Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5650 Human relationships  »  5738 sons

The male offspring of parents. While sharing in the general privileges and responsibilities of children, sons had special claims to inheritance from their parents. To refer to Christians as “sons of God” is to identify both their relationship to God and also their rights as heirs of God. A significant number of titles for Jesus Christ make use of the term “Son”, stressing the close relationship between the Father and Son.

Privileges of sonship

Inheritance

Proverbs 13:22; Galatians 4:7; Hebrews 1:2

Being disciplined

Discipline is here seen as a loving means of enabling a child to grow to maturity:

Deuteronomy 8:5; Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 29:17; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19

Being loved and provided for

Luke 11:11-13 pp Matthew 7:9-11

Being prayed for

See also Genesis 17:18-20; 2 Samuel 12:16; Job 1:5

Examples of good sons

Genesis 9:23 Shem and Japheth; Genesis 22:6-12 Isaac

Joseph:

Genesis 45:8-11; Genesis 47:11-12 Luke 2:51 The voluntary obedience of the child Jesus towards Mary and Joseph is widely regarded as setting an example for believers.

Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:5; Timothy 3:14-15

Examples of bad sons

Genesis 37:1-35 Jacob's eleven sons; Luke 15:11-32

Christians as sons of God

Hebrews 12:5-6 See also Romans 8:14; Romans 9:26; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Hebrews 12:7

Adopted sons

Exodus 2:10 See also Genesis 48:5

Sons-in-law

Genesis 19:12-14; Judges 19:5; 1 Samuel 18:18-27

Family relationships must be subservient to one's relationship with God

Matthew 10:35 pp Luke 12:53; Matthew 10:37

Son as an honorific term

Matthew 9:2 pp Matthew 9:5; Luke 15:31

Sons in a spiritual role

1 Timothy 1:18 See also Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17; 2 Timothy 1:1

Son in a non-literal sense

Matthew 23:15; Mark 3:17; John 12:36; Acts 4:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Titles of Jesus Christ as Son

Son

Isaiah 9:6 See also Psalm 2:7,12; Matthew 3:17; John 3:35

Son of Joseph

Jesus Christ is described in this way by those who have yet to understand the circumstances of his conception and birth:

Luke 3:23; John 1:45; John 6:42

Son of Mary

Mark 6:3

Son of David

Matthew 15:22 See also Mark 10:47-48 pp Luke 18:38-39

Son of God

Acts 9:20 See also Matthew 4:3; Luke 1:35; John 1:34; John 19:7; Romans 1:3-4; 1 John 5:5

Son of the living God

Matthew 16:16

Son of the Most High

See also Luke 1:32

Son of Man

Luke 19:10 See also Matthew 8:20; Matthew 17:22; Mark 9:12; Luke 17:22; John 5:27; Acts 7:56

See also

2078  Christ, sonship of
5658  boys
5661  brothers
5664  children
5674  daughters
5680  family
5701  heir
5703  inheritance
5708  marriage
5731  parents
6608  adoption
7115  children of God