By Derrick Danso

1. “Where did Jesus say, ‘I am God, worship Me’?”
Response:
Jesus never said the exact English phrase “I am God, worship Me,” but He clearly claimed divinity in a first-century Jewish context where such claims were unmistakable and considered blasphemy unless they were true.

In John 8:58, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”
– He used God’s divine name from Exodus 3:14 (YHWH = “I AM”).
– The Jews understood it and picked up stones to kill Him (v59) for blasphemy.
In John 20:28, Thomas called Him, “My Lord and my God!”
– Jesus did not correct Thomas—instead, He blessed the statement.
In Revelation 1:17, Jesus says, “I am the First and the Last,”
– This is a divine title used for YHWH in Isaiah 44:6.
Jesus received worship multiple times (Matthew 14:33, John 9:38)
– And He never refused it, unlike angels (Revelation 22:8–9).

Jesus didn’t speak in 21st-century English. He claimed the Divine name, accepted Divine titles, and received Divine worship—all clear claims of Deity in His cultural-religious context.
Counter-Questions for Muslims:
Where does Jesus say in the Bible, “I am not God, do not worship Me” in those exact words?
– If Jesus must say “I am God” verbatim to be divine, then show the verse where He says explicitly that He is not God.
Where does the Qur’an say, “I am the Messiah” or “I am the Word of Allah” in those exact Arabic words?
– Muslims accept Jesus as al-Masih and Kalimatullah without requiring verbatim self-declarations from Jesus.
Where is the word “Tawhid” in the Qur’an?
– If a doctrine must have the exact word in the text to be valid, then Tawhid (absolute oneness) fails the same test—it never appears in the Qur’an.
Conclusion: The demand for “exact words” is inconsistent. Jesus’ claims, actions, and reception of worship speak louder than a modern catchphrase. The evidence for His deity is clear to those who don’t approach the text with presupposed denial.

2. John 14:28 – “The Father is greater than I.”
Response:
Greater in role, not nature. Jesus, in His humanity, voluntarily submitted to the Father (Philippians 2:6–8).
“Greater” refers to position, not nature.
Post-resurrection, Jesus shares equal glory again (John 17:5).

3. Mark 12:29 – “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is One” (Shema).
Response:
The Hebrew word echad (one) implies compound unity (e.g., Genesis 2:24). The Trinity fits the Shema.
The Bible reveals that God (bears one nature), but consists of three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-Matt 28:19; Isaiah 48:16).

4. John 5:30 – “I can of myself do nothing.”
Response:
Jesus speaks from His incarnate role—voluntary submission.
He acts in perfect unity with the Father (John 5:19, John 10:30).
Not inability, but obedience in mission.
Each member of the Godhead can do nothing on their own. God the Father couldn’t have created the world without the Son and the Holy Spirit (John 1:3; Psalm 104:30)

5. Acts 2:22 – “A man approved by God”
Response:
Jesus is both fully man and fully God (John 1:14, Colossians 2:9).
The same chapter (Acts 2:36) calls Him “Lord and Christ.”
His miracles, resurrection, and exaltation affirm His deity.

6. Luke 18:18–19 – “Why do you call me good?”
Response:
Jesus challenges the man’s understanding: “If only God is good, are you calling Me God?” He is not denying His goodness or divinity. The implication is that, if you are calling me good, it means I am God.
He called himself “good” elsewhere (John 10:11,14).

7. Isaiah 43:10–11 – “No God before or after Me.”
Response:
Isaiah 43 speaks of false gods, not of God’s internal nature.
Christians affirm one God—Jesus is not a separate deity, but one of the three Persons of the one YHWH.
In Isaiah 48:16, the “Speaker” (who is identified as the First and Last in vs 12) is sent by the Lord God and His Spirit—hinting at plurality within the Godhead.

8. John 20:17 – “My God and your God.”
Response:
As man, Jesus relates to the Father as His God. But in the same chapter, Thomas calls Him “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Each member of the Godhead refers to one another as God. (Hebrews 1:8-9)

9. “Son of Man” = Jesus is just human.
Response:
Wrong. In Daniel 7:13–14, “Son of Man” is a divine figure who receives eternal worship. Jesus claimed that title (Mark 14:61–62).

10. “Son of God” is just a title for righteous people.
Response:
“Son of God” in Christ’s case means unique sonship (Jn 1:18; John 3:16 – monogenēs).
Jewish leaders wanted to kill Him because He claimed God was His Father, “making Himself equal with God” (John 5:18).

11. Matthew 24:36 – “Only the Father knows the hour.”
Response:
In Matthew 24:36, Jesus says, “No one knows the day or the hour—not even the Son, but only the Father.”
This is not a denial of divinity, but a reflection of His role and submission during the incarnation (Philippians 2:6–7).

Jesus uses the language of a Jewish wedding:
– In ancient Jewish culture, only the Father of the groom knew the exact time the wedding would begin.
– The Son (groom) waited for the Father’s permission to go fetch the bride.

By using this analogy, Jesus isn’t denying divinity—He’s showing that His return is like a wedding, and the Father sets the time, even though He (as God the Son) shares in that divine knowledge outside His incarnational role.

So this verse does not mean Jesus is ignorant—it shows the beauty of His humility during His earthly mission.

12. Jesus prayed to God — how can He be God?
Response:
As fully human, Jesus prayed to the Father. In the Trinity, the Son communicates with the Father. That’s not a contradiction—it’s relationship.

13. Ecclesiastes 7:20 – “No one righteous.”
Response:
This verse speaks generally of mankind under sin.
Jesus is the exception: Hebrews 4:15 – “without sin,” 1 Peter 2:22 – “committed no sin.”
Even Pilate, Judas, and the centurion declared Jesus innocent.

14. Jesus was tempted—God can’t be tempted (James 1:13).
Response:
Jesus was tempted in His humanity, not His divine nature. He remained sinless (Hebrews 4:15).

15. Jesus died—God can’t die.
Response:
Jesus was fully human (John 1:14; Phil 2:6-9)
Jesus’ body died, not His divine nature. He laid down His life voluntarily and took it back (John 10:17–18).

16. Colossians 1:15 – “Firstborn over all creation” = created.
Response:
“Firstborn” (Greek: prototokos) refers to preeminence, not chronology (Colossians 1:15–18).
Israel is called “firstborn” (Exodus 4:22), yet wasn’t literally born first.

17. “Begotten” means created.
Response:
“Begotten” = unique relationship, not physical act.
The Greek monogenēs means “one of a kind.”
Early Christians affirmed eternal generation, not physical begetting.

18. Ezekiel 18:20 – “No one dies for another’s sin.”
Response:
Ezekiel 18 opposes generational guilt, not substitution.
Isaiah 53 prophesies a righteous servant bearing the sins of others.
Jesus voluntarily gave Himself (John 10:17–18, Hebrews 9:26).

19. John 17:3 – “Only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent.”
Response:
Jesus is distinguishing roles, not essence. In v5, He says He shared glory with the Father before the world existed.

20. “Can 1+1+1 = 1?” (Trinity is illogical)
Response:
This is a category error. God is not parts, like a math equation.
The Trinity is 1 What (essence), 3 Whos (Persons).
It’s one in plurality—not a contradiction.