Are God and Jesus the Same Person? Let’s Break It Down

This question confuses a lot of people, so let me break it down for you. If you would like to learn more about this, you can do so at GotQuestions.org. But let’s get started.

Is Jesus Really God?

If you ask, “Is Jesus even literally God?” or “Is Jesus God in flesh?” then the answer is yes. Jesus is God, so He has everything God has. The Bible teaches that Jesus is God in the flesh—God incarnate. Jesus is, therefore, greater than a prophet or theologian; He is God.

The Complexity of the Trinity

But now you ask me, “Is Jesus the Father of the same person?” Speaking in Christian theology, Jesus is a person of the Trinity, different from the Father. The Trinity is a key doctrine of most Christian denominations, which states how God operates as three consubstantial individuals: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.

These three individuals are of one divine essence in personhood. That is to say, Jesus is God in the sense that He is divine, but He’s not the same person as God the Father or as God the Holy Spirit. They are separate but in total unity with each other as God.

Modalism vs. Trinitarianism Explained

There are various beliefs about the nature of God. Modalism, for example, suggests that God does not exist as three separate persons but rather manifests Himself in different ways—sometimes as the Father, other times as the Son, and still other times as the Holy Spirit. To the question, “Are Jesus and the Father the same person?” Modalists would answer with a “yes.”

Trinitarians, however, answer “no.” They say that, while Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are each fully God in their own being, they are distinct persons within the one Godhead.

Scriptural Evidence of the Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity is supported in many references from the Bible. For example, in the New Testament, God the Father is often referred to simply as ‘God,’ which can cause confusion for many. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is said to be with God (the Father) while still being fully God, reinforcing the understanding of unity and distinction within the persons of the Trinity.