I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
How many time is "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" in the bible
The exact sentence "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" appears exactly one time in specific translations of the Bible, spoken by the Ethiopian eunuch during his baptism. [1, 2]
However, its presence depends entirely on the version of the Bible you are reading.
📜 Where to Find It
The exact phrase is found in Acts 8:37. [1]
In the King James Version (KJV) on Bible Gateway, the verse reads:
"And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." [1]
🔄 Differences Across Bible Translations
You will find this exact sentence in the KJV, New King James Version (NKJV), and a few other translations. [1, 2, 3]
However, if you look at modern translations—such as the NIV, ESV, NASB, or NLT—you will notice that this entire verse is completely missing or placed in a footnote. [1, 2]
Why is it missing? Modern Bible translations rely on the earliest and most accurate Greek manuscripts discovered by archaeologists. This specific verse is not found in the oldest Greek texts of Acts.
📖 Similar Variations in the Bible
While that exact arrangement of words occurs once, the theological concept of declaring belief that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God appears throughout the New Testament: [1, 2, 3, 4]
Martha's Confession: "“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”" (John 11:27)
Peter's Confession: "Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.'" (Matthew 16:16)
John's Purpose: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God..." (John 20:31) [1, 2, 3, 4]
If you would like to explore this further, I can share a list of the other verses where characters call Jesus the Son of God, or explain how modern translations decide which verses to include. Which would you prefer?
Believe Jesus Christ Is The Son Of God
While that single, exact sentence is unique to Acts 8:37 in specific translations, the phrase "Son of God" appears over 40 times across the New Testament. [1]
The concept of people declaring this exact belief is woven tightly into the entire narrative of the Gospels. [1]
👥 Who Confesses that Jesus is the Son of God?
Throughout the Gospels and the Book of Acts, a wide variety of witnesses make this exact declaration, often under intense or miraculous circumstances: [1]
The Disciples: After watching Jesus calm a storm and walk on water, everyone in the boat worshiped him, declaring, "Truly you are the Son of God." (Matthew 14:33).
Nathanael: Upon first meeting Jesus and realizing Jesus miraculously knew things about him, he exclaimed, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel." (John 1:49).
The Roman Centurion: The soldier standing guard at the crucifixion witnessed the earthquake and the manner of Jesus' death, stating, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39).
The Apostle Paul: Immediately following his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, the first thing he did in the synagogues was preach that Jesus "is the Son of God." (Acts 9:20). [1]
😇 Supernatural Declarations
Human beings are not the only ones who declare this identity. The Bible highlights supernatural confirmations: [1]
God the Father: At both Jesus’ baptism and his transfiguration, a voice from heaven directly declares, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5).
Angels: Gabriel tells Mary before Jesus is even conceived that the child "will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35).
Demons: When Jesus performed exorcisms, the spiritual entities would often shriek, "You are the Son of God!" (Luke 4:41). [1, 2, 3]
🗣️ Did Jesus Ever Explicitly Say It?
Jesus often preferred the title "Son of Man" in public to avoid political uproar, but he absolutely affirmed and claimed his identity as the Son of God: [1, 2, 3]
Under Direct Questioning: During his trial, when the High Priest demanded, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus answered directly, "I am." (Mark 14:61-62).
Defending His Ministry: In a public debate with religious leaders, he openly defended his title, stating, "Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?" (John 10:36). [1, 2]
Ultimately, the Gospel writers made it clear that extracting this confession from the reader was their entire goal. As John 20:31 concludes: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." [1, 2, 3]
Key verses often omitted or footnoted in modern versions include parts of Matthew (17:21, 18:11, 23:14), Mark (7:16, 9:44/46, 11:26, 15:28), Luke (17:36), John (5:4), Acts (8:37, 15:34, 24:6b-8a, 28:29), and Romans (16:24).Other Significant Textual VariationsMark 16:9–20: The longer ending of Mark is often noted as missing from the earliest manuscripts.John 7:53–8:11: The account of the woman caught in adultery is frequently bracketed or footnoted.Luke 9:55–56: Portions of these verses are often excluded
