SON OF GOD, SON OF MAN

Scripture references are to the

NIV-U.K. print edition of 1984.

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JESUS IS IDENTIFIED by others and by Himself as ʻthe Son of Godʼ (Matt. 4:3).

He is occasionally called by others and Himself, ʻthe Son of Davidʼ, following the Jewish tradition of asserting one's cultural or religious lineage (Matt. 15:22).

And it was common for a son to be linked not only with his father, or a trade, but also with a trait of character, as with James and John, the fleshly sons of Zebedee, but styled by Jesus ʻSons of Thunderʼ (Mark 3:17).

Jesus also frequently referred to Himself as ʻthe Son of Man [anthropos]ʼ.

He did not mean by this that He was just one of the people or of ordinary human descent.

The Scriptures plainly declare that He was not (John 1:14). At no time did Jesus refer to Adam as His father, though He was nonetheless the pre-eminent (outstanding) representative of the human family. As such He was heir to headship (Lord) over the human family, purchasing this right by His sacrificial death (Rom. 14:9). Simply put, He became the new owner of the human race.

This title, Son of Man, applied to Jesus before and after His resurrection. See Mark 13:26, ʻthe Son of Man . . . coming in clouds with great power and gloryʼ; Luke 18:8, ʻwhen the Son of Man comes . . .ʼ). See also Matt. 16:13-16, in which ʻthe Son of Manʼ (v.13) is regarded by Peter as synonymous with ʻthe Son of . . . Godʼ (v.16).

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