Doctrine Matters with Kevin DeYoung: What Does It Mean That Jesus Was Fully God and Fully Man?
Released on June 17, 2025
In this insightful episode of Doctrine Matters, hosted by Kevin DeYoung of Crossway, the complex theological concepts surrounding the dual nature of Jesus Christ—the belief that He is both fully God and fully man—are thoroughly examined. DeYoung meticulously dissects biblical evidence, historical interpretations, and theological arguments to provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of this foundational Christian doctrine.
1. Introduction to Christology
Kevin DeYoung opens the discussion by emphasizing the significance of Christology—the study of the nature and work of Jesus Christ—in Christian theology. He underscores the importance of understanding both the divinity and humanity of Christ, acknowledging that while the deity of Christ has sparked considerable debate in recent times, historical heresies have equally challenged His full humanity.
“The New Testament leaves no doubt about both [the deity and humanity of Christ].”
— Kevin DeYoung [00:45]
2. The Deity of Christ
a. Biblical Foundations
DeYoung begins by presenting biblical evidence that affirms Jesus' divine nature. He references Hebrews 7, which compares Jesus to Melchizedek, a figure from Genesis, suggesting Christ's existence predates even the ancient king of Salem. This points to Jesus' pre-existence, indicating His eternal nature.
“Melchizedek resembled the Son of God, suggesting that the Son of God predated the ancient king of Salem.”
— Kevin DeYoung [02:15]
b. Attributes of God in Christ
He further elucidates how Jesus embodies both communicable and incommunicable divine attributes:
- Communicable Attributes: Love, grace, truth, righteousness, holiness, authority, and being the image of God.
- Incommunicable Attributes: Eternality, immutability, omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience.
For instance, Jesus exercises omnipresence as depicted in Matthew 18:20, “where two or three are gathered, there he is in the midst of them,” and omnipotence, demonstrated when He calms the storm, affirming His authority over nature.
“He possesses the attributes of God... He is the image of God and also possessing the incommunicable attributes of God.”
— Kevin DeYoung [04:30]
c. Divine Knowledge and Authority
While Jesus, in His humanity, exhibits moments of limited knowledge—such as not knowing the time of the end (Mark 13:32)—DeYoung explains that His divine nature ensures a comprehensive omniscience. Jesus' authority is further highlighted through His role in creation and His lordship over all realms.
“The full display of that omniscience is veiled... he exercised so for a time... yet clearly in the Gospels he shows himself to know things beyond what ordinary human beings can know.”
— Kevin DeYoung [07:10]
d. Worship as Evidence of Divinity
A pivotal argument for Jesus' divinity is His reception of worship, which, according to DeYoung, distinguishes Him from mere humans. Unlike apostles who reject worship to avert idolatry, Jesus accepts worship, as seen when the disciples worship Him after His resurrection (Matthew 28:17).
“So Jesus Christ is not just another man. He is God in the flesh, exercising power and showing himself to possess divine attributes that only God possesses and receiving worship that only God deserves and can rightly receive.”
— Kevin DeYoung [12:00]
3. The Humanity of Christ
a. Outer Life
Transitioning to Jesus' humanity, DeYoung details how Jesus embodied a genuine human existence. He possessed a physical body, experienced growth, and displayed typical human traits. Jesus was born of a woman, lived as a regular Jewish man, and aged just like any other person.
“He was made like other human beings in every respect, except for sin. As the last Adam, Jesus Christ was as much man as the first Adam.”
— Kevin DeYoung [12:30]
b. Inner Life
DeYoung also explores Jesus' inner life, highlighting that He experienced real human emotions and struggles. Jesus felt distress, anger, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and sorrow. These experiences underscore His true humanity and ability to empathize with human suffering.
“He suffered hunger and thirst. Think of his temptation in the wilderness. And he experienced fatigue. Jesus was tempted, he cried. When his friend Lazarus was dead, he bled and he died.”
— Kevin DeYoung [13:15]
4. Theological Significance of the Incarnation
a. Reasons for the Incarnation
Addressing the foundational question "Why did God become man?", DeYoung references the medieval theologian Anselm and the early Church Father Athanasius. He outlines three primary reasons for the Incarnation:
- Conquering Death: Jesus was made lower than the angels to taste death and overcome it.
- Defeating the Devil: By sharing in humanity, Jesus destroyed the power of the devil over death.
- Atoning for Sins: Jesus became a merciful and faithful high priest to atone for human sins.
“God became man, so that as God, man, one, he could conquer death, defeat the devil, and atone for our sins.”
— Kevin DeYoung [14:10]
b. Clarifying the Incarnation
DeYoung meticulously clarifies that the Incarnation involves the Son of God assuming a human nature without altering His divine nature. He stresses that it is the second Person of the Trinity—the Son—who became incarnate, not the Father or the Spirit. This distinction preserves the integrity of the Trinity and ensures that the divine essence remains unchanged.
“He did not cease to be divine. He assumed a human nature rather than being transformed.”
— Kevin DeYoung [15:20]
He also dispels common misconceptions by contrasting the Incarnation with concepts like transubstantiation or transmutation, emphasizing that the divine nature was not altered but the Son took on a human nature alongside His divine identity.
“Christ is humanized deity, not deified humanity.”
— Kevin DeYoung [15:30]
5. Conclusion and Forward Look
DeYoung concludes by reiterating the dual nature of Christ as essential to Christian faith and theology. He hints at a deeper exploration of how these natures coexist within one person, a topic designated for the following week's episode on the hypostatic union.
“You can remember that [the reasons for the Incarnation]: conquer death, defeat the devil, atone for our sins.”
— Kevin DeYoung [14:10]
Key Takeaways
- Jesus' Divinity: Affirmed through biblical evidence, divine attributes, and His reception of worship.
- Jesus' Humanity: Demonstrated through His physical form, growth, emotions, and experiences.
- Purpose of the Incarnation: To conquer death, defeat the devil, and atone for human sins.
- Theological Precision: The Incarnation involves the Son assuming human nature without altering His divine essence, maintaining the distinction within the Trinity.
This episode serves as a profound exploration of the mystery of Jesus Christ's dual nature, providing listeners with a robust theological framework to understand and appreciate the significance of Jesus being both fully God and fully man.