Did Jesus really claim to be God? An answer from history for skeptics | with Mikel Del Rosario

Stephanie Rousselle hosts Dr. Mikel Del Rosario, professor at moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and expert in Christian apologetics. The conversation centers on how we can answer the question of whether Jesus clearly claimed to be God, especially when it is asked by skeptics or by Christians seeking a deeper, confident faith.

Correctly understanding Jesus as fully God and fully man is foundational to Christian faith—if he’s not divine, he can’t forgive sins or save. The resurrection, backed by historical evidence, cements the truth of his claims.

One common question is, “Why didn’t Jesus plainly say, ‘I am God’?” Mikel Del Rosario explains that Jesus’ audience was steeped in Jewish theology, where claiming to be God could easily be misunderstood as claiming to be God the Father or as a rival deity. Instead, Jesus reveals his identity incrementally—and profoundly—using language and concepts (like “Son of Man” and allusions to Daniel 7 and Psalm 110) his contemporaries would eventually understand.

A major stumbling block for many is the problem of evil—if God exists, why is there suffering? Mikel Del Rosario encourages compassionate, courageous responses, recognizing that both emotional and intellectual issues are at play. Importantly, he frames Christian hope as a guarantee rooted in the reality of Jesus’ resurrection—something unique to Christianity.

Some people genuinely don’t understand how God could allow evil, while others flatly reject God’s existence because of evil. Mikel Del Rosario explains the importance of discerning which type of questioner you are engaging. For seekers, gently showing how Christianity makes sense of evil is key; for rejectors, it’s valuable to ask how they reached their conclusions and what evidence supports their claim.

Anyone making a truth claim—atheist or Christian—shares the burden of proof. For example, if someone claims “Jesus never said he was God,” it’s appropriate (and helpful!) to clarify what they mean and what specific evidence or misunderstandings might be at play.

In Mark 2, Jesus forgives a paralyzed man’s sins. This act isn’t just compassion—it’s a claim to divine authority. No Jewish priest, prophet, or miracle worker ever forgave sins as Jesus did. The religious leaders recognize this as a claim only God can rightly make.

In Mark 14, before the high priest, Jesus refers to himself as the “Son of Man” seated at the right hand of God and coming on the clouds—directly combining messianic and divine imagery from Jewish scriptures. This is why the blasphemy charge is leveled, leading to his crucifixion.

Whether engaging skeptics, seekers, or fellow believers, Mikel Del Rosario urges us to listen first—distinguishing between theological, historical, or literary misunderstandings. Rather than just insisting, “The Bible says so,” we should explain how Jesus’ words and deeds in context are unique and credible claims to divinity.

Honest questioning, careful listening, and deep understanding of historical and cultural context equip us to both strengthen our faith and share it wisely with others. Jesus’ claims are profound and unique—and the hope he offers is certain, not wishful thinking. Jesus is fully God and fully man. He died for our sins, and rose again. This is the central truth of our faith, and it is solidly established through historical research.

MORE ABOUT DR. MIKEL DEL ROSARIO

Dr. Mikel Del Rosario helps Christians find clear answers to tough questions about Christianity and explain their faith with courage and compassion. He is a Professor of Bible and Theology at Moody Bible Institute and the author of Did Jesus Really Say He Was God? Making Sense of His Historical Claims. (IVP Academic).

Previously, he taught Apologetics and Religion at Jessup University and Digital Media at Dallas Seminary. He has published 31 journal articles on apologetics and cultural engagement in Bibliotheca Sacra.

He holds an M.A. in Apologetics from Biola University, a Master of Theology (Th.M) and a Ph.D in New Testament from Dallas Theological Seminary where he served as Cultural Engagement Manager, producing and hosting The Table podcast. He has also ministered in the Philippines as a missionary professor with Converge Worldwide and a youth pastor in California. Follow him at ApologeticsGuy.com, the Apologetics Guy YouTube channel, and his podcast, The Apologetics Guy Show.

More at https://apologeticsguy.com/ 

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK, “DID JESUS REALLY CLAIM HE WAS GOD?”

How to Make Sense of Jesus' Divine Claims

Do you ever wonder if Jesus really claimed to be God? Maybe you've heard people say, "Jesus never said he was God," or you've been asked, "Why believe Jesus is divine if he never claimed it?" These challenges aren't just from non-Christians―they show up in church, too. Even if you're not coming from a place of skepticism, you might still question how well church teachings about Jesus match up with what he actually said. So, did the historical Jesus really claim to be divine?

This book is here to give you confidence in the historicity of Jesus' claim to divinity. It's designed to help you explain your faith in a world that increasingly doubts the Bible's portrayal of Jesus. Instead of focusing on what Jesus' followers believed, this book takes a different approach―it looks at what Jesus' enemies thought. How did they interpret his words and actions? Their perspective can help you understand the historical validity of Jesus' divine claim.

In this book, biblical scholar Mikel Del Rosario

uses historiography to examine claims about Jesus' divinity,

analyzes ancient Greco-Roman, Jewish, and biblical sources to understand how Jesus' words and actions were interpreted by his adversaries and followers, and

argues that Jesus claimed divine authority, a claim supported by strong historical evidence.

If you're a Christian, this book will equip you to defend your faith against theories that suggest Jesus only claimed human authority, not divine. If you're someone who sees Christianity differently, this book offers a serious investigation into the claims of the historical Jesus, providing evidence that any theory of his identity must address. Whether you're searching for answers to your own questions or trying to share about Jesus with others, this book will help you communicate Jesus' divine claim with clarity and confidence.

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

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