The world has diverse religions, each of which have unique set of belief and practices that serve as trademarks and identities. Religions branched out into many other religions and further to religious sects for one reason: difference in opinions. Like political beliefs, customs and traditions, religious belief separate human beings in little and great means. One questions the other, debate on many issues and in the old times, have caused wars between nations. Christianity, a religion which faith is centered in Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth, is never an exemption to religious attacks.
Christianity fosters the belief that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed omniscient, all-knowing being. This paper aims to establish the truth about the deity of Jesus of Nazareth and to prove His omniscience. WHAT THE HOLY BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE OMNISCIENCE OF JESUS For the purpose of this paper, the King James Version of the Holy Bible is being used in presenting the verses that prove the omniscience of Jesus Christ. The Bible itself establishes the omniscience of Jesus of Nazareth not only by presenting the events in his life on earth that display power and abilities beyond the capacity of mere human beings.
The Holy Bible on its own established the deity of Jesus and his being one of the Three Elements in the Holy Trinity and therefore proving his capacity to be all-knowing. It is therefore important that we first have an understanding of the Nature of Jesus of Nazareth: the human nature and the Divine nature. In John 4:6, Jesus got tired and in Matthew 4:2 Jesus experienced hunger, both of which displayed his human nature. “The fact is that the Gospels have plenty of evidence of Jesus’ humanity. ” (D. Wallace) He felt pain and sorrow (Mark 14:34), he wept (John 11:35) and he even died (Luke 23:46).
AS to his Divine nature, Colossians 2:9 has something to say: “for in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. ” Jesus’ resurrection (Luke 24:7) also proved of his deity including the event that he had made Lazarus rose from the dead (John 11:43). THE KNOWLEDGE AND INTELLECT OF JESUS OF NAZARETH In order to establish the omniscience of Christ, it is important that we look into the nature of his intellect and knowledge. Jesus had displayed both his human intellect and his divine intellect.
There are passages in the Bible that speak of Jesus’ knowledge that seems to be extraordinary for humans but do not prove of his omniscience. For example, in Mark 2:8 it says, “and immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves…” In such event, one can deduce that even ordinary persons in that situation will have the idea that the religious leaders, known to be against Jesus that they mutter among themselves by mere observation. This therefore does not prove of his omniscience.
John 13:1 and Matthew 12:26 including that of Mark 8:17 are proofs that Jesus’ knowledge in these instances is that of his human intellect. B. THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS IN HIS DIVINE INTELLECT By looking at Jesus’ knowledge of things that will still happen and those that seem to be impossible for human mind to comprehend, we will be able to realize that Jesus is indeed omniscient. In Matthew 17:27, Jesus knew that the first fish that Peter will catch will have a piece of money in its mouth that they could use to pay the temple tax. In John 1:47, Jesus knew that Nathanael is a man “in whom there is no guile!
” Jesus also knew that the Samaritan woman whom he met at the well in Samaria has no husband (John 4: 17-18). Jesus also knew that it will be Judas Iscariot who is going to betray him and that he also knew that Peter will deny him thrice (Mark 14: 30). The Gospels alone have more than enough to prove that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed omniscient. His knowledge of things that are beyond the capacity of man to have are evidences of his capacity to all things. While these things are proven true, there still exists a question as to why Jesus did not know when will be his return if he be omniscient.
Matthew 24:36 says, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven but my father only. ” This verse has been a century of debate among leaders of religious groups and has raised controversy as to the omniscience of Jesus. Even theologians have split stands on this issue. It is therefore important to look back at the nature two natures of Jesus: his human and divine nature. With this, we can say that if Jesus does not know the time of his return, it does not mean that it contradicts his omniscience, which is attributed to his divine nature.
“An honest profession of the divinity of Christ necessitates the admission of omniscience in his Divine intellect. ” (The Catholic Encyclopedia) In Mark 13:32, (which is written in the same context as that of Matthew 24:36) “it is acceptable to God to choose not to know something. ” (K. Udd) It is therefore safe to conclude that Jesus, in the time of his return have chosen not to know anything.
WORKS CITED
Udd, Kris. “Only the Father Knows: A Response to Harold F. Carl. ” Journal of Biblical Studies. Retrieved on April 09, 2007 from https://bible.org/article/when-did-jesus-know-translation-aorist-and-perfect-participles-verbs-perception-gospels