Luke 2:52 shows Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, but does that mean He had to progress into godhood? The Bible teaches that Jesus has always been fully God—eternal and unchanging.
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One of the most fascinating verses about Jesus’ early life is Luke 2:52:
"Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people." (NLT)
This verse raises an important theological question—did Jesus “progress” over time, even spiritually? Some people, including members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, see this as evidence that Jesus wasn’t always fully divine. According to LDS teaching, even God the Father was once a man who progressed to godhood, and Jesus followed a similar path. But what does the Bible actually say?
Let’s break it down and compare the LDS view with what Scripture really teaches about the eternal nature of Jesus Christ.
In LDS teachings, Jesus is seen as the “firstborn spirit child” of Heavenly Father and progressed to become like God. One key scripture cited is Doctrine and Covenants 93:12–14, which says:
“And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace;
And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness;
And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first.” (D&C 93:12–14)
LDS leaders interpret this to mean that Jesus had to grow spiritually—receiving "grace for grace"—until He became divine. This supports the broader LDS belief that even God the Father was once a mortal man who progressed to godhood. As stated by former LDS President Lorenzo Snow:
“As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.”
This couplet summarizes a core tenet of Mormon theology—that God the Father and Jesus Christ both progressed from a mortal state to divine status. But this concept stands in contrast to the Bible's teaching about Jesus' eternal nature.
Luke 2:52 shows that Jesus experienced real human development. He grew in body (“stature”), in mind (“wisdom”), in relationships (“favor with all the people”), and in His connection with God the Father (“favor with God”).
Jesus didn’t just appear out of nowhere as a fully grown man. He was born as a baby, raised in a family, and matured over time. This aligns with the Christian understanding of the incarnation—that Jesus, though fully God, also became fully...
