Was God fully human?

The concept that God was fully human is a difficult one for mere mortals to grasp. Even the phrase “God incarnate” does not give the full impact. According to Dictionary.com the word incarnate means “embodied in flesh; given a bodily, especially a human, form”. The idea of “God fully human” definitely takes embodiment a few steps further.

How Scripture answers "Was God fully human?"

Scripture is clear that God was fully human^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13}. Specifically, Jesus Christ – God’s Son – was born naturally^1,11,13 in the flesh^3,4,6,8,12 and exhibited fully human characteristics like hunger^2,5, temptation¹⁰, and death⁹. God became a man^7,11 and many others testified to his humanity^3,4,8.

Answer built on scripture-blocks below

4

1 John 1:1-3

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

What does it say?

The word of life was from the beginning, what we heard, what we saw with our own eyes, what we comprehended and touched with our hands – that life was revealed to us. We saw it, testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life that the Father revealed to us. It’s what we have seen and heard and proclaim to you in order that you may have fellowship with us – a fellowship that includes the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

What is the context?

The Apostle John’s opening in a letter written to Christians encouraging them to love each other (as God loves) and resist false teaching. His instruction appears to be to individual Christians (not a particular church).

How does it apply here?

The apostle John testified to witnessing the humanity of God’s Son Jesus Christ.

11

Philippians 2:5-7

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

What does it say?

Be of the same mind as Christ Jesus, in that He was in all things God but became a slave by emptying Himself and being born as a man.

What is the context?

Paul is transitioning into a long closing in an otherwise short letter to the church in Philippi. He has expressed his deep fondness for them (1:6-7) and encourages them throughout to have the “mind of Christ.” His encouragement here is to remain strong in their “partnership in the gospel” (1:5) so they continue to “shine as light in the world” (vs 15).

How does it apply here?

Jesus “emptied himself” as was born as a man.

12

Colossians 2:9-10

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

What does it say?

In Him [Christ] the fullness of diety dwells in bodily form, as you have been filled in Him, who is over all rule and authority.

What is the context?

Paul is writing the church in Colossae to encourage them and resist the false teaching, specifically “philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition” or anything that is not according to Christ (vs 8). He continues by specifically calling out the Mosaic Law (“a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees”) – the law that Christ replaced. Under the same theme of not falling away, he tells them not to allow others to judge them against things pertaining to the Mosaic Law such as food, drink, feasts, Sabbath days (vs 16). In Christ, they are not obligated to observe those things.

How does it apply here?

Deity dwelt bodily.

end of scripture-blocks; go back to the answer

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the Bible Study Framework and the scripture-blocks that build answers from scripture
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our mission and the Bible study standard that we follow
our top four obstacles to letting scripture interpret scripture

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