

Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.