The New Testament speaks of Christ as a man: the Word became flesh, He shared in flesh and blood, and He is called the man Christ Jesus. It also says that the Word was God, Thomas addresses Jesus as “My Lord and my God!”, and Paul writes of the fullness of Deity dwelling bodily in Christ. The Son is nevertheless distinct from the Father. The formulations of two natures and one Person are a theological conclusion drawn from these texts, not the words of Scripture.
What the Bible says about this
- Humanity. The Word became flesh (John 1:14); Christ shared in flesh and blood as the children did and was made like His brothers in every way (Heb. 2:14–17); the man Christ Jesus is called the mediator between God and people (1 Tim. 2:5).
- Divine status. John writes that the Word was with God and that the Word was God (John 1:1). Thomas says to the risen Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Paul writes of the fullness of Deity dwelling bodily in Christ (Col. 2:9).
- Paul writes about Christ, who was in the form of God and did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming like human beings (Phil. 2:6–8).
- The distinction between the Son and the Father. The Word was with God (John 1:1); Christ is called the mediator between God and people (1 Tim. 2:5); Jesus tells His disciples that the Father is greater than He is (John 14:28)—this verse shows the distinction between the Son and the Father, but by itself does not settle the question of their nature.
- Conclusion: taken together, these texts provide the basis for the theological conclusion that Christ is both divine and human. The formulations “two natures” and “one Person” do not appear in Scripture itself. Interpretations differ on how to understand statements about the Son’s subordination, such as John 14:28.
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
8 Bible Verses · Father’s Blessing Bible
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 20:28
Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Colossians 2:9
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,
Philippians 2:6–8
6 Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God; 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men and appearing as a man; 8 He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.
Hebrews 2:14–17
14 Since the children share in flesh and blood, He likewise shared in their [sufferings], so that through death He might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels He helps, but the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest before God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
John 14:28
You heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ because My Father is greater than I.
