Atheists’ Myths: Part 2Atheists’ Myths: Part 2

Richard DeemRichard Deem

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather

around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to

hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2

Timothy 4:3-4)

Atheist Myth #2: Jesus Didn’t Become God Until the 4th Century

Atheist Myth #2: Jesus Didn’t Become God Until the 4th Century

Jesus was Deified at the Council of Nicaea

A common atheist myth is that the Bible was changed at the Council of Nicaea to change Jesus from being Messiah to being God

“Divergent” books were excluded from the canon of the Bible at that time

Is it true that there is no evidence that Christians worshipped Jesus as God prior to the 4th century?

Early Evidence for the Proclamation of Jesus’ Deity

1. Biblical Jesus presents the characteristics of

God The Bible says Jesus is God Jesus claims He is God

2. Writings of early church leaders

3. Secular writings

4. Archeological evidence

Biblical Claims of Jesus’ DivinityCharacteristic God Jesus Christ

Who is omnipotent (all powerful)? 1 Chronicles 29:11 Philippians 3:20-21

Who is omniscient (all knowing)? 1 John 3:20 Colossians 2:2-3

Who is omnipresent (present everywhere)?

Proverbs 15:3 2 Corinthians 2:14

Who is Lord of Sabbath? Genesis 2:3 Matthew 12:8

Who is the great "I am?" Exodus 3:14 John 8:58

Who is the only creator? Isaiah 44:24 John 1:3

Who is the only savior? Isaiah 43:11, 45:21 Acts 4:12

Who will judge mankind? Isaiah 3:13, 14 2 Corinthians 5:10

Who will judge between the sheep and goats?

Ezekiel 34:17 Matthew 25:31-33

Who sent the prophets? Jeremiah 7:25 Matthew 23:34

Who resurrected Jesus? Acts 4:10 John 10:17-18

Who is "coming in glory?" Isaiah 40:5 Matthew 24:30

Biblical Claims of Jesus’ DivinityCharacteristic God Jesus Christ

Who is our Father? Isaiah 63:16 Isaiah 9:6

Who is the "first and last?" Isaiah 44:6 Revelation 1:17

Who is Rock of salvation? 2 Samuel 22:32 1 Corinthians 10:4

Who is Stone of stumbling? Isaiah 8:13-15 1 Peter 2:8

"One crying in the wilderness" came to prepare a way for whom?

Isaiah 40:3 Matthew 3:3

Who is eternal? Genesis 21:33 Micah 5:2

Who is the fountain of living waters? Jeremiah 17:13 John 4:10-14

Who resurrects the dead? Acts 26:8 John 6:40

Who gives rewards to man? Isaiah 40:10 Matthew 16:27

Who has all authority and power? 1 Chronicles 29:11 Matthew 28:18

Who gives power and authority to man?

Psalm 68:35 Luke 9:1

Who forgives sin? 2 Chronicles 7:14 Matthew 9:6

Biblical Claims of Jesus’ DivinityCharacteristic God Jesus Christ

Who sent the Holy Spirit? John 14:16 John 16:7

Who has the greatest name? Nehemiah 9:5 Philippians 2:9

Whom are we to worship? Exodus 34:14 Revelation 5:12-13

Who is the good Shepherd? Genesis 48:15 John 10:14

Who searches for the lost sheep of Israel?

Ezekiel 34:11 Matthew 15:24

Who is "Lord of Lords?" Deuteronomy 10:17 Revelation 17:14

To whom shall every knee bow? Isaiah 45:22-23 Philippians 2:10

Who is the righteous branch of David? Jeremiah 23:5-6 Jeremiah 33:15

Who alone is Holy? 1 Samuel 2:2 Acts 3:14

Whose blood cleanses us? Acts 20:28 1 John 1:7

The world was created for whom? Proverbs 16:4 Colossians 1:16

Who is above all? Nehemiah 9:6 Romans 9:5

Who is forever the same? Psalm 102:24-27 Hebrews 1:8-12

Biblical Claims of Jesus’ DivinityCharacteristic God Jesus Christ

Who is our light? Psalm 27:1 John 8:12

Who is the way or path? Psalms 16:11 John 14:6

Who is in charge of the angels? Psalms 103:20 2 Thessalonians 1:7

Who gives us rest? Exodus 33:14 Matthew 11:28

Who gives eternal life? Proverbs 19:23 John 3:36

We are the bride of whom? Isaiah 54:5 2 Corinthians 11:2

Who tests the heart and mind? Jeremiah 17:10 Revelation 2:23

Jesus is GodStatement Verse

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, "God with us."

Matthew 1:23

And fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!"

Luke 7:16

In the beginning was the Word...and the Word was God. John 1:1

No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

John 1:18

He [Jesus]... was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

John 5:18

I and the Father are one. John 10:30

The Jews answered Him [Jesus], "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God."

John 10:33

You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. John 13:13

Jesus is GodStatement Verse

Jesus said to him, "...He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, `Show us the Father?'"

John 14:9

And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.

John 17:5

Thomas answered and said to Him [Jesus], "My Lord and my God!"

John 20:28

"The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)

Acts 10:36

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him

Romans 10:12

…for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory

1 Corinthians 2:8

...the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4

...Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Philippians 2:6

Jesus is GodStatement Verse

...Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, Colossians 2:9

God was manifest in the flesh... 1 Timothy 3:16

...our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time-- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords;

1 Timothy 6:15

God...in these last days has spoken to us in His Son...And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature...

Hebrews 1:2-3

But of the Son He says, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever...

Hebrews 1:8

...the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;

Titus 2:13

Simon Peter ... by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

2 Peter 1:1

And on His robe and on His thigh He [Jesus] has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Revelation 19:16

Jesus’ Claims to Deity

Many say that Jesus Himself never claimed to be God

However, the gospels are filled with such claims – for those who understood the Old Testament

Jesus Accepted WorshipWho worshipped Jesus? ReferenceAngels Hebrews 1:6Disciples Matthew 14:33

Matthew 28:9Matthew 28:17Luke 24:52

Wise men Matthew 2:2Matthew 2:11

Leper Matthew 8:2Ruler Matthew 9:18Woman of Canaan Matthew 15:25Mother of Zebedee's children Matthew 20:20Blind man John 9:38

Jesus’ Claims to be the “Son of Man”

A clear reference to Daniel 7: "I kept looking in the night visions, And behold,

with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)

Jesus is the “Son of God”

"I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You… Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2:7, 12)

Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know! (Proverbs 30:4)

Jesus is the “Son of God”

This is the faithful Shepherd; Of ,thee it is said, "Kiss the Son," thou art the Prince of the Israelites, the Lord of the earth... the Son of the Most High, the Son of the holy God - -and the gracious Shekinah. (Zohar, Gen. f6l. 88, c. 348).

Know him as your God, who is the Son of God.(Sibylline Oracles, Lactantins p. 10 s.)

R. Huni in the name of R. Ide and R. Joshua said, that this man is the King Messiah of whom it is said, Psa. 2:7, "This day have I begotten thee."(Talmud Babylonian)

Jesus is the “Son of God”

Claimant Verses

Bible Mark 1:1, John 20:31, Romans 1:4, 2 Corinthians 1:19, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 4:13, Hebrews 4:14, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 5:5, 1 John 5:20

Disciples Matthew 16:15-17, John 1:49-50

Roman Centurion Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39

Jesus’ is the “Son of God”Claimant VersesAngels Luke 1:35Satan Matthew 4:3, 6, Luke

4:3, 9Demons Matthew 8:29, Mark

3:11, Luke 4:41John the Baptist John 1:34Martha John 11:27Saul (Paul) Acts 9:20Ethiopian Eunich Acts 8:37 Jesus Matthew 27:43, Luke

22:70, John 19:7

Son of God = God!

For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. (John 5:18)

Jesus Claims to be the Messiah (the Christ)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Jesus Claims to be the Messiah (the Christ)

"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:5-6)Word translated "LORD" is yhvh, the personal name of God

Jesus Claims Attributes of GodJesus’ Claim Verse

Came from heaven John 3:13, 8:23

Heaven is “my kingdom” Luke 22:30, John 18:36

Before Abraham John 8:58-59

Before the world began John 17:5

All authority... in heaven and on earth

Matthew 28:18, John 17:10

Supreme judge John 5:22

Separates the sheep from the goats

Matthew 25:31-33

Jesus Claims Attributes of GodJesus’ Claim Verse

Lord of the Sabbath Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, Luke 6:5

Could forgive sins Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:5

Return in glory Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7

Light and salvation John 8:12

The way to life John 14:6

Resurrection and the life John 5:21, 6:39-40, 6:54, 11:25-26

Jesus Claims Attributes of GodJesus’ Claim Verse

Good shepherd John 10:14, Matthew 15:24

Searches hearts and minds Revelation 2:23

Gives rest Matthew 11:28-29

Gives eternal life John 10:27-28

Rewards His followers Matthew 16:27

Fountain of living water John 4:10-14

Sent the Holy Spirit John 16:7

Jesus Claims Attributes of GodJesus’ Claim Verse

raised Himself from the dead

John 2:19, 10:17-18

Disciples would be unable to do anything significant without His power

John 15:5

baptize new followers in “the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 28:19-20

The Bible Does Suggest Jesus is God,

but Maybe it Was Changed to Say That?

The Bible Does Suggest Jesus is God,

but Maybe it Was Changed to Say That?

Was the New Testament Changed?

Many atheists claim that the scribes massively changed the New Testament over the centuries

Is this claim true?

Ancient Manuscript Evidence

Author WrittenEarliest

CopyTime Span # Mss.

Caesar 100-44 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,000 yrs 10

Plato 427-347 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,200 yrs 7

Thucydides 460-400 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 yrs 8

Tacitus 100 A.D. 1100 A.D. 1,000 yrs 20

Suetonius 75-160 A.D. 950 A.D. 800 yrs 8

Homer (Iliad) 900 B.C. 400 B.C. 500 yrs 643

New Testament 40-100 A.D. 125 A.D. 25-50 yrs 24,000

New Testament

Oldest NT manuscript dated to 125 ADVariants account for only 0.5% of the

text (compared to 5% for the Iliad)So, the manuscript evidence shows

that the New Testament remained unchanged from the 2nd century on

Therefore, the claims about Jesus’ deity were found in the original documents produced by the early Christian church

Early Church Leaders Clement (30-100 A.D.) wrote an epistle to the

Corinthian Church in 97 A.D. and quoted from Luke, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, Titus, 1 and 2 Peter, Hebrews, and James

Ignatius (30-107 A.D.) Polycarp (65-155 A.D.), and Papias (70-155 A.D.) cited verses from every New Testament book except 2 and 3 John

Justin Martyr (110-165 A.D.) cited verses from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, 2 Thessalonians, Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, and Revelation

Irenaeus (120-202 A.D.) wrote a five volume work Against Heresies, quoting

from every book of the New Testament but 3 John. from the New Testament books over 1,200 times.

Secular Sources

Pliny the Younger, governor of Pontus/Bithynia from 111-113 A.D. wrote (Letters 10.96-97) to Emperor Trajan: “They asserted, however, that the sum and

substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust...”

Archeology3rd Century church in Megiddo, Israel:

“Akeptous, the God-loving, offered this table for (the) god Jesus Christ, as a remembrance”

Other “Christian” Books

Atheists claim that some Christian books were excluded from the biblical canon at the Council of Nicaea

Should books, such as the “Gospel of Thomas” have been included in the canon of scripture?

The “Gospel” of Thomas Fails the test of Apostolic authority

Never quoted by early church fathers No support it was written by the apostle Thomas Written around 140 A.D.

Fails to conform to the rule of faith Contains 114 "secret sayings" of Jesus Contains pantheistic concepts Women are denied salvation unless they are somehow

changed into a man Fails the test of continuous usage and acceptance

Only two known manuscripts Thousands of manuscripts authenticate the Four Gospels

Conclusion

The New Testament, letters from early Christian Church leaders, secular writing, and archeology all show that Jesus was worshipped as God from the inception of the Christian Church.

The atheist claim that Jesus became a god only at the Council of Nicaea is a myth

More In-Depth Research Papers

Jesus Christ as God and the Trinity Was Not Invented Until the Fourth Century?

The Bible Has Been Changed Over the Centuries From the Original?

History of the Bible: How The Bible Came To Us

The Son is God Should We Worship Jesus? Jesus Christ Never Said He Was God? Early (3rd Century A.D.) Christian Church at

Megiddo, Israel

More Atheist Myths

GodAndScience.org