JESUS AS SON OF GOD
Term used to express the deity of Jesus of Nazareth as the one, unique Son of God.
In the Old Testament, certain men and angels (Gen. 6:1-4; Psalms. 29:1; 82:6; 89:6) are called "sons of God".
The people of Israel were corporately considered the son of God (Ex. 4:22; Jer. 31:20; Hos. 11:1). The concept also is employed in the Old Testament with reference to the king as God's son (Ps. 2:7).
The promises found in the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7:14) are the source for this special filial relationship. The title can be found occasionally in intertestamental implications (Wisdom. of Sol. 2:16,18; 4 Ezra 7:28-29; 13:32,37,52; 14:9; Book of Enoch 105:2).
Jesus' own assertions and intimations indicate that references to Him as Son of God can be traced to Jesus Himself. At the center of Jesus' identity in the Fourth Gospel is His divine sonship (John 10:36). Jesus conceived of His divine sonship as unique as indicated by such assertions as "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30 NIV) and the "Father is in me and I am in the Father" (John 10:38 NRSV). Elsewhere, He frequently referred to God as "my Father" (John 5:17; 6:32; 8:54; 10:18; 15:15; Matt. 7:21; 10:32-33; 20:23; 26:29,53; Mark 8:38; Luke 2:49; 10:21-22).
At Jesus' baptism and transfiguration, God the Father identified Jesus as His son, in passages reflecting Psalm 2:7. He was identified as Son of God by an angel prior to His birth (Luke 1:32, 35); by Satan at His temptation (Matt. 4:3, 6); by John the Baptist (John 1:34); by the centurion at the crucifixion (Matt. 27:54). Several of His followers ascribed to Him this title in various contexts (Matt. 14:33; 16:16; John 1:49; 11:27).
The term Son of God reveals Jesus' divine sonship and is closely associated with His royal position as Messiah. Gabriel told Mary that her Son would not only be called the Son of God, but would also reign on the messianic (David's) throne (Luke 1:32-33). The connection of Son of God with Jesus' royal office is also found in John (1:49; 11:27; 20:30), in Paul (Rom. 1:3-4; 1 Cor. 15:28; Col. 1:13), and in Luke (Acts 9:20-22).
Primarily, the title Son of God affirms Jesus' deity evidenced by His person and His work. John emphasized Jesus' personal relationship to the Father. Paul stressed the salvation that Jesus provided (Rom. 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:10), and the author of Hebrews focused on Jesus' priesthood (5:5). All of these are vitally related to His position as Son of God.
