The male offspring of parents. While sharing in the general privileges and responsibilities of children, sons had special claims to inheritance from their parents. To refer to Christians as “sons of God” is to identify both their relationship to God and also their rights as heirs of God. A significant number of titles for Jesus Christ make use of the term “Son”, stressing the close relationship between the Father and Son.
Privileges of sonship
Inheritance
Proverbs 13:22; Galatians 4:7; Hebrews 1:2
Being disciplined
Discipline is here seen as a loving means of enabling a child to grow to maturity: Deuteronomy 8:5; Proverbs 19:18, Proverbs 29:17; Hebrews 12:5–11; Revelation 3:19
Being loved and provided for
Luke 11:11–13 parallel Matthew 7:9–11
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Being prayed for
See also Genesis 17:18–20; 2 Samuel 12:16; Job 1:5
Examples of good sons
Genesis 9:23 Shem and Japheth; Genesis 22:6–12 Isaac; Genesis 45:8–11, Genesis 47:11–12; Luke 2:51 The voluntary obedience of the child Jesus towards Mary and Joseph is widely regarded as setting an example for believers.; 2 Timothy 1:5, 2 Timothy 3:14–15
Examples of bad sons
Genesis 37:1–35 Jacob's eleven sons; Luke 15:11–32
Christians as sons of God
Hebrews 12:5–6 See also Romans 8:14, Romans 9:26; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Hebrews 12:7
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”
Adopted sons
Exodus 2:10 See also Genesis 48:5
When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”
Sons-in-law
Genesis 19:12–14; Judges 19:5; 1 Samuel 18:18–27
Family relationships must be subservient to one's relationship with God
Matthew 10:35 parallel Luke 12:53; Matthew 10:37
Son as an honorific term
Matthew 9:2 parallel Matthew 9:5; Luke 15:31
Sons in a spiritual role
1 Timothy 1:18 See also Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17; 2 Timothy 1:1
Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
Son in a non-literal sense
Matthew 23:15; Mark 3:17; John 12:36; Acts 4:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:5
Titles of Jesus Christ as Son
Son
Isaiah 9:6 See also Psalm 2:7, Psalm 2:12; Matthew 3:17; John 3:35
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Son of Joseph
Jesus Christ is described in this way by those who have yet to understand the circumstances of his conception and birth: Luke 3:23; John 1:45, John 6:42
Son of Mary
Son of David
Matthew 15:22 See also Mark 10:47–48 parallel Luke 18:38–39
And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”
Son of God
Acts 9:20 See also Matthew 4:3; Luke 1:35; John 1:34, John 19:7; Romans 1:3–4; 1 John 5:5
Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
Son of the living God
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Son of the Most High
See also Luke 1:32
Son of Man
Luke 19:10 See also Matthew 8:20, Matthew 17:22; Mark 9:12; Luke 17:22; John 5:27; Acts 7:56
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
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.