The Shepherd Argument for the Deity of Christ

- August 31, 2025

J Neil Daniels

From the earliest days of the church, Christians have confessed that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man. Yet throughout history, detractors have questioned the New Testament’s witness to Christ’s deity, often alleging that Jesus never claimed to be God. One powerful response lies in the way Jesus appropriates Old Testament titles and roles reserved exclusively for Yahweh. Among these, the imagery of the Shepherd is especially striking.

Premise 1: Yahweh is the Shepherd of His people.

Scripture consistently identifies the LORD (Yahweh) as Israel’s Shepherd. David confesses, “The LORD is my Shepherd” (Ps 23:1). Similarly, in Ezekiel 34:11–15, Yahweh declares that He Himself will seek His sheep, rescue them, feed them, and give them rest. The role of Shepherd is not delegated—it belongs uniquely to God in His covenantal relationship with His people.

Premise 2: Only God is good in His essential nature.

When addressed as “Good Teacher,” Jesus responded, “Why do you call me good? There is none good except One, that is, God” (Matt 19:17). Goodness, in the absolute and intrinsic sense, belongs exclusively to God. To predicate true goodness of anyone is to ascribe to them a divine attribute.

Premise 3: Jesus identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd.

In John 10:11, Jesus declares, “I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” He not only takes upon Himself the divine office of Shepherd, but He does so as the good Shepherd, directly joining the divine prerogative of shepherding with the unique divine attribute of goodness.

Conclusion: Therefore, Jesus is God.

If Yahweh alone is the Shepherd, and if God alone is good, then for Jesus to be the good Shepherd is nothing less than a self-identification with the divine nature. He is not a mere prophet or a delegated under-shepherd, but the very God who comes to seek, save, and lay down His life for the flock.

The logic of the argument may be summarized as follows:

Premise 1: Yahweh is the Shepherd of His people (Ps 23:1; Ezek 34:11–15).

Premise 2: Only God is good in His essential nature (Matt 19:17).

Premise 3: Jesus identifies Himself as the good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14).

Conclusion: Therefore, Jesus shares the divine identity; He is God.

This line of reasoning demonstrates that the deity of Christ is not an artificial imposition upon the biblical text. The argument is apologetically strong because it flows naturally from the intertextual witness of Scripture (Ps 23; Ezek 34; John 10), Christ’s own claims, and the exclusive divine attributes of goodness and shepherdhood.