Son of God

This is one of the most frequently used titles of Jesus by the Christian church. Although it is central to an understanding of the Gospel, the phrase is rarely found on the lips of Jesus in the synoptic gospels. How soon it became a widely recognised title for Jesus is uncertain. Some scholars point to the saying in Acts 8:37, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" - the baptism of the Ethiopian, as evidence that it formed part of an early baptismal formula. See also 1 John 5:5. Old Testament Background In the Old Testament Sons of God refers to angels. The Genesis story 6:2 tells how the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair and came down to make wives of them. There is a similar idea in the Book of Job where the "heavenly court" is referred to as the sons of God. Job 1:6 and Job 38:7. The nation of Israel could be called Son of God. It is the message which Moses took to Pharaoh, Exod 4:22 "Thus I say to you, Israel is my first-born". Later in the literature of the prophets, the same idea is taken up Hosea 11:1 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him and out of Egypt have I called my son." This is in some ways a difficult concept, but the Old Testament in more than one place refers to a group of people as one person. The idea is known as "corporate personality" The king of the nation in a very special way was called Son of God. The nature of the relationship between the king and God need not concern us greatly but it is generally assumed that it was a sonship brought about by adoption. The king in Israel had no actual rights as a god. Evidence for this may be found in Psalm literature. Psalm 2:7 "I will tell of the decree of the Lord, 'You are my son, today I have begotten you'". See also Psalm 89:27. The idea is found with reference to king David 2 Samuel 7:14. Greek Mythology Here also there is a tradition of calling the heroes sons of God. Rather like the reference in Genesis this tended to be the result of a union between a god and a mortal. Hercules was the son of Alkmene and Zeus; Achilles was the son of Thetis and a mortal Peleus. Even Alexander the Great is said to have descended from Zeus. Such association with the gods was not considered unusual among those who rose to great position. Son of God and Messiah There was always an element of suspicion with this term in Judaism. Once monotheism the worship of one God and only one God was firmly established the idea of Son of God was treated with a certain reserve as indeed was any title that might just infringe upon the uniqueness of God.. One also needs to be careful about dating here. Many of the books that show an association between the figure of the Messiah and Son of God may just be influenced by Christian use. The Wisdom of Solomon. - essentially a Greek orientated book talks about the just man, who is seen as God's son, who puts his trust in God to help him in the midst of persecution. Wisd 2:10-20 and 5:1-5. Many older theological books refer to 1 Enoch 105:2 4 Ezra 7:28 and 14:9 but the dating of these books is uncertain and their knowledge of Christian use is possible. From the library of Qumran though there is much more certain evidence that the idea of a Davidic Messiah was being seen as the Son of God. R.H Fuller is undoubtedly correct when he says that the Son of God was just coming into use as a Messianic title at the time of Jesus. Use of the term in the Synoptic Gospels MARK 1:1 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. 3:11 They ...unclean spirits...cried out "you are the Son of God. 15:39 Truly this man was Son of God. But see also Mark's use of "Father" when it refers to God 8:38 ...when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 14:36 Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: And Son when it refers to Jesus 1:11 Thou art my beloved Son. (Baptism of Jesus) 9:7 This is my beloved Son, listen to him. (Transfiguration) 12:6 He still had one other, a beloved son....(Parable of the Vineyard) 13:32 But of that day or that hour no one knows...nor even the Son...(Discourse) Also 5:7 Jesus Son of the Most High God.... (Legion the unclean spirit) 14:61 "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" (Spoken by the high priest) MATTHEW 4:3 If you are the Son of God command these stones (temptation) 4:6 If you are the Son of God throw yourself down (temptation) 8:29 What have you to do with us O Son of God? (Healing of two demoniacs) 14:33 Truly you are the Son of God (The disciples in the boat on the lake) 26:63 Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God. (Spoken by the high priest) 27:40 If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross (Crowd at the cross) 27:43 For he said "I am the Son of God. (Bystanders at the cross) 27:54 Truly this was the Son of God. (The centurion) LUKE 1:35 The child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God (Gabriel's message) 3:38 ..the son of Adam, the son of God. (Genealogy of Jesus according to Luke) 4:3 If you are the Son of God ... (Temptation) 4:9 If you are the Son of God, throw yourself (Temptation) 4:41 The demons also came out crying, "You are the Son of God." 22:70 Are you the Son of God then? (Sanhedrin) Use in the Synoptic Tradition This is not a phrase found a great deal on the lips of Jesus in the synoptic gospels. Indeed it would have been unwise for him to have used the title openly in contemporary Jewish society for fear of being misunderstood. This does not of course mean that Jesus was necessarily unaware of his unique personal relationship with God. There is evidence that he thought of God as "Father"(Matt 6:9) (Mark 14:36) (Lk 11:2) assuming the passages concerned actually come from Jesus himself. Other evidence of Divine Sonship The claim is made by a number of enemies of Jesus, especially the unclean Spirit legion Mark 5:7; see also Mark 3:11 "unclean spirits...fell down before him and cried out, You are the Son of God." For Mark, the recognition of Jesus' lordship and authority over the world of evil was a key issue. The examples above probably owe more to Christian reflection on the person of Jesus, than what happened on a specific occasion. Christian Belief The Christians for whom the Gospels were written already believed in Jesus as Lord and Son of God. The accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and indeed John, are written with this assumption in mind. Their purpose is not to teach the fact to readers. Mark particularly reinforces the belief thoroughly and systematically. The opening words of his prologue "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God..." And the final statement of the centurion ensure that from beginning to end the concept is not neglected. In between those two points, in all sorts of ways Mark reinforces the belief for his audience. St John The position of the fourth Gospel is very different from that of the synoptic writers. The subject in St John's Gospel is not only relevant but exceedingly prominent. There seems to be no hesitation on the part of Jesus to use the title about himself. But this is the Gospel not of the proclaimer, but of the proclaimed and the issues of Jesus' position, status and relationship with God are, for the sake of the readers fully explored. It is beyond the scope of this note to examine fully the use of "Son of God" in the fourth Gospel, suffice it to say that the title occurs nine times. (John 1:34) And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." (John 1:49) Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (John 3:18) He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 5:25) "Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (John 10:36) do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? (John 11:4) But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it." (John 11:27) She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world." (John 19:7) The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God." (John 20:31) but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. back to top

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