Son of God

Son of God - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

The plural, "sons of God," is used (Gen. 6:2, 4) to denote the pious descendants of Seth. In Job 1:6; 38:7 this name is applied to the angels. Hosea uses the phrase (1:10) to designate the gracious relation in which men stand to God.

In the New Testament this phrase frequently denotes the relation into which we are brought to God by adoption (Rom. 8:14, 19; 2 Cor. 6:18; Gal. 4:5, 6; Phil. 2:15; 1 John 3:1, 2). It occurs thirty-seven times in the New Testament as the distinctive title of our Saviour. He does not bear this title in consequence of his miraculous birth, nor of his incarnation, his resurrection, and exaltation to the Father's right hand. This is a title of nature and not of office. The sonship of Christ denotes his equality with the Father. To call Christ the Son of God is to assert his true and proper divinity. The second Person of the Trinity, because of his eternal relation to the first Person, is the Son of God. He is the Son of God as to his divine nature, while as to his human nature he is the Son of David (Rom. 1:3, 4. Comp. Gal. 4:4; John 1:1-14; 5:18-25; 10:30-38, which prove that Christ was the Son of God before his incarnation, and that his claim to this title is a claim of equality with God).

When used with reference to creatures, whether men or angels, this word is always in the plural. In the singular it is always used of the second Person of the Trinity, with the single exception of Luke 3:38, where it is used of Adam.

Definition

The term “Son of God” refers to Jesus, the Word of God, who came into the world as a human being. He is also often referred to as “the Son.”

• The Son of God has the same nature as God the Father, and is fully God.
• God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all of one essence.
• Unlike human sons, the Son of God has always existed.
• In the beginning, the Son of God was active in creating the world, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Because Jesus is God’s Son, he loves and obeys his Father, and his Father loves him.

Translation Suggestions

• For the term “Son of God,” it is best to translate “Son” with the same word the language would naturally use to refer to a human son.
• Make sure the word used to translate “son” fits with the word used to translate “father” and that these words are the most natural ones used to express a true father-son relationship in the project language.
• Using a capital letter to begin “Son” may help show that this is talking about God.
• The phrase “the Son” is a shortened form of “the Son of God,” especially when it occurs in the same context as “the Father.”

(Translation suggestions: How to Translate Names)

(See also: Christ, ancestor, God, God the Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, son, sons of God)

Bible References

• 1 John 4:10
• Acts 9:20
• Colossians 1:17
• Galatians 2:20
• Hebrews 4:14
• John 3:18
• Luke 10:22
• Matthew 11:27
• Revelation 2:18
• Romans 8:29

Examples from the Bible stories

• __22:5 The angel explained, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of God will overshadow you. So the baby will be holy, the Son of God__.”
• __24:9 God had told John, “The Holy Spirit will come down and rest on someone you baptize. That person is the Son of God__.”
• __31:8 The disciples were amazed. They worshiped Jesus, saying to him, “Truly, you are the Son of God__.”
• __37:5 Martha answered, “Yes, Master! I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God__.”
• __42:10 “So go, make disciples of all people groups by baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son__, and the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
• __46:6 Right away, Saul began preaching to the Jews in Damascus, saying, “Jesus is the Son of God__!”
• __49:9 But God loved everyone in the world so much that he gave his only Son__ so that whoever believes in Jesus will not be punished for his sins, but will live with God forever.

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0426, H0430, H1121, H1247, G23160, G52070