Even though the Bible is clear that there are, “in fact there are many gods and many lords” (1 Corinthians 8:5 NRSV). a question arises, Does Jesus being called “Lord” mean he’s God?

Ephesians 1:3 – “…to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse clearly indicates that Jesus has a God over him. This God of Jesus is his Father. Someone who has God over him cannot be God. The fact that Jesus is called “Lord” obviously doesn’t make him God.

Ephesians 4:5,6 – “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” (ESV) Jesus is the “one Lord” here, and Yahweh, his Father, is the “one God.” This unity is expressed in very simple terms. A key takeaway from this verse is that the “one God” does not include the “one Lord”, Jesus Christ. Without Jesus being God, the Trinity doctrine collapses.

1 Corinthians 8:6 – “there is for us only one God, the Father, who is the Creator of all things and for whom we live; and there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created and through whom we live.” (GNB) – An obvious distinction is here made here between God, who is “the Creator of all things”, and ‘Jesus Christ, through whom God created everything’. Even though Jesus is called “Lord”, that doesn’t make him either “God”, or “the Creator”. Those titles belong to the “the Father”, as we can see from this verse.

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and every tongue should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10,11a NIV). Trinitarians often stop their quote of the scripture at this point, and use this to “prove” that Jesus is God. However, when we actually look at the rest of the scripture, we find that it is, “to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11b NIV). By reading the full scripture, we find that the scripture actually proves that Jesus is inferior to God, contradicting the equality claim of the Trinity doctrine. Trinitarians claim that because Jesus is called “Lord” that makes him God. But here we see that is not the case. “God the Father” is the one who is God, not the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 18:31,32 – “His fellow-servants . . . show fully to their lord all the things that were done; then having called him, his lord says to him, ‘Evil servant!” (LSV). The king, here in Jesus’ parable, is called “lord” by his servants. This gives us evidence against the false claim by Trinitarians that Jesus being called “Lord” means he’s God.

Matthew 21:30 – “He said in the same manner, and he answering said, I [go] lord, and did not go” (LSV). Here, in Jesus’ parable of the two sons, one of them calls their father “lord”. This provides proof that calling someone “lord” doesn’t make them God, as Trinitarians claim about Jesus.

John 12:20,21 – “There were certain Greeks . . . these came near to Philip . . . and were asking him, saying, ‘Lord, we wish to see Jesus'” (LSV). These Greeks addressed Philip as, “Lord” here. This proves false the Trinitarian claim that Jesus being called “Lord” makes him God.

John 20:1,15 – “Mary the Magdalene . . . supposing that He is the gardener, says to Him, ‘Lord, if you carried Him away, tell me where You laid Him'” (LSV). Addressing the different looking resurrected Jesus, whom she mistakenly assumes the the gardener, Mary calls him “Lord”. Calling a gardener “Lord” proves that being called “Lord” doesn’t make someone God, as Trinitarians claim.

Acts 16:30 – “Lords, what must I do to be saved” (LSV). The Philippian jailer called Paul and Silas “lords” here. Trinitarians sometimes claim that being called “Lord” makes Jesus God, but this scripture proves that assertion false.

 The scriptures give us the answer to our question.