What Does the Term "Son of God" Mean in the Bible?
The designation son/sons of God or son of a god was commonly used in the Ancient Near East to indicate a man's adoption by a god. In the Old Testament, the expression applied to:
The title "Son of God" appears in both the Old and New Testaments (see CCC 441-45). In the New Testament, the expression applied not only to Jesus but to all people of all nations who submitted to the Sacrament of Christian Baptism and became sons and daughters in the family of God (Matthew 5:9, 45; 7:11; Luke 6:35; 11:13; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1-2).
In the Old and New Testaments, it meant that a special relationship united certain people to God. However, in the New Testament, the expression offers an extensive range of meanings, referring to:
In the New Testament, the title "Son of God identifies Jesus as the promised Davidic Messiah, as St.Paul wrote to the Christians of Rome: This is the Gospel concerning his son who, in terms of human nature, was born a descendant of David and who, in terms of the Spirit and of holiness was designated Son of God in power by resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom we have received grace and our apostolic mission of winning the obedience of faith among all the nations for the honor of his name (Romans 1:3-5, NJB).
Christianity hinges on the belief that Jesus is the Son of God. He is called the "Son of God" in the New Testament about one hundred times. Jesus did not use the term for Himself but readily offered Himself as "the Son" above all others (Matthew 11:27; 24:36; Mark 12:6; 13:32; Luke 10:22; 20:13). God was His "Abba" (Father) in a particular way (Mark 14:36) and communicated everything to Jesus (Matthew 11:25-27; Luke 10:21f), affirmed by the heavenly testimony, "You are My Son" (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35). St. John explicitly identified the intimate relationship Jesus had with His Father in the prologue to his Gospel and his Gospel (John 1:1-18; 5:19-30; 10:29, 36-38). And St. Paul proclaimed Jesus was the Son of God in his letters (Romans 1:3f; 5:10; 8:29ff).
With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, believers became adopted sons (sons in Greek = huioi) and daughters of God (Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:26; 4:5-7; Ephesians 1:5; Hebrews 2:10; 12:5-8; Revelation 21:7). And they also became sharers in God's divine nature and the obligations that special relationship requires: Through these, the greatest and priceless promises have been lavished on us, that through them you should share the divine nature and escape the corruption rife in the world through disordered passion. With this in view, do your utmost to support your faith with goodness, goodness with understanding, understanding with self-control, self-control with perseverance, perseverance with devotion, devotion with kindness to the brothers, and kindness to the brothers with love. The possession and growth of these qualities will prevent your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ from being ineffectual or unproductive (2 Peter 1:4-8, NJB).
Do not take for granted the call you answered to become a son or daughter of God through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Instead, conform your life to Christ and live in His image and likeness so you will one day be greeted by God the Father as a worthy child of the heavenly Kingdom.
Catechism references:
Son of God (CCC 423-24, 441-45, 454, 1286, 2783)
Jesus the Messiah (CCC 440, 453, 547)
Baptism (necessary for salvation = CCC 846, 1253, 1256-61, 1277); sacrament of faith (CCC 1236, 1253)
Confirmation (CCC 1285-1321); significance of (CCC 1289); salvation and (CCC 1286-92); increase of baptismal grace (CCC 1303, 1316); indelible character and outpouring of the Spirit (CCC 1302, 1304-05, 1317)
The abbreviation NJB = a quote from the New Jerusalem Bible and CCC represents the Cathechism of the Catholic Church.
Michal E Hunt, Copyright © 2021 Agape Bible Study. Permissions All Rights Reserved.