Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus [Paperback]

Murray J. Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1998

A technical study of sixteen biblical passages demonstrating that the New Testament clearly refers to Jesus as God.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801021952
• ISBN-13: 978-0801021954
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,950,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Murray J. Harris is professor of New Testament exegesis and theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CLASSIC TREATMENT OF THE SUBJECT, December 9, 1999

By 

Terry B. Cullom (Memphis, Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus (Paperback)

Murray Harris has produced a classic, scholarly, objective treatment of this topic. He provides a wealth of information, but primarily focuses on the 16 verses which could seriously be considered to refer to Jesus as God; with a thorough examination of the 9 main verses, examining each in terms of the 1) context, 2) syntax, 3) punctuation, and 4) possible variant reading(s).

Three excellent features, among so many others, include: 1) In many cases, he cites numerous authors of various alternative positions, and offers their arguments and their resulting "translations" of the passage. 2) The book is full of statistical studies (e.g., how many times the articular and anartharus use of theos is used by various biblical authors). 3) He frequently reveals the "characteristic manner" in which a particular biblical author refers to Jesus and God.

Though Harris is extremely fair and objective, I did find his treatment deficient in two basic respects: 1) He concludes that the use of theos to refer to Jesus proves his deity, since it is a term that is primarily ontological in character, and, therefore, is an explicit and unequivocal affirmation that he is God. Yet, Harris has already shown that theos was used, even by the Jews and/or biblical writers themselves, to refer to other humans, angels, exalted patriarchs, etc.! Since the term, when used of these others, never meant they were God, the equivocation of Jesus with God needs demonstration. 2) At one point, Harris frankly acknowledges several texts that seem to drive an ontological wedge between Jesus and God (e.g., those which distinguish Jesus from the one who is God and Father). It should be pointed out, however, that Harris is generally far more careful in his arguments, and the conclusions he draws, than many scholars. This book is a gold mine, and will be a definite classic in its field.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jesus as God, December 8, 2006

By 

D. Ingolfsland - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus (Paperback)

Murray Harris took his Ph.D. from the University of Manchester and was professor emeritus of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His book Jesus as God was possibly one of the most comprehensive, in-depth and scholarly treatment of the New Testament passages attributing deity to Jesus in print.

There are a total of sixteen passages in the New Testament have been interpreted at one time or other to attribute deity to Jesus Christ. Harris examined each one in detail. Textual, linguistic, grammatical, contextual, historical, and theological issues were all taken into consideration. Various translations and conjectural emendations were discussed. Even the Hebrew text and Greek Septuagint were analyzed for those passages which alluded to or quoted from the Old Testament. Pro's and con's were listed for each view and Harris? conclusions were given in degrees of probability.

Harris' conclusions were that it is certain that John 1:1 and John 20:28 applied the title God to Jesus Christ. Harris believed that it was very probable that Romans 9:5, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8 and 2 Peter 1:1 applied the title God to Jesus and that it was probable that that John 1:18 did as well. Harris believed that it was possible, but not likely that that Acts 20:28, Hebrews 1:9 and 1 John 5:20 called Jesus God. Harris concluded that it was not at all likely that Matthew 1:23, John 17:3, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 2:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:12 and 1 Timothy 3:16 applied the title God to Jesus (Harris, 1992 171)

Jesus as God scholarly, well written, and very through in its analysis.

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, fair presentatioin of the evidence, May 10, 2009

By 

Jeri Nevermind "loves to read" (Idaho) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus (Paperback)

This is a book aimed at scholars--don't expect any translations of the Greek.

Harris points out that "To those Jews..of the first century AD who became the first converts to Christianity" there could have been few more connotative words than that for God.

The Synoptics rarely refer to Jesus as God (although "The Preexistent Son" recently argues strongly for many references, and Larry Hurtado's many books on the subject of Paul argue for Paul's speaking of Christ as God), with such obvious exceptions as Matthew's baptism reference. Harris cites Paul in Corinthians 13:13 as "the classic instance" (p 45).

Harris consistently gives all the arguments around the issues, and presents the evidence with great clarity.