Introduction
For more than two thousand years, one of the most debated questions in religious history has been the identity of Jesus of Nazareth: Is Jesus God Himself, or is he a man sent by God?
Different religious traditions have answered this question in different ways. Jewish and Islamic teachings regard Jesus as a prophet and messenger of God. Within Christianity itself, interpretations have varied throughout history. The belief that Jesus is God became formally defined within Greco-Roman Christianity and was articulated in 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea under Emperor Constantine.
Because of these historical developments, an important question remains: What do the Scriptures themselves say about Jesus?
Rather than relying solely on later theological traditions, this study examines the testimony of the biblical texts—especially the words spoken by Jesus himself—to explore how the Scriptures describe his identity and mission.
“Several passages from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Gospel accounts help illuminate this question.”