IF JESUS WAS GOD, THEN TO WHOM WAS HE PRAYING?
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
(Originally written: August 17, 2015 – Revised and Arranged Academically and Scholarly)
Abstract
The question of Jesus’ divinity and His act of prayer to the Father has been a theological point of contention across various religious traditions. Critics—especially from Islamic scholarship and Jehovah’s Witnesses—often question how Jesus could be God while simultaneously praying to another being. This paper provides a systematic theological exposition to clarify the biblical and doctrinal understanding of Jesus’ dual nature as both fully God and fully man, and explains the theological significance of His prayers within the framework of the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son.
1. Introduction
The inquiry, “If Jesus was God, then whom was He praying to?” has perplexed many believers and critics alike. This question often arises in interfaith dialogues, particularly with Muslim scholars and Jehovah’s Witnesses, who argue that Jesus’ prayer life contradicts His divinity. For instance, they refer to Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46) as evidence that He could not be divine if He prayed to another.
However, such reasoning fails to consider the Christian theological understanding of the Incarnation—that Jesus Christ possessed two natures: divine and human. Therefore, this discussion must be approached with a sound grasp of the doctrine of the Hypostatic Union, where Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man.
2. The Eternal Relationship Between the Father and the Son
Before the Incarnation, the relationship between God the Father and God the Son was eternal. Scripture attests to this eternal coexistence (John 1:1–3; 17:5). Isaiah 9:6 prophetically declares:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given…”
The Son was not created; He was given—eternally existent within the Godhead. This Son, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forms the Trinity—one God in three coequal and coeternal Persons. The Trinity does not imply three gods, but one divine essence shared among three distinct Persons (Matthew 28:19; John 10:30).
Jesus affirmed this unity when He declared, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). This oneness denotes unity of essence, not identity of personhood. Thus, when Jesus prayed, He was not praying to Himself, but communicating within the eternal fellowship of the Godhead—a relational act between divine Persons, not a contradiction of divinity.
3. The Dual Nature of Christ: Divine and Human
The doctrine of the Hypostatic Union teaches that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man (John 1:14; Philippians 2:5–11). When the Word became flesh, He did not cease to be God; rather, He voluntarily set aside His heavenly glory to assume human nature. Paul explains this beautifully in Philippians 2:7–8:
“He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
As a man, Jesus experienced the full range of human limitations—hunger, fatigue, pain, and even the need for prayer. His prayers were the natural expression of His human dependence upon the Father. As God, He remained omnipotent; as man, He modeled perfect obedience and humility.
4. The Purpose and Meaning of Jesus’ Prayers
In His earthly ministry, Jesus frequently withdrew to pray (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12). His prayers were not signs of weakness or ignorance but manifestations of His humanity and obedience to the Father’s redemptive plan (Hebrews 5:8).
In John 17—the “High Priestly Prayer”—Jesus prays for the glorification of the Father and the sanctification of His disciples. This prayer reveals deep relational intimacy within the Trinity, not subordination in essence.
By praying, Jesus demonstrated:
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Dependence in Humanity – He relied on the Father’s will and strength as the perfect man.
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Submission in Obedience – He aligned His human will to the divine plan of salvation (Matthew 26:39).
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Exemplary Devotion – He provided a model of prayerful life for all believers, underscoring total reliance on God (John 11:41–42).
Thus, Jesus’ prayers affirm—not deny—His divine mission and perfect obedience as the incarnate Son.
5. Theological Implications of the Incarnation and Prayer
The act of Jesus praying does not diminish His divinity. Rather, it illuminates the mystery of the Incarnation, wherein God entered human experience without surrendering His divine nature. His prayer in Gethsemane, “Not My will, but Yours be done,” (Luke 22:42) epitomizes the alignment of His human will with divine will, not a conflict between two deities.
Through His prayers, Christ exemplified perfect communion between God and humanity, achieving the reconciliation of mankind through the cross (2 Corinthians 5:19). His resurrection validated His divine authority and fulfilled His redemptive purpose (Romans 1:4).
6. Conclusion
Therefore, there is no theological contradiction in Jesus, the Son of God, praying to the Father. Within the unity of the Trinity, communication and relationship exist eternally. As man, Jesus prayed to the Father for strength, wisdom, and guidance; as God, He revealed the perfect model of obedience and faithfulness.
Jesus’ dual nature allows us to understand His prayers not as evidence against His divinity, but as demonstrations of His redemptive mission and relational unity within the Godhead. Indeed, Jesus Christ is God—eternal, incarnate, crucified, and risen.
References
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The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV).
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Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1–14; John 10:30; John 17; Philippians 2:5–11; Hebrews 5:8; Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Romans 1:4; 2 Corinthians 5:19.
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Augustine, On the Trinity. Trans. Arthur West Haddan. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3.
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Athanasius, On the Incarnation. Trans. John Behr. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2011.
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Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Zondervan, 1994.
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Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. Baker Academic, 2013.
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Shimba, Maxwell. The Two Natures of Jesus Christ. Shimba Theological Institute Publications, 2015.
Author:
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Founder and President, Shimba Theological Institute
Orlando, Florida, USA
Contact: maxshimbaministries@gmail.com
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