Deity of Christ
Jesus is not explicitly called God in the New Testament, and Hebrews 1:8 does not identify Him as God with a capital G.
Quick answer
The Christian response is that Hebrews 1:8, along with other New Testament passages, clearly identifies Jesus as God. The context of these verses demonstrates that Jesus is not merely a god but the Lord God who created and sustains all things.
Full argument
The book of Hebrews presents Jesus as the Lord God, the agent of creation, and the one who sustains all things. In Hebrews 1:1-2, it states that God spoke through His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. This establishes Jesus' divine role in creation. Furthermore, Hebrews 1:10-12 emphasizes that Jesus laid the foundations of the earth and remains eternal, contrasting Him with creation itself, which will perish. This reinforces the idea that Jesus is not just a god but the eternal God.
Additionally, other New Testament passages support this claim. John 1:1-3 affirms that the Word was God and through Him all things were made. This directly links Jesus to the act of creation, further solidifying His divine status. Similarly, 1 Corinthians 8:6 states that there is one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came. This clearly positions Jesus as the divine Lord who is integral to creation.
In conclusion, the context of Hebrews 1 and other supporting scriptures provide a robust argument that Jesus is indeed God, not merely a god, as the Muslim claim suggests. The evidence from the New Testament is clear and consistent in affirming the divinity of Christ.
Key verses
Hebrews 1:2bible
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe
John 1:1bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
1 Corinthians 8:6bible
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live
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