Introduction: The Misconception of Jesus as a Demi-God
Throughout history, various interpretations of Jesus' identity have emerged, some of which misunderstand His divine nature. One such misconception is the claim that Jesus was a demi-God—a being who is literally the biological offspring of Yahweh and Mary. This view, often influenced by Greco-Roman mythology, distorts the theological framework of Christian doctrine and contradicts biblical scholarship. Additionally, echoes of ancient heresies continue to shape modern religious perspectives on Jesus, particularly among Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Furthermore, some scholars, such as Michael Heiser, argue that Genesis 6:1-4 presents a unique case where divine beings interacted with humans, producing the Nephilim. While this passage does describe supernatural beings engaging with humanity, it is distinct from the Greco-Roman demi-God concept. Jewish theology typically rejects divine-human hybridization, but Genesis 6 reflects an Ancient Near Eastern worldview where rebellious divine beings corrupted creation, distinct from pagan myths of heroic demi-Gods.
Similarly, misunderstandings about Jesus' death often lead skeptics to incorrectly claim that God killed "His Son" in an act of divine child sacrifice. Instead, Christian theology teaches that God Himself, in the person of Jesus, took on flesh and bore the punishment for sin.
Religious Groups That Hold This View
Certain sects and religious movements have propagated the idea that Jesus was a demi-God. Some fringe Christian groups, influenced by Gnostic traditions, have suggested that Jesus was a hybrid being—part divine and part human. Additionally, some skeptics argue that early Christian theology borrowed from pagan myths, equating Jesus with figures like Hercules or Perseus, who were believed to be the offspring of gods and mortals.
While mainstream Christianity affirms the doctrine of the Incarnation, some groups such as Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses hold views that reflect ancient Christological heresies.
Mormonism and the Influence of Arianism
Mormonism teaches that Jesus is the literal spirit son of God the Father, distinct from Him in being, and was created before coming to Earth. This closely resembles Arianism, an ancient heresy that taught Jesus was not co-eternal with the Father but a created being—the highest of all creatures, yet subordinate to God.
Arianism: The Denial of Christ’s Eternal Divinity
Origin: Arianism was founded by Arius, a 4th-century presbyter in Alexandria.
Core Belief: Arians taught that Jesus was not co-eternal with God but was a created being, making Him lesser than God the Father.
Condemnation: The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) rejected Arianism, affirming that Jesus is eternally begotten, not made, and is of the same essence as the Father. (1)
Mormonism’s belief that Jesus was created as a spirit being and is separate from God the Father bears striking similarities to Arianism.
Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Influence of Arianism & Adoptionism
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is not God but rather a created being, specifically Michael the Archangel before His earthly life. This belief closely aligns with Arianism, as Jehovah’s Witnesses deny Jesus’ eternal divinity and claim He was the first creation of God.
Jehovah’s Witness theology also bears some resemblance to Adoptionism, an early heresy that taught Jesus was a mere human who was later adopted by God as His Son.
Adoptionism: The Denial of Jesus’ Innate Divinity
Core Belief: Adoptionists claimed Jesus was born a mere man and was later elevated to divine status by God.
Condemnation: The doctrine was rejected by the early church, as Jesus affirmed His divine Sonship from eternity, not as a later adoption.
While Jehovah’s Witnesses do not fully embrace Adoptionism, their denial of Jesus’ co-equal divinity with the Father aligns with its core premise.
Scholarly Refutation of the Demi-God Theory
1. Biblical Evidence Against the Demi-God Concept
The Bible consistently presents Jesus as the divine Son of God, not as a demi-God. The doctrine of the Incarnation, as articulated in John 1:1, 14, states that "the Word was God" and "the Word became flesh." This affirms that Jesus is fully divine and fully human, not a hybrid being.
Additionally, Luke 1:35 clarifies that Jesus' conception was a miraculous act of the Holy Spirit, not a biological union between Yahweh and Mary.
2. Historical Context: The Influence of Pagan Mythology vs. Genesis 6
Some skeptics argue that early Christianity borrowed from Greco-Roman mythology, leading to the demi-God interpretation. However, scholars refute this claim by demonstrating that Jewish monotheism generally rejects divine-human hybridization and the concept of demi-Gods, which emphasizes God’s absolute transcendence.
That being said, Michael Heiser argues that Genesis 6:1-4 presents a unique case where divine beings (the "sons of God") interacted with human women, producing the Nephilim. (2, 3, 4) Heiser contends that this passage reflects an Ancient Near Eastern supernatural worldview, distinct from Greco-Roman demi-God myths.
Rather than portraying heroic demi-Gods, Genesis 6 depicts a rebellion of divine beings corrupting humanity, leading to divine judgment (the flood). This aligns more with Jewish and Christian traditions of cosmic conflict, rather than mythological hybridization.
3. Theological Implications: Jesus' Death Was God Taking Humanity’s Place
A common misconception is that Jesus’ death was divine child sacrifice, where God unjustly killed His "Son" to appease His wrath. This completely misunderstands the nature of the Atonement.
Christian theology affirms that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, a doctrine known as the Hypostatic Union. This means that Jesus' divine nature was not diluted by His human nature, nor was He a hybrid being. The Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) formally defined the Hypostatic Union, affirming that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, rejecting views that diminished His full divinity or humanity.
Rather, Christian theology teaches that:
Jesus’ death was not an external being suffering under God's wrath—it was God Himself bearing the penalty for sin.
Jesus is fully God and fully man—He died in His human nature, but never ceased being God (1 Timothy 6:16).
He willingly laid down His life (John 10:17-18) and had authority to take it up again (John 2:19-21).
Jesus bore sin on behalf of humanity (2 Corinthians 5:21), so that sinners might become righteous through Him.
The penal substitutionary atonement teaches that Christ took our punishment, absorbing God's just wrath so that believers could be reconciled to Him (Isaiah 53:5-6).
Additionally, the article Was Jesus Really the ‘Son of God’? (5) examines the historical context of the term "Son of God" and argues that Jesus did not present Himself as the literal, biological son of Yahweh, but rather as the divine Son uniquely united with the Father, in accordance with Jewish traditions that referred to kings and prophets as "sons of God."
Conclusion: Affirming Jesus’ True Identity
The misconception that Jesus was a demi-God arises from a misunderstanding of biblical theology and historical context. Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses, among other groups, propagate views that echo ancient heresies such as Arianism and Adoptionism. Additionally, misunderstandings about Genesis 6:1-4 and Jesus' death contribute to flawed perspectives. However, scholarly research and biblical evidence affirm that Jesus is fully God and fully man.
Furthermore, while Genesis 6:1-4 describes divine beings interacting with humans, Michael Heiser’s scholarship clarifies that this passage reflects an Ancient Near Eastern supernatural worldview, distinct from Greco-Roman demi-God myths. The Nephilim were a product of rebellion, not heroic divine-human offspring.
Most importantly, Jesus’ death was not an external being suffering under God's wrath—it was God Himself taking human form, stepping into history, and bearing the punishment for sin. The profound mystery of the Incarnation reveals Jesus as the eternal Word made flesh, reconciling humanity to God.
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