Jesus the Son of God

A Christological Title Often Overlooked, Sometimes Misunderstood, and Currently Disputed

Don Carson shows what bearing study of Jesus as the Son of God has on the way Christians should think about Jesus, their evangelism and worship, and engages with current controversies regarding translation of the title, especially in Muslim contexts. _

’I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in his only Son Jesus, our Lord.’

Millions of Christians recite these words from the Apostles’ Creed week by week - but what does it mean to confess Jesus as God’s only Son ? What does it mean to say that the God of the Bible has a Son ? It cannot possibly mean exactly the same thing as when a human parent says, ‘Yes, I have a son.’

Moreover, in various places in Scripture we learn that Adam is God’s son, Israel is God’s son, king Solomon is God’s son, the Israelites are sons of God, the peacemakers shall be called sons of God, and angels can be referred to as God’s sons. So in what way is Jesus’ sonship like, or unlike, any of these ? Why should we think of him as God’s only Son ?

With clarity and insight, Don Carson addresses these questions, and shows what bearing study of Jesus as the Son of God has on the way Christians should think about Jesus, their evangelism and worship. He also engages with current debates regarding translation of the title, especially in Muslim contexts.