By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Max Shimba Ministries Org.

Introduction

Since the beginning of the world, there has never been anyone who lived as Jesus Christ did. Jesus is a unique figure in history, both the Savior and God incarnate—“Emmanuel” (cf. Isaiah 9:6). Contrary to the belief held by some, Jesus is not half God and half man; rather, He is fully God and fully man at the same time. In theological terms, Jesus possesses two distinct natures: the divine and the human, united in one person.

The Biblical Foundation for the Two Natures of Christ

Scripture explicitly declares that Jesus is “the Word,” who was with God and was God, and that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1, 14). This means that the single person of Jesus Christ simultaneously holds both the divine and human natures.

Importantly, Christ’s divine nature was not altered when the “Word” became flesh (John 1:1, 14). Instead, the Word assumed humanity (Colossians 2:9), meaning the divinity of Christ remained uncorrupted and unchanged. Jesus was not merely a man filled with God or a prophet performing God’s works; He is God in the flesh, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. The book of Hebrews tells us, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3, NIV).

Thus, these two natures of Jesus Christ cannot be mixed (refuting Eutychianism) nor can they be confused or merged into a single nature (refuting Monophysitism). The two natures—divine and human—are distinct and exist together in the one person of Jesus Christ. This union is referred to in theology as the Hypostatic Union.

A Comparative Table: The Two Natures of Christ

DIVINE NATURE	HUMAN NATURE
Jesus is worshipped (Matthew 2:2, 11; 14:33)	Jesus worships God the Father (John 17)
Jesus is called God (John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8)	Jesus is called Man (Mark 15:39; John 19:5)
Jesus is called Son of God (Mark 1:1)	Jesus is called Son of Man (John 9:35-37)
He is prayed to (Acts 7:59)	He prays to God the Father (John 17)
Jesus is sinless (1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15)	Jesus was tempted (Matthew 4:1)
Jesus knows all things (John 21:17)	Jesus grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52)
Jesus gives eternal life (John 10:28)	Jesus died (Romans 5:8)
All the fullness of Deity dwells in Him (Col. 2:9)	He had flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)

Further Evidence for the Two Natures of Jesus

The doctrine of the Hypostatic Union is further explained by the Latin term communicatio idiomatum (“communication of properties”), which teaches that both divine and human attributes are present in the one person of Jesus. This means, for instance, that the man Jesus could say He shared glory with the Father before the world existed (John 17:5), claim to have come down from heaven (John 3:13), and declare His omnipresence (Matthew 28:20). These are claims that only God could make, yet Jesus, as a man, made them because of His divine nature.

A major error among some non-Christian groups is a failure to grasp that Jesus possesses two natures. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses focus on His humanity and neglect His divinity, often using verses that emphasize Jesus’ human nature while dismissing those that affirm His divinity. Conversely, Christian Scientists emphasize His divinity at the expense of His true humanity.

To properly understand Jesus, all teachings concerning Him must address both His divinity and His humanity. For this reason, Luke 2:52 notes that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man,” highlighting His human development, while at the same time, John 21:17 demonstrates His divine omniscience.

Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:1, 14). The Scriptures, the apostles, the Father, the Holy Spirit, the works of Jesus, various groups of people, and Jesus Himself all testify to His unique identity as God and man:

Scriptures: John 5:39
Apostles: Acts 10:43
The Father: John 5:37; 8:18
The Holy Spirit: John 15:26
The Works of Jesus: John 5:36; 10:25
People: John 12:17
Jesus Himself: John 14:6; 18:6

Key Verses Affirming the Deity of Christ

John 10:30–33; 20:28
Colossians 2:9
Philippians 2:5–8
Hebrews 1:6–8
2 Peter 1:1

Paul affirms in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.” Even now, there is a man in heaven—our Mediator, Savior (Titus 2:13), and Lord (Romans 10:9–10)—His name is Jesus.

Conclusion

Truly, Jesus is God.

For further questions, please contact:
maxshimbaministries@gmail.com

References

The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV).
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013.
McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.
Horton, Michael. The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way. Zondervan, 2011.
Oden, Thomas C. The Word of Life: Systematic Theology, Volume 2. HarperOne, 1992.

Bibliography

Augustine, On the Trinity.
Athanasius, On the Incarnation.
Chalcedonian Creed (AD 451).
Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion.
Torrance, Thomas F. Incarnation: The Person and Life of Christ. IVP Academic, 2008.

Note

This translation and arrangement have been crafted to serve as both an apologetic and a teaching tool for students, ministers, and any interested in Christology. For further exploration, see the bibliography and the references provided.

Monday, July 7, 2025

THE TWO NATURES OF JESUS CHRIST: GOD AND MAN