📖 Biblical Definition
"Son of God" is the supreme New Testament title for Christ’s eternal deity and unique relationship to the Father. He is not a son of God in the generic sense in which believers are sons of God by adoption (Romans 8:14-15; Galatians 4:5-7). He is the Son — in the unique, eternal, ontological sense — "the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9). He is "of one substance with the Father" (Nicene Creed) — eternally generated, fully God, distinct in Person but one in essence. "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee" (Psalm 2:7; Hebrews 1:5). Every believing confession of Christ as Son of God hangs the gospel on this eternal sonship.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
SON, n.
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1. A male child. 2. Son of God — specifically, Jesus Christ, who is the proper, only-begotten Son of God; in distinction from the angels and from saints, who are called sons by creation or adoption.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 3:17 — "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 16:16 — "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
John 1:18 — "The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father."
Mark 15:39 — "Truly this man was the Son of God."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
“Son of God” in Scripture means full deity; modern revisions try to soften it into spiritual adoption.
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The Pharisees understood “Son of God” better than many modern Christians do. When Jesus called Himself the Son, they sought to kill Him because He made himself equal with God (John 5:18). The phrase did not mean a generic religious sonship; in Jewish ears, it meant a claim of full deity. Christ never corrected the understanding. He confirmed it.
Modern liberal theology often softens Son of God into “a man uniquely close to God,” a kind of moral exemplar with intimate spirituality. The early creeds rejected that softening: begotten not made, of one substance with the Father. If Jesus is a creature, however exalted, He cannot save creatures; only God can save. The Son of God is the Mighty God of Isaiah 9:6 and the I AM of John 8:58 and the Lord of Lords of Revelation 19. Worship the whole Christ.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek Huios tou Theou (G5207 + G2316).
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Usage
"The Pharisees understood “Son of God” better than modern liberal theology."
"Christ is the only-begotten Son; believers are sons by adoption — the categories must not be flattened."
"If Jesus is a creature, He cannot save creatures; only God saves."