Most Christians claim that Jesus is God, and one of their primary biblical passages they cite for support is Isaiah 9:6. It reads, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
Hymns have always played a significant role in Christian worship. The translation “Mighty God” in Isaiah 9:6 has inspired many church hymns about Jesus. The one most memorable to Westerners is the final, heart-stirring ensemble in Handel’s magnificent Messiah. It is often performed by church choirs at Christmastime. But hymnology is no substitute for sound theology. When hymns reflect Christian theology, they should do so accurately and therefore scripturally.
Both Jews and Christians have always correctly interpreted Isaiah 9:1-7 as messianic. Christians have rightly applied all of the epithets in the second half of v. 6 to Jesus. The epithet translated “Mighty God” is el gibbor in the Hebrew text. But is “Mighty God” the correct translation of el gibbor here, so that it calls Jesus “God”?
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Author: Kermit Zarley
Keywords: Trinity, Triunity, Trinitarianism, Trinitarian, Arianism, Arian, Three in one, Three gods, Three gods one person, Arius, Arias, Nicene Creed, Nicaea, Nicea, Athanasian Creed, Athanasius, Father son holy spirit, Father son holy ghost, Triune, Three persons in one God, Socinian, Socinianism, Socinian heresy, Jesus God, God the Son, Nicene, Nicean Creed, Council of Nicaea, Council of Nicea, homoiousios, Homoousios, Homoiousian, Mighty God, El Gibbor, Handel's Messiah
Bible reference(s): Isaiah 9:6
Source: “Is Jesus ‘the Mighty God’ in Isaiah 9:6?” The Restitution of Jesus Christ, 2008.
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