The New Testament (NT) repeatedly identifies Jesus as the Son of God. Mark writes, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). At Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration, the heavenly voice announced, “This is My beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5). When Jesus later asked his apostles, “‘who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:15-16). And the author of the Gospel of John concludes, “these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). The central theme of all four NT gospels is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
But what does it mean that Jesus is the Son of God? Most Christians have thought it means he is God. Indeed, that is what the institutional church has always taught.
Post-apostolic church fathers were somewhat influenced by Greek religio-philosophy in the formation of their theology. Polytheistic Greeks and Romans believed in the many gods of their mythologies. They reasoned that these gods metaphysically generated gods similar to human beings physically procreating their descendants.
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Author: Kermit Zarley
Keywords: Trinity, Triunity, Trinitarianism, Trinitarian, Arianism, Arian, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Father son holy spirit, Father son holy ghost, Triune, Three persons in one God, Jesus God, God the Son, Nicene, Nicean Creed, Council of Nicaea, Council of Nicea, homoiousios, Homoousios, Homoiousian, Son of God, Thou art my son, This day I have begotten thee, Begotten God
Bible reference(s): Psa 2:7, Psa 2:12, Dan 3:25, Dan 7:13, Matthew 3:17, Mat 4:3, Mat 4:6, Mat 8:29, Mat 14:33, Mat 16:16, Matthew 17:5, Mat 26:63, Mat 27:43, Mar 1:1, Mar 15:39, Luk 1:35, Luk 3:38, Luk 4:3, Luk 4:9, Luk 22:70, Joh 1:34, Joh 1:49, Joh 3:18, Joh 5:25, Joh 9:35, Joh 10:36, Joh 11:27, Joh 19:7, Joh 20:31, Act 8:37, Act 9:20, Act 13:33, Romans 1:4, 2 Corinthians 1:19, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 4:13, Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 6:6, Hebrews 7:3, Hebrews 10:29, 1 John 3:8, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 5:5, 1 John 5:10, 1 John 5:12, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:20, Revelation 2:18
Source: “Is Jesus God Because He Is the Son of God?” The Restitution of Jesus Christ, 2008.
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