Son of God (Gr. Huiós tóu Theóu). Messianic title applied to Jesus Christ emphasizing his deity (comparable to “Son of man” emphasizing his humanity). Like the many names and titles ascribed to him in the Scriptures, the title “Son of God” accommodates human minds so that they understand an important aspect of his saving work. In view of the wide spectrum of meanings latent in the word “son”* -as used by the Hebrews and the biblical writers-, it is not possible to arbitrarily circumscribe the expression within the narrow limits implied in our word “son”. Whether or not the title makes any sense in adequately describing the absolute and eternal relationship between the Son and the Father is a matter on which the Scriptures are silent. Obviously, this expression does not connote a generic relationship in any way comparable to the human parent-child relationship, so it should be understood in some other sense than the strictly literal one. It may be that we have some guidance for its implied meaning in the term “only begotten,”* which characterizes Christ as having a “unique” relationship with the Father (John 1:14). Rightly understood, Christ’s unique status as the only-begotten Son of God distinguishes between him and all who, through faith in him, receive the power to “become sons of God” (v 12), of whom it is declared who are “begotten of God” (v 13). Christ is, and always has been, true “God” (v 1), and by virtue of this fact he has granted us the privilege of becoming the “sons of God.” Additional aspects of the meaning of the phrase “Son of God” are recorded in Col 1:15 (Jesus is the “image of the invisible God”), Heb 1:3 (“the express image of his person”), and Phi 2:6 (prior to his incarnation, Christ was “in the form of God” and “equal to God”); all expressions that affirm the absolute and unspeakable deity of Jesus. Another related mention is found in the annunciation of the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary: by virtue of the power of the Holy Spirit covering her, her Son would be called “Son of God” (Luk 1:35). Here the angel clearly attributes the title “Son of God” to the unique union of Deity with humanity in the incarnation of our Lord. Paul said that Jesus “was declared the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom 1:4). The Synoptic Gospels do not record Jesus applying the title “Son of God” to himself, 546 although when others used it, he accepted it in a way that acknowledged its validity (Mt 4:3, 4; 8:29; 14:33; 26:63, 64; 27:40, 43). Only in John is it found that Jesus used it for himself (cps 5:25; 9:35; 10:36; 11:4). At the birth (Luk 1:35; cf Mat 1:23), the baptism (Mat 3:17), and again at the transfiguration, the Father recognized Jesus as his Son (Mat 17:5). This Father and Son relationship is explicit and implicit in many statements made by our Lord (Mat 11:27; Luk 10:21; Joh 5:18-23; 10:30; 14:28; etc.). Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God provoked the implacable hatred of the Jews, who protested that with this attitude he “made himself equal to God” (Joh 5:18) and, therefore, declared himself to be God (10: 33). Eventually, such illuminating statements and claims led to his damnation and crucifixion (Mat 26:63-66; Luk 22:67-71). During His earthly ministry, our Savior voluntarily relinquished the prerogatives—though not the nature—of Deity and assumed the limitations of human nature, thereby subordinating Himself to the Father (Psa 40:8; Mat 26:39; John 3:16; 4:34; 5:30; 12:49; 14:10; 17:4, 8; 2Co 8:9; Phi 2:7, 8; Heb 2:9) just as we should be subject to the. Furthermore, he said, “The Father is greater than I” (John 14:28), so the Son can do “nothing by himself” (5:19). So the use of the expression “Son of God” clearly links this title to his incarnation and his earthly ministry, giving further meaning to the phrase. See Jesus Christ.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
is another common expression in the Bible. In the book of Job, beings superior to men, who form his heavenly court, who are identified with the angels, are called sons of God, Jb 1, 6; twenty-one; 38, 7.
Yahweh calls Israel his h. firstborn to whom he gave all the care and love, Ex 4, 22-23; who led him through the desert like a father to his brother, Dt 1, 31. Nathan, sent by Yahweh to David, told the king about his son Solomon: “I will be his father and he will be my son”, 2 S 7, 14; 1 Chr 17, 13; where the promise of the Messiah is implicit, each king of David’s lineage will be an image, albeit imperfect, of the Anointed, the true Brother of God; as Heb 1, 5 says. John calls Jesus, the Messiah, the Only Begotten, Jn 1, 14 and 18; 3, 16-18; H. only of God, 1 Jn 4, 9.
All those who believe in the Brother of God, Jesus Christ, are adopted as children of God, Jn 1, 12; Rm 8, 14; Ga 3, 26; 4, 6; 1 Jn 3, 1-2; 3, 2. all men are called to be children of God, Rom 9, 25-29.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
One of the main titles of Jesus in the NT. His claim to this title was the main accusation brought against him by the Jewish leaders (Matt 26:63-64; Mar 14:61-62; compare Joh 5:17-18; Joh 19:7). The confession that Jesus is the Son of God was fundamental to the teaching of the apostles and to the faith of the early church (2Co 1:19; Gal 2:20; 1Jo 4:15; 1Jo 5:5, 1Jo 5:13 ). This title is to be understood both as a synonym for Messiah (Psa 2:7; Mat 16:16; Mat 26:63; Mat 27:40) and as implying deity through a unique relationship with the Father (John 5: 18).
The filial consciousness of Jesus and his unique relationship with the Father are particularly emphasized in the Gospel of John. Jesus is the only Son of God (Joh 1:18), one with the Father (Joh 10:30), always doing the will of the Father (Joh 4:34; Joh 5:30; Joh 6:38), and being in the Father as the Father is in him (John 10:38). He speaks what he hears from the Father (Joh 12:50), has the unique knowledge of the Father (Joh 10:15; compare Mat 11:27), and possesses the authority of the Father (Joh 3:35; Joh 5:22; Joh 13:3; Joh 16:15). Thus, it is only in and through the Son that God’s salvation is given (Joh 3:36; Joh 5:26; Joh 6:40).
Outside the Gospels, God is called the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, suggesting a particular intimacy between the Father and the Son (Rom 15:6; 2Co 1:3; Eph 1:3; Col 1:3; 1Pe 1 :3; Rev 1:6). By his resurrection and ascension, Jesus is designated the Son of God (Rom 1: 3) and is thus preached by the first messengers (Act 8:37; Act 9:20; Act 13:33; 2Co 1:19) . The distinction and difference between Jesus and the great prophets of Israel is that Jesus is the only Son of God (Hebrews 1; 2Co 3:6). Finally, there is the trinitarian formula in Mat 28:19. See CHILDREN OF GOD, see CHILDREN OF GOD.
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
These terms are used to refer to the Lord Jesus in a way that is unprecedented in the OT, the Apocrypha, and pseudepigraphical literature. It was a pagan custom that certain kings or leaders were called sons of some divinity. The Chaldeans and the Romans developed the cult of the king or emperor as a god. But when the NT presents the Lord Jesus with this title it is pointing to the special position that he has within the Triune Deity.
The Jews never believed that the Messiah would be God Himself. The most they came to say was that God had, in his eternal knowledge, the name of the one who would be the Messiah. Certain expressions, especially in Ps. 2 and others (“I will publish the decree: The Lord has said to me: You are my son; today I have begotten you”), although applicable to the Messiah, were interpreted as situations that would occur in time . The expression at Hos 11:1 (“out of Egypt have I called my son”) was rightly taken as referring to Israel. It is the Holy Spirit who interprets in the NT that this scripture also referred to the Lord Jesus (Mat 2:15).
on the day of the baptism of the Lord Jesus, God openly said that he was his “beloved Son” in whom he was content, which he ratified on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mat 17:5). Christ is “the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father”, the only one who can make God known (Joh 1:18). It is interesting that the best manuscripts read “the only begotten God,” an expression sometimes found in rabbinic literature. Christ himself taught † œthat God was his own Father, making himself equal with God † (Joh 5:18). It is clear that these terms can lead to confusion if we somehow relate them to concepts of space and time. No word in the human vocabulary really serves to accurately describe this reality. The Holy Spirit chose the term “son” because it is the closest, for the human mind, to express the type of relationship that exists between the first and second persons of the “Trinity”. The words Father and Son, then, must never be understood to mean that the latter had a beginning.
The Father and the Son have the same power, “for as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever He wishes” (John 5:21). The Father forgives sins and so does the Son (Mat 9:1-8). The Father and the Son deserve equal honor (“That all may honor the Son as they honor the Father”). †¢Jesus Christ. †¢Trinity.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
In Christianity it is clear that it is an expression referring to the personal, concrete, explicit and direct identity and to the mysterious relationship of Jesus, God and man, with the Lord God, who He reveals as Father. “The one you say is your God” (Jn. 9.54; 10.30; 5.18)
The expression yet is not exclusively Christian. In various religions, also in the Roman one, various men are made “sons of a god, of Jupiter or of another divinity.”
(See Jesus. Message 5. See Incarnation))
Pedro Chico González, Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy, Editorial Bruño, Lima, Peru 2006
Source: Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy
(v. Jesus Christ, Trinity)
(ESQUERDA BIFET, Juan, Dictionary of Evangelization, BAC, Madrid, 1998)
Source: Dictionary of Evangelization
DJN
A
SUMMARY: 1. of God in the socio-cultural environment of nascent Christianity. -two. The title “Son of God” in the evangelical tradition. -3. Jesus and the Father. 3.1. The fatherhood of God in Judaism. 3.2. Jesus, the Son. 3.3. Jesus, Messiah and Son of God. – 4. Son of God in the work of each of the Evangelists. 4.1. The crucified Son of God: Mark. 4.2. The mighty and obedient Son of God: Matthew. 4.3. The Son of God conceived and led by the Spirit: Luke. 4.4. The Only Begotten Son of the Father: John.
Even if you ignore its enormous importance in the…