📖 Biblical Definition
The Deity of Christ is the doctrine that Jesus is fully God — one essence with the Father, eternally begotten, sharing all divine attributes. The Word was God (Jn 1:1); my Lord and my God (Jn 20:28); in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Col 2:9). The Council of Nicaea (325) defended it against Arianism; the Council of Chalcedon (451) refined the union of the two natures.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Christ's full divinity; one essence with the Father; Nicene orthodoxy.
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Old Testament foreshadow (Isa 9:6, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father), New Testament assertion (Jn 1, Col 1, Heb 1, Phil 2, Rev 1), and apostolic worship (Jn 20:28, Rev 5).
Nicene Creed (325, refined 381): one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages... very God of very God, begotten not made, of one essence (homoousios) with the Father.
📖 Key Scripture
John 1:1 — "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 20:28 — "And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God."
Colossians 2:9 — "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
Hebrews 1:8 — "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern liberal theology often softens the deity of Christ to God-conscious man; orthodox Christianity insists on full deity, no qualification.
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The Deity of Christ is non-negotiable in historic Christianity. Arianism (Christ as the highest creature) was condemned at Nicaea; modern Jehovah's Witnesses revive it; Mormonism teaches a different version. Each fails the New Testament's plain teaching.
The household's confession is Nicene: very God of very God. Worship of Christ is therefore not idolatry but right worship of the One who is God.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Latin deitas; Greek theotês.
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Latin deitas — godhood, divinity.
Greek theotês — Godhead; in Col 2:9.
Usage
"Very God of very God; one essence with the Father."
"My Lord and my God — Thomas's confession received as right worship."
"The Word was God."