I thought I saw a discussion on the phrase "Son of God" earlier in this thread (
@KoncreteMind ). Here is a great addition from
answeringislam.org on Jesus' revered and unique position above others who have been labeled as sons of God in scriptures. When used as one of the descriptors for Jesus Christ, it sets Him apart from all the rest-definitively!
Jesus, on the other hand, is the unique Son of God:
"For God so loved the world that he gave
his one and only Son (ton huion ton monogenee), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life… Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of
God's one and only Son (tou monogenous huiou tou theou)." John 3:16, 18
The term
monogenes literally means of sole descent, only one of its kind, unique (
*). Thus, Jesus is the only Son of his kind, God’s Son in a unique manner, Son in a sense that no one else is.
(1)
Christ’s uniqueness consists of his having the following qualities and characteristics:
1.He bears the very nature of God:
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:4-6
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped," Philippians 2:5-6
"
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him," Colossians 1:15, 19
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory
and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:3
Christ bearing the nature or form of God and being the very exact representation of God’s being means that he is fully God in essence, that he has every essential attribute of God. This is precisely the point made by both John and Paul in their inspired writings:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God (kai theos een ho logos)." John 1:1
John places the word "God" (
theos) before the verb "was" (
een) in order to stress and emphasize the qualities or nature of the Word. John is basically saying that the Word has all the essential qualities of Deity, possessing the very nature of God. Paul says the same thing when he writes that:
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form," Colossians 2:9
In light of this does it come as a surprise that Jesus is addressed as God or
Theos in the NT?
"Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and
my God!’" John 20:28
"Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ,
who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." Romans 9:5
"while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing
of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ," Titus 2:13
"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of
our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:" 2 Peter 1:1
Or that OT prophecy identifies him as the Mighty God?
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6-7
God Bless as you read, study, and meditate upon His true word.