Son of God (Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, trinity, Christian, Christ)

[Katzpur]

I've just heard some Christians here on RF state that since the Father and the Son are "one," Jesus' sonship is not to be understood as actually describing His relationship with His Father. That's something that doesn't make sense to me since I interpret this phrase literally. Mary was literally Jesus' mother? Was God the Father literally Jesus' Father? To me, the answer is "yes."

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

In the social world of the NT and its theological context, I think so.

(I know that the language of sonship supports orthodoxy...)

What I mean is that the social world of the New Testament supports the interpretation of "Son of God" as referring to the unity of Father and Son. The "social world" is the unique bonds between people: family members, community leaders, and other people in the ancient society that created and received the New Testament. The relationship between father and son was very close, so close that many believed that immortality was achieved through their sons. Sonship preserved the economic and legal fabric of ancient societies - both Hebrew and Roman.

Personal identity also included sons. That is, sons and fathers (as well as others) included one another when they said "I" or "me."

I'm not sure.

(... but I'm not sure how much it undermines it in this case)

Nevertheless, Roman and Hebrew law allowed for the killing of sons under certain circumstances. This undermines the family unity outlined above, but a father may consider himself dead after he kills his son, and kill himself realizing that their seed is dead.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

I've just heard some Christians here on RF state that since the Father and the Son are "one," Jesus' sonship is not to be understood as actually describing His relationship with His Father. That's something that doesn't make sense to me since I interpret this phrase literally. Mary was literally Jesus' mother? Was God the Father literally Jesus' Father? To me, the answer is "yes."

The relationship with Jesus and the Father have been a difficulty for orthodoxy for centuries. It's not an easy thing to understand or discuss.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

The relationship with Jesus and the Father have been a difficulty for orthodoxy for centuries. It's not an easy thing to understand or discuss.

Yes, that's what I've gathered. Thanks for the good effort.

[ἀλήθεια]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

When you think of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, do you think of Him as a literal son or as a symbolic/metaphorical/figurative son? Why?

When you say "literal," do you mean that the Father sired Him the way men sire their scions? Jesus was always God and when Mary became pregnant it wasn't the way my mother did! Mary was still a virgin when she gave birth.