Explaining the seven important points concerning the title Son of God

Explaining the seven important points concerning the title Son of God

1. The title “son(s) of God” has more then one meaning and application in the Bible, as it has been said before on this blog and elsewhere words take on meaning in a context. Looking a word up in a dictionary and picking the meaning that fits your argument doesn’t tell you how the author used the word, or what the author intended, or how the original readers of the text would have understood it.

2. The title “son(s) of God is used for angels ” Now there was a day when the sons of Godcame to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.” Job 1:6

3. The title “son(s) of God” is sometimes used in a manner bible commentators differ over because the context is not clear to them, the most famous example being “that the sons ofGod saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.” Genesis 6:2

4. The title “son(s) of God is used for God’s redeemed saved by grace through faith in Christ(Christians) “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name “ John 1:12

5. The title “son of God” or as some translations capitalize “Son of God” is used as a specific title of the Messiah “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”, Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” “ Matthew 16:15-16

6. Angels are not “son(s) of God” in the same manner as believers, believers are not “son(s) of God in the same manner as angels, angels and believers are not “son(s) of God in the same exact manner as those who married the daughters of men in Genesis, and none of the previous are “son(s)s of God” in the same manner as the Messiah. And how do we know this? The context of the passages are different which tells us the term in each case is being used differently.

7. The title “son of God” with regards to the Messiah is used differently then it is used elsewhere in the bible. For example look closely at Matthew 16:15-16 ” But who do you say that I am?”, Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The wider context of the dialogue between Christ and Peter is within a chapter where Christ earlier had an encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees who rejected him and where demanding a sign. The central theme of the chapter is who is this Jesus? In fact this is all taking places in the midst of a series of encounters with the Jews, where they are constantly questioning him and he is telling them as well as showing and proving who he is.

Earlier in another encounter Christ says “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted.” Matt 15:13, calling God Father was common among the Jews but the context shows Jesus is using the term in a unique manner for himself..God’s Fatherhood as applied to him is different then the Jews in general. He go’s on later to perform signs and wonders that confirm what he has said about himself. Now in the beginning of chapter 16 he runs into another group of Jews who are demanding he perform a sign, since he has already performed public of signs and wonders all over Israel this just shows they really reject him..and he exposes this. Jesus after this debate warns his disciples beware of the “leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees ” which is interpreted in verse 12 as their teachings, the obviously problem with their teaching being they reject the Christ.

Later as they continue to travel Christ decides to question his disciples and asks “Who do people say that the Son of Man is” to the astute Bible student “Son of Man” itself is a title for the Divine Messiah see Daniel 7:13-14. The disciples give some of the common things being said about Jesus in Israel. Then Jesus asks “But who do you say that I am?”, Peter answered “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Jesus not only affirmed his answer but said it was divine revelation from his Father confirming he was exactly who Peter just said he was. We gather from this exchange that to be Christ or Messiah is to be the Son of God not simply a son of God, which tells us Christ is Son of God in a unique manner different from anything else called son of God. Notice in verse 17 Christ says again just like in chapter 15, that God is his Father clearly in a way different then all others.

In verse 27 before the close of the chapter Christ affirms he is that “Son of Man” who will come in the glory of God the Father and he will be the presiding judge at the end of time just as Daniel(Daniel 7:13-14) predicted. And what did Daniel say about the “Son of Man” he said “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him” this is all by the approval of the Father God.  So who among the angels and men called “sons of god” is ever spoken of in this manner anywhere else in the Bible? Intelligent people can clearly see from this one example out of many others that Christ is not “a” son of God, Christ is “thy” Son of God in a manner that denotes the nature of his sonship is divine.

Related articles

• Praying to the Son of God Jesus (paulmarcelrene.wordpress.com)
• Answering Muslims: Where Did Jesus Say, “I Am God, Worship Me”? #2 (paulmarcelrene.wordpress.com)

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