Jesus Christ's Identity and Nature in Christianity

The identity and nature of Jesus Christ are central to Christian theology, encompassing both his divine and human attributes. The name "Jesus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew "Jehoshua" or "Joshua," meaning "savior" ^{[3, 4]}. "Christ" is an official title, meaning "anointed," equivalent to the Hebrew "Messiah," indicating his roles as prophet, priest, and king ^[3].

Christian doctrine asserts that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human, a concept known as the hypostatic union ^[1]. This union means that the two natures—divine and human—are united in one person without being mixed or confused, and this union is perpetual ^[1].

Jesus's Divinity

Scripture presents Jesus as divine, identifying him with God. For instance, 1 John 5:20 states, "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" ^[5]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on this verse emphasizes that Christ's incarnation, work, and abiding presence are a "living fact" and that Jesus, by virtue of his oneness with God, is "He that is true" ^[8].

Other biblical passages and theological interpretations further underscore Christ's divinity:

Identified as Jehovah: Jesus is referred to as Jehovah in various contexts, such as "Jehovah of glory" (Psalm 24:7,10; 1 Corinthians 2:8) and "Jehovah, our RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:5,6; 1 Corinthians 1:30) ^[6].
Equality with God: Philippians 2:6 describes Christ as being "in the form of God" and not considering equality with God as something to be grasped ^[6].
Creator and Sustainer: Colossians 1:16 indicates that "all things were created by him and for him" ^[6]. John Gill, in his commentary on Colossians 2:9, explains that "all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" dwells in Christ, referring to his human nature as the vessel in which the divine essence resides in the "highest and most exalted manner" ^[10].
Eternal Existence: Revelation 1:17 and 22:13 refer to Christ as "the First and the Last," a title also used for Jehovah in Isaiah 44:6 and 48:12-16 ^[6].

The incarnation, the act by which Christ took on human nature, is considered a "great mystery of godliness" ^{[1, 7]}. John Gill describes it as the "union of the two natures, divine and human, in his person," which, though revealed, remains beyond full human comprehension ^[7].

Jesus's Humanity

Alongside his divinity, Jesus's full humanity is equally crucial to Christian understanding. The Easton's Bible Dictionary defines the Incarnation as the act where Christ "took our human nature into union with his Divine Person, became man" ^[1]. This human nature was essential for his mediatorial office, as highlighted in 1 Timothy 2:5 and Hebrews 2:17 ^[2].

Evidence for Jesus's human nature is abundant in the Gospels and Epistles:

Conception and Birth: He was conceived in the Virgin Mary's womb (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:31) and born (Matthew 1:16, 2:2; Luke 2:7, 11) ^[2].
Physical Attributes: Jesus partook of "flesh and blood" (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14) ^[2]. He had a human soul (Matthew 26:38; Luke 23:46) ^[2].
Human Experiences: He underwent circumcision (Luke 2:21), "increased in wisdom and stature" (Luke 2:52), wept (Luke 19:41; John 11:35), hungered (Matthew 4:2; 21:18), thirsted (John 4:7; 19:28), slept (Matthew 8:24; Mark 4:38), and experienced weariness (John 4:6) ^[2]. These experiences demonstrate his genuine human limitations and physical needs.

The human nature of Christ is not merely a facade but a real, embodied existence. The Tyndale House Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 explains that Adam and Christ founded two distinct humanities: one natural and earthly, the other spiritual and heavenly. Christ represents the spiritual (resurrection) body, superseding the natural life ^[9]. John Gill, in his commentary on Ephesians 5:28, clarifies that while Christ, as God, is the former of all human nature, his human nature is "of our flesh and of our bones," meaning he shares the same flesh and blood with humanity, making his incarnation effective for salvation ^[11].

The Hypostatic Union and its Significance

The concept of the hypostatic union—the personal union of the divine and human natures in the single person of Jesus Christ—is foundational. The two natures are distinct but inseparable, neither mixed nor confounded ^[1]. This means that while Jesus is fully God, he also fully experienced human life, including its limitations and sufferings, yet without sin.

This dual nature is crucial for his role as mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5) ^[2]. As God, he possesses the power to save; as human, he can represent humanity and offer a perfect sacrifice. The Torrey's Topical Textbook emphasizes that his human nature was "necessary to his mediatorial office" ^[2].

The identity of Jesus Christ, therefore, is not merely a historical or philosophical question but a theological cornerstone that defines Christian understanding of salvation, God's nature, and humanity's relationship with the divine. His life and character are considered "the holy of holies in the history of the world" ^[3].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Incarnation — That act of grace whereby Christ took our human nature into union with his Divine Person, became man. Christ is both God and man. Human attributes and actions are predicated of him, and he of whom they are predicated is God. A Divine Person was united to a human nature (Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 2:8; Heb. 2:11-14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Gal. 4:4, etc.). The union is hypostatical, i.e., is personal; the two natures are not mixed or confounded, and it is perpetual.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jesus Christ — "The life and character of Jesus Christ," says Dr. Schaff, "is the holy of holies in the history of the world." + NAME.--The name Jesus signifies saviour . It is the Greek form of [713]Jehoshua (Joshua). The name Christ signifies anointed. Jesus was both priest and king. Among the Jews priests were anointed, as their inauguration to their office. (1 Chronicles 16:22) In the New Testament the name Christ is used as equivalent to the Hebrew Messiah (anointed), (John 1:41) the name given to the long-promised Prophet and King whom the Jews had been taught b”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jesus — (1.) Joshua, the son of Nun (Acts 7:45; Heb. 4:8; R.V., "Joshua"). (2.) A Jewish Christian surnamed Justus (Col. 4:11). Je'sus, the proper, as Christ is the official, name of our Lord. To distinguish him from others so called, he is spoken of as "Jesus of Nazareth" (John 18:7), and "Jesus the son of Joseph" (John 6:42). This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was originally Hoshea (Num. 13:8, 16), but changed by Moses into Jehoshua (Num. 13:16; 1 Chr. 7:27), or Joshua. After the Exile it assumed the form Jeshua, whence the Greek form Jesus. It”
I John “I John 5:20 (BSB) — And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ is God — As Jehovah -- Isa 40:3; Mt 3:3. As Jehovah of glory -- Ps 24:7,10; 1Co 2:8; Jas 2:1. As Jehovah, our RIGHTEOUSNESS -- Jer 23:5,6; 1Co 1:30. As Jehovah, above all -- Ps 97:9; Joh 3:31. As Jehovah, the First and the Last -- Isa 44:6; Re 1:17; Isa 48:12-16; Re 22:13. As Jehovah's Fellow and Equal -- Zec 13:7; Php 2:6. As Jehovah of Hosts -- Isa 6:1-3; Joh 12:41; Isa 8:13,14; 1Pe 2:8. As Jehovah, the Shepherd -- Isa 40:11; Heb 13:20. As Jehovah, for whose glory all things were created -- Pr 16:4; Col 1:16. As Jehovah, the Messenger of the covenant -- Mal ”
1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 3:16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness,.... What follows is so, the incarnation of Christ, his birth of a virgin, the union of the two natures, divine and human, in his person; this is a mystery, which though revealed, and so to be believed, is not to be discerned nor accounted for, nor the modus of it to be comprehended by reason: and it is a great one, next, if not equal, to the doctrine of a trinity of persons in the divine essence; and is a mystery of godliness, which tends to encourage internal and external religion, powerful and practical g”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 5:20: Summary of our Christian privileges. is come--is present, having come. "HE IS HERE--all is full of Him--His incarnation, work, and abiding presence, is to us a living fact" [ALFORD]. given us an understanding--Christ's, office is to give the inner spiritual understanding to discern the things of God. that we may know--Some oldest manuscripts read, "(so) that we know." him that is true--God, as opposed to every kind of idol or false god (Jo1 5:21). Jesus, by virtue of His oneness with God, is also "He that is true" (Rev 3:7). even--"we are in ”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:45: 15:45-49 Adam and Christ founded two distinct humanities: One is natural and earthly, enslaved to sin and death; the other is spiritual and heavenly, purified and destined for life. Adam represents the natural (physical) body and Christ the spiritual (resurrection) body. See also 15:21-22; Rom 5:12-21. 15:45-46 Just as Christ’s life-giving Spirit supersedes the natural life, the spiritual body will supersede the physical body.”
Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 2:9: For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. This is to be understood, not of the doctrine, or Gospel of Christ, as being a perfect revelation of the will of God; but of Christ, and particularly of his human nature, as consisting of a true body and a reasonable soul, in which the Godhead dwells in a most eminent manner: God indeed is everywhere by his powerful presence, was in the tabernacle and temple in a very singular manner, and dwells in the saints in a way of special grace; but resides in the human nature of Christ, in the highest and most exalt”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:28: For we are members of his body,.... Not of his natural body, for this would make Christ's human nature monstrous; Christ, as man, is of our flesh and of our bones, or a partaker of the same flesh and blood with us; or otherwise, his incarnation would have been of no service to us; and had our human nature been from Christ, it would not have been corrupted; but our bodies, flesh, and bones, are from the first, and not the second Adam, and so corrupt and sinful; Christ indeed, as God, is the former of all human nature, and, as man, was set up in God's thoughts as the”

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