[all biblical citations from RSV]
[initial research from 1982 (using KJV); slightly revised in 1997; revised and reformatted for RSV edition in 2012; separated from the larger article, Jesus is God: Hundreds of Biblical Proofs (RSV edition) on 26 November 2024]
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Every time the New Testament refers to Jesus as Christ, it is declaring that He is the Messiah, since Christ is the Greek for the Hebrew Messiah. The latter word appears twice in the New Testament in the RSV, and in both cases, it is shown that Christ is the equivalent term:
John 1:41 He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
John 4:25-26 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things.” [26] Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Other verses provide further evidence:
Matthew 16:16-17, 20 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”… [20] Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (cf. Mk 8:27-30; 9:41; Lk 4:41; 9:18-21)
Mark 14:61-62 But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” [62] And Jesus said, “I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (cf. Mt 26:63-65; Lk 22:67-71; 24:25-27)
See also Mt 1:16-18; 5:17; 11:2, 10; 21:42; 24:5, 23-24; 26:56, 68; 27:17, 22; Mk 3:11; 5:7; 13:21-22, 26; Lk 1:31-33; 2:11, 26; 4:20-21; 22:37; 23:2, 35, 39; 24:44; Jn 5:39-40, 46-47; 15:25.
Son of Man When Jesus calls Himself “the Son of Man” (e.g., Mt 10:23, 32-33; 19:28; 23:37 ff.; 24:47; Mk 2:19-20; 3:28-29; 8:31, 38; 9:9, 31; 10:33, 38; 14:21, 41; Lk 11:30; 12:8, 49-50; 17:24; 18:6, 8; 21:36; 22:27, 48), He is claiming to be the Messiah, since He is referring (especially in Mk 13:26; 14:62; Jn 5:27; cf. Rev 1:13; 14:14) to a well-known messianic passage:
Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. [14] And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
In Mark 14:61-62, Jesus assumes that the Christ (Messiah) and the Son of Man are one and the same (Himself). Matthew 16:16-17 establishes the fact that the Messiah and “the Son of God” are identical as well. The latter term is used of Jesus 43 times in the New Testament, in RSV.
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The apostles often appeal to messianic promises and fulfilled prophecies as evidence of the Messiahship and Divinity of Jesus Christ (e.g., Mt 2:4-6; Rom 1:2-4; Acts 3:18; 10:43; 13:29; 17:2-3; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Pet 2:5-6). Here is a summary of such messianic prophecies:
1) Born of a Virgin: Is 7:14 and Mt 1:18, 24-25; Lk 1:26-35.
2) From the Tribe of Judah: Gen 49:10; Mic 5:2 and Mt 1:2; Lk 3:23, 33.
3) From the Family Line of Jesse: Is 11:1, 10 and Mt 1:6; Lk 3:23, 32.
4) From the House of David: Ps 132:11; Jer 23:5 and Mt 1:1; Lk 3:23, 31.
5) Born in Bethlehem: Mic 5:2 and Mt 2:1, 4-8; Lk 2:4-7.
6) Called Son of God: Ps 2:7 and Mt 3:17.
7) Called Lord: Ps 110:1; Jer 23:6 and Mt 22:43-45; Lk 2:11.
8) Called Immanuel (God With Us): Is 7:14 and Mt 1:23.
9) A Prophet: Deut 18:18 and Mt 21:11; Lk 7:16; Jn 7:40.
10) Judge: Is 33:22 and Jn 5:30.
11) King: Ps 2:6 and Mt 21:5; Jn 18:36-37.
12) Special Anointing of the Spirit: Is 11:2 and Mt 3:16-17.
13) Preceded by a Messenger: Is 40:3; Mal 3:1 and Mt 3:1-3; 11:10; Lk 1:17; Jn 1:23.
14) Galilee Ministry: Is 9:1 and Mt 4:12-13, 17.
15) Ministry of Miracles: Is 32:3-4; 35:5-6 and Mt 9:32-35.
16) Teacher of Parables: Ps 78:2 and Mt 13:34.
17) Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem: Zech 9:9 and Mt 21:5-10, 15-16.
18) Messiah to Come Before Jerusalem’s Destruction (70 A.D.): Gen 49:10 and Mt 24:1-2.
19) Messiah Will Come to the Temple (Had to be Before 70): Ps 118:26; Dan 9:26; Hag 2:7-9; Zech 11:13; Mal 3:1 and Mt 21:12; Jn 2:13-17.
20) Entered Jerusalem on a Donkey: Zech 9:9 and Lk 19:35-37.
21) “Stone of Stumbling”: Ps 118:22; Is 8:13-14; 28:16 and Acts 4:10-11; Rom 9:32-33; 1 Pet 2:7-8.
22) Rejected by His Own People: Is 53:3 and Jn 1:11; 7:5, 48.
23) Hated Without a Cause: Ps 69:4; Is 49:7 and Jn 15:25.
24) Resurrection: Ps 16:10; 30:3; 41:10; 118:17; Hos 6:2 and Acts 2:31; 13:33; Mt 28:6; Mk 16:6; Lk 24:46.
25) Ascension: Ps 68:18 and Acts 1:9.
26) Right Hand of God: Ps 110:1 and Heb 1:3; Acts 2:34-35.
The following 24 prophecies were literally fulfilled by Jesus in one 24-hour period of time:
27) Betrayed by a Friend: Ps 41:9; 55:12-14 and Mt 10:4.
28) Betrayed For 30 Pieces of Silver: Zec 11:12 and Mt 26:15.
29) Silver Thrown in God’s House: Zech 11:13 and Mt 27:5.
30) The Potter’s Field: Zech 11:13 and Mt 27:7.
31) Forsaken by Disciples: Zech 13:7 and Mt 26:31; Mk 14:50.
32) Silent Before Accusers: Is 53:7 and Mt 27:12.
33) Wounded and Bruised: Is 53:5; Zech 13:6 and Mt 27:26.
34) Beaten: Is 50:6; Mic 5:1 and Mt 26:67; Lk 22:63.
35) Spit Upon: Is 50:6 and Mt 26:67.
36) Mocked: Ps 22:7-8 and Mt 27:31.
37) Hands and Feet Pierced: Ps 22:16; Zec 12:10 and Lk 23:33.
38) Messiah Was to Die: Is 53:8; Dan 9:26 and Lk 23:46; 24:7; Jn 19:30.
39) Executed With Criminals: Is 53:12 and Mt 27:38.
40) Prayed For His Persecutors: Is 53:12 and Lk 23:34.
41) People Wagging Their Heads: Ps 22:7 and Mt 27:39.
42) Stared Upon: Ps 22:17 and Lk 23:35.
43) Garments Parted: Ps 22:18 and Jn 19:23.
44) Garments Gambled For: Ps 22:18 and Jn 19:24.
45) Offered Vinegar and Gall: Ps 69:21 and Mt 27:34; Jn 19:29.
46) Forsaken Cry: Ps 22:1 and Mt 27:46.
47) Bones Not Broken: Ps 34:20 and Jn 19:33.
48) Side Pierced: Zech 12:10 and Jn 19:34.
49) Darkness at Noon: Amos 8:9 and Mt 27:45.
50) Buried in Rich Man’s Tomb: Is 53:9 and Mt 27:57-60.
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Photo credit: Christ, by Rembrandt (1606-1669) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]
Summary: I collect 50 of the most well-known Old Testament messianic prophecies, all fulfilled by Jesus, Who was both the Messiah, and God incarnate: the 2nd Person of the Holy Trinity.
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