Does the bible really claim that Jesus is God?

Does the bible ever really claim that Jesus is God? This is a common question, as is a narrower version: Does Jesus ever claim to be God?

Spoiler alert: the answer to both questions is yes. ¹

By the way, it is essentially the same question as: Does the bible ever teach of the Trinity? Or rather the two questions can be answered simultaneously, since many of the passages that attest to Jesus’ deity also speak to the deity of the Holy Spirit.

The apostolic church unambiguously claimed Jesus to be God. It starts at the beginning, when in the first post-resurrection sermon Peter, to use a poker metaphor, sees the highest known Jewish title and raises it—in fact he goes chips all in—by adding a new title, Messiah, an unspeakable abomination if not applied to God, i.e.

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36)

And then the other bookend, in Revelation, where Christ is placed in the throne of God, and he's not just trying it on for size like some impertinent tourist:

And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. (Rev. 22:3)

The Pharisees would certainly agree with orthodox Christianity that Jesus claimed to be God. It is precisely why they wanted to kill him:

The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” (John 10:33)

The question of whether Jesus was God was not a matter of debate in the church for three centuries, until the arrival of the heretic Arius (c. 256–336). Arius was not arguing to maintain the theological status-quo, but to overturn it. His ideas were the new ideas.

As for Jesus claiming to be God, there are the instances that the Pharisees “correctly” used to bring charges of blasphemy, noting for example that Jesus proclaimed sins to be forgiven, a prerogative of God alone.

And there is more, such as in the Great Commission:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matt 28:19) 

Do not miss the fact that the reference is singular (in the name of, not in the names of) but the person is three. To appreciate the fact that this is either of claim of deity (for both Jesus and the Holy Spirit) or it is unspeakable blasphemy, imagine replacing the Son and the Holy Spirit in this verse with the names of even the two great apostles:

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of Peter and of Paul

Ouch.  There are other such Trinitarian references, such as the benediction at the end of 2 Corinthians:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Cor. 13:14) 

Again, try reading it with Jesus and the Holy Spirit replaced by Peter and Paul.

Another place where Jesus’ deity is proclaimed is in the beginning of the book of James:

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, (James 1:1) 

Does James really have two masters? Of course he does not, and here he equates the Son with the Father. One master. A bit later, James describes Jesus with an attribute, glory, that the Jews would have reserved for God:

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, (James 2:1) 

We also note that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus takes the prophetic utterance: Thus sayeth the Lord, and makes it self-referential: I say unto you.

And for just one more, we have the words of Thomas. Upon requesting physical proof, of the resurrected Christ, and receiving it without rebuke, Thomas makes an unequivocal statement:

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

And again this statement, the height of blasphemy if not correct, was accepted without comment.

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¹ The answer is really: "Duh." But I'm trying to be polite.