Did people worship Jesus?

Definition of Worship in Biblical Context

Worship involves reverence, adoration, and devotion directed toward God. In Scripture, the Greek verb often translated as “worship” is “proskuneō,” which means to bow down or pay homage. Throughout the Old Testament, worship is reserved exclusively for Yahweh (Exodus 20:3–5). Therefore, whenever an individual receives genuine worship within the biblical narrative, especially in the New Testament, this act points to a divine status or acknowledgment of divinity.

Old Testament Background: Worship Reserved for God Alone

Scripture underscores the uniqueness of God and strictly forbids worshiping anyone or anything else. Deuteronomy 6:13 says, “Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.” Prophets such as Isaiah warned against idolatry or worship directed to created beings (Isaiah 42:8). This backdrop establishes the gravity of the New Testament accounts where Jesus is the recipient of worship.

Instances in the Gospels Where Jesus Is Worshiped

1. Worship by the Magi: At His birth, wise men from the east came seeking “the One who has been born King of the Jews.” According to Matthew 2:11, “On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him.” This act of reverence to the Christ Child indicates recognition of His unique, kingly status, aligned with Old Testament messianic prophecy.

2. Disciples Worshiping Jesus: When Jesus calmed the storm, those in the boat responded with worship. Matthew 14:33 records, “Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God!’” Their confession reveals they viewed Him as more than a teacher or prophet.

3. Man Born Blind: In John 9, Jesus heals a man who was blind from birth. After recognizing Jesus’ divine nature, this man proclaimed his faith. John 9:38 says, “Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped Him.”

4. Post-Resurrection Worship: The women who encountered the risen Christ held His feet and worshiped Him (Matthew 28:9). Likewise, in Matthew 28:17, the disciples saw the resurrected Jesus and “worshiped Him, but some doubted.” Such responses are significant, as they affirm that those nearest to Jesus acknowledged His divinity after the resurrection.

Jesus Accepting Worship

An essential factor is Jesus’ consistent acceptance of such worship. In biblical narratives, angelic beings and righteous servants of God refuse worship (Revelation 19:10; Acts 10:25–26). Jesus, however, never rebuked individuals for worshiping Him. This distinguishing feature underscores how the New Testament authors and early believers regarded Him as divine.

The Worship of the Risen Christ

Thomas’s famous confession in John 20:28 crystallizes the understanding that Jesus was God in the flesh. He exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus responded by affirming Thomas’s faith rather than correcting him. This pivotal moment supports the conclusion that Jesus was indeed recognized as worthy of worship.

Moreover, 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 attests to Christ’s resurrection appearances to many witnesses. The written record predates the Gospels, reinforcing an early Christian conviction that Jesus’ resurrection validated His deity. Such apostolic teaching aligns with the reality that Jesus was, and is, worshiped as Lord.

Apostolic and Early Church Worship of Jesus

In the letters of Paul, Jesus is frequently lauded with divine language. Philippians 2:10–11 proclaims that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This text parallels Isaiah 45:23, where such homage belongs exclusively to Yahweh, demonstrating the apostolic belief that Jesus shares in that divine honor.

Early Christian writings outside the New Testament also convey the practice of worshiping Jesus. Archaeological finds, such as early Christian inscriptions and church meeting spaces, hint at the devotion given to Christ. Documents like the letters of Pliny the Younger (c. A.D. 112) depict Christians gathering before daybreak to sing “hymns to Christ as to a god,” testifying to worship aimed at Jesus from the earliest centuries of the faith.

Consistency in Manuscript Evidence

As preserved in the earliest extant manuscripts—ranging from fragments like Papyrus 66 or Papyrus 75 to fuller codices—New Testament accounts consistently portray worship directed toward Jesus. Textual critics who have examined the earliest Greek manuscripts see no evidence that this worship was a later insertion. Rather, it is present in all textual families, indicating it was part of the original testimony.

Theological Significance

In a strict monotheistic framework, worship belongs to God alone. The fact that Jesus receives worship, is openly addressed as God (John 1:1, 20:28), and is portrayed sharing the divine name (Matthew 28:19) reveals a robust biblical theology of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus’ acceptance of worship solidifies His identity as fully God and fully man, and His resurrection confirms His authority over life and death.

Conclusion

The consistent witness of Scripture, the testimony of early Christians, and the uninterrupted manuscript evidence all converge on the same point: people did worship Jesus. They worshiped Him at His birth, during His ministry, after His resurrection, and throughout the early church era. Such reverence was never corrected or condemned; instead, it was encouraged, revealing the biblical reality that Jesus Christ is rightfully worshiped as Lord and God.