Definition and Concept

Sonship in the biblical context refers to the relationship between God and His people, characterized by adoption, inheritance, and identity. It is a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments, illustrating the intimate and covenantal relationship God desires with His followers. Sonship encompasses both the status of being a child of God and the responsibilities and privileges that come with it.

Old Testament Background

In the Old Testament, the concept of sonship is primarily associated with Israel as a nation. God refers to Israel as His "firstborn son" in Exodus 4:22-23: "Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son, and I told you to let My son go, so he may worship Me.’" This designation signifies a special relationship and covenant between God and Israel, marked by divine protection, guidance, and blessing.

The Davidic Covenant further develops the theme of sonship, where God promises David that his offspring will have a father-son relationship with Him. In 2 Samuel 7:14, God declares, "I will be his Father, and he will be My son." This covenantal promise points to the coming Messiah, who would fulfill the ultimate role of the Son of God.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, sonship is expanded and fulfilled through Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. Jesus is uniquely the "Son of God," as affirmed in passages like Matthew 3:17, where God declares at Jesus' baptism, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Jesus' sonship is both divine and messianic, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and establishing a new covenant.

Believers in Christ are granted the status of sonship through faith and the work of the Holy Spirit. John 1:12 states, "But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." This adoption into God's family is a transformative act, conferring upon believers the rights and privileges of being God's children.

Theological Implications

Sonship carries profound theological implications for believers. It signifies a new identity in Christ, where believers are no longer slaves to sin but are heirs with Christ. Romans 8:15-17 articulates this truth: "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."

This relationship is marked by intimacy, access to the Father, and the promise of eternal inheritance. Galatians 4:6-7 reinforces this, stating, "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God."

Practical Aspects of Sonship

Sonship also entails responsibilities, including living in a manner worthy of the calling as children of God. Ephesians 5:1-2 exhorts believers, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God." This call to holiness and love reflects the character of God and the transformative power of being His children.

Furthermore, sonship involves participation in the mission of God, as believers are called to reflect His glory and share the message of reconciliation with the world. As sons and daughters of God, Christians are ambassadors of Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

Conclusion

The biblical doctrine of sonship reveals the depth of God's love and the transformative power of His grace. Through Christ, believers are adopted into God's family, receiving the rights and responsibilities of being His children. This relationship is marked by intimacy, inheritance, and a call to live in accordance with the character and mission of God.(n.) The state of being a son, or of bearing the relation of a son; filiation.5206. huiothesia -- adoption
... adoption. From a presumed compound of huios and a derivative of tithemi; the placing
as a son, ie Adoption (figuratively, Christian sonship in respect to God ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5206.htm - 7k

Sonship
... SERMON VIII. SONSHIP. John v.19, 20, 30. Then answered Jesus, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon viii sonship.htm

Further Explanation of the "Sonship. "
... Book VII. Chapter XIII."Further Explanation of the "Sonship.". When,
therefore, according to these (heretics), the entire world ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xiii further explanation of the.htm

Analogies to the Sonship of Christ.
... Chapter XXII."Analogies to the sonship of Christ. Moreover, the Son of God
called Jesus, even if only a man by ordinary generation ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/chapter xxii analogies to the sonship.htm

Origin of the World; Basilides' Account of the "Sonship. "
... Book VII. Chapter X."Origin of the World; Basilides' Account of the "Sonship.".
All things, therefore whatsoever it is possible ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter x origin of the world.htm

The Holy Spirit Bearing Witness to Our Sonship.
... CHAPTER XV. THE HOLY SPIRIT BEARING WITNESS TO OUR SONSHIP. ... But there is
another witness to our sonship, namely, the Holy Spirit. ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter xv the holy spirit.htm

Subject Continued. Objection, that the Son's Eternity Makes Him ...
... Objection, that the Son's eternity makes Him coordinate with the Father, introduces
the subject of His Divine Sonship, as a second proof of His eternity. ...
/.../chapter v subject continued objection that.htm

Basilides.
... There was, then, he says, in the seed itself a threefold Sonship, in all respects
of the same substance with the nonexistent God, which has been begotten from ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter x basilides.htm

Whether Each of the Divine Persons could have Assumed Human Nature ...
... of sons, according to Rom.8:15: "For you have not received the spirit of bondage
again in fear, but the spirit of adoption of sons." But sonship by adoption is ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether each of the divine.htm

Whence came the Gospel; the Number of Heavens According to ...
... The Gospel then came, says (Basilides), first from the Sonship through the Son,
that was seated beside the Archon, to the Archon, and the Archon learned that ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xiv whence came the gospel.htm

God's Dealings with the Creature; Basilides' Notion of -1 the ...
... When, therefore, he says, the entire Sonship shall have come, and shall be above
the conterminous spirit, then the creature will become the object of mercy. ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xv gods dealings with the.htm

Sonship (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sonship (3 Occurrences). ... Galatians 4:5 that he might
redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship. (DBY). ...
/s/sonship.htm - 7k

Malefactor (2 Occurrences)
... 1. New Testament Terms: Two Greek words are translated "son," teknon, huios, both
words indicating sonship by parentage, the former indicating that the sonship...
/m/malefactor.htm - 49k

Adoption (5 Occurrences)
... that God, by the manifestation of His grace in Christ, brings men into the relation
of sons to Himself, and communicates to them the experience of sonship. ...
/a/adoption.htm - 23k

Begotten (77 Occurrences)
... The author of Heb thinks of the eternal and essential sonship of Christ as realized
in history in His ascension to the "right hand of the Majesty" (Hebrews 1:3 ...
/b/begotten.htm - 33k

God (45911 Occurrences)
... Introduction: Meaning of Terms I. OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING 1. Mythological Survivals
2. Created Sonship 3. Israel's Collective Covenant Sonship 4. Individual and ...
/g/god.htm - 101k

Children
... Introduction: Meaning of Terms I. OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING 1. Mythological Survivals
2. Created Sonship 3. Israel's Collective Covenant Sonship 4. Individual and ...
/c/children.htm - 62k

Sons (2429 Occurrences)
... 1. New Testament Terms: Two Greek words are translated "son," teknon, huios, both
words indicating sonship by parentage, the former indicating that the sonship...
/s/sons.htm - 65k

Flame (61 Occurrences)
... 8. The "Son" in Mark 13:32: There is a saying of Jesus (Mark 13:32) about His own
Sonship which may seem to refute the church doctrine on the subject, as in it ...
/f/flame.htm - 61k

Son (25967 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/s/son.htm - 48k

Kindness (295 Occurrences)
... another. As sonship is the most essential factor in man's right relation
to God, so is brotherhood in his relation to his fellow-man. ...
/k/kindness.htm - 45k

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