A title emphasising Jesus Christ's deity, his office as Messiah and his pre-eminence as the object of the church's faith and worship and as the content of its gospel.
``Son of God'' in the OT
Israel as God's son
Exodus 4:22–23 See also Jeremiah 31:9, Jeremiah 31:20; Hosea 11:1
Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son, and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”
The future Messiah/king as God's Son
Psalm 2:7 See also Psalm 89:27; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 5:5 Jesus Christ perfectly fulfils all the OT promises concerning God's son, whether referring originally to Israel or to the Messiah.
I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God
Jesus Christ affirms he is God's Son
John 10:36 See also Luke 22:70 parallels Matthew 26:63–64, Mark 14:61–62; John 19:7; Revelation 2:18
then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?
The Father affirms Jesus Christ is his Son
Matthew 3:17 parallels Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22 See also Matthew 17:5 parallels Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35; 2 Peter 1:17
And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Others affirm Jesus Christ is God's Son
Matthew 14:33 See also Mark 15:39 parallel Matthew 27:54; John 1:34; Romans 1:4; Hebrews 4:14; 2 John 1:3
Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
Demons affirm Jesus Christ is God's Son
Mark 5:7 parallels Matthew 8:29, Luke 8:28 See also Mark 3:11; Luke 4:41
And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!”
``Son of God'' as a taunt
By the devil in the wilderness: Matthew 4:3 parallel Luke 4:3; Matthew 4:6 parallel Luke 4:9; Matthew 27:40, Matthew 27:43
``Son of God'' stresses Jesus Christ's deity
Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father
John 3:35 In John's Gospel in particular, the terms Son/Father are used many times to speak of Jesus Christ's unique relationship with God. See also Matthew 11:27 parallel Luke 10:22; Matthew 24:36 parallel Mark 13:32; John 5:20–22; Hebrews 1:1–2; 1 John 1:3, 1 John 2:22–23; 2 John 1:9
The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
``Son of God'' implies Jesus Christ's equality with God
John 5:18 See also John 5:23, John 10:30, John 10:33, John 14:9–10
Because of this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
``Son of God'' implies Jesus Christ's obedience to the Father
John 5:19 See also Matthew 26:39 parallels Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42; Matthew 26:42; John 8:28, John 12:49, John 14:31, John 15:10; Romans 5:19; Hebrews 5:8, Hebrews 10:9
So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
Jesus Christ as ``Son of God'' is the Messiah
``Son of God'' as a Messianic title for Jesus Christ
Matthew 26:63–64 parallels Mark 14:61–62, Luke 22:70–23:2 See also Matthew 16:16; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:32, Luke 4:41; John 1:49, John 11:27
But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” “You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
``Son of God'' as one sent by God
Galatians 4:4 See also Matthew 21:37 parallels Mark 12:6, Luke 20:13; John 3:16–17; Romans 8:3, Romans 8:32; 1 John 4:9
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Grounds for regarding Jesus Christ as the Son of God
The virgin birth
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
Jesus Christ's resurrection
regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus Christ's works
John 10:36–38 See also John 5:17, John 5:19, John 5:36, John 14:11
then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God? If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me. But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”
Jesus Christ's oneness with the Father
John 10:30 See also John 12:45, John 14:10, John 17:21
I and the Father are one.”
Jesus Christ as Son of God is the object of the church's faith
John 6:40 See also John 3:36, John 20:31; Acts 8:37; Galatians 2:20; 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 5:5, 1 John 5:13
For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Jesus Christ as Son of God is the content of the church's gospel
Romans 1:9 See also Acts 9:20; 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 John 5:9–12
God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.