The Christian faith states that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. However, Jesus said in John 14:28, “My Father is greater than I.” If Jesus is equal to God, how can the Father be greater?

– Alex, India

PR. GEORGY’S RESPONSE:

When you see the word “greater” in its context, the Father is greater than the Son by office, and not by nature. The Bible affirms that the Father and the Son are God (John 1:1; 8:58; 10:30). An earthly father is equally human with his son, but holds a higher office than his son. Similarly, the Father and the Son in the Trinity are equal in essence, but different in function.

Here, it is important to emphasize the distinction between the Greek words for greater (meizon) and better (kreitton). Jesus said, “The Father is greater than I” and not, “The Father is better than I.” The word “greater” points to the Father’s greater position (in heaven), and not a greater nature. If the word “better” was used, then this would have meant that the Father has a better nature than Jesus.

This is clear in Heb. 1:4, where the word “better” (kreitton) is used for Jesus’ superiority over the angels. The word “better” in this verse shows that Jesus is not only higher than the angels positionally, but also higher than the angels in His very nature. Jesus is better in position and in nature than the angels.

This can be best understood in the prime minister of a country seen as a greater man, not because of his character, but because of his position. He is in a higher position than the rest of us. Therefore, he is greater (meizon) than the rest of us. Yet, he is still a human, and thus he is not better (kreitton) than the rest of us.

Jesus never used the word “better” regarding His relationship with the Father because He is not inferior or lower in nature than the Father. Instead, Jesus used a word “greater” which points to the Father being higher in position only. In incarnation, Jesus functioned in the world of humanity, and this required that Jesus was made lower than the Father in position. Therefore, it cannot be said that Jesus considered the Father God as greater than Him by nature. This can be summarized as:

Jesus equal to the Father:

– In nature, in essence, in character

Father greater than Jesus:

– In office, in function, in position