Reference: Children (Sons) Of God
Hastings
There are a few passages in the OT in which the term 'sons of God' is applied to angelic beings (Ge 6:1-4; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; cf. Da 3:25 RV). Once the judges of Israel are referred to as 'gods,' perhaps as appointed by God and vested with His authority (but the passage is very obscure; may the words be ironical?), and, in parallel phrase, as 'sons of the Most High' (Ps 82:6, cf. Joh 10:34; also, Ps 29:1; 89:6 Revised Version margin).
With these exceptions, the term, with the correlative one of 'Father,' designates the relation of men to God and of God to men, with varying fulness of meaning. It is obvious that the use of such a figure has wide possibilities. To call God 'Father' may imply little more than that He is creator and ruler of men (cf. 'Zeus, father of gods and men'); or it may connote some phase of His providence towards a favoured individual or nation; or, again, it may assert that a father's love at its highest is the truest symbol we can frame of God's essential nature and God's disposition towards all men. Similarly, men may conceivably be styled 'children of God' from mere dependence, from special privilege, from moral likeness, or finally from a full and willing response to the Divine Fatherhood in filial love, trust, and obedience. It is, therefore, not surprising that the Scripture facts present a varying and progressive conception of God as Father and of men as His children.
I. In the OT.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God.
Ye have heard, that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy: but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that abuse you and persecute you; read more. that ye may be the children of your heavenly Father; for He causeth his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust.
that ye may be the children of your heavenly Father; for He causeth his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust. For if ye love only them that love you, what reward do ye expect? do not even the publicans the same? read more. and if ye embrace your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not the publicans so likewise? Be ye therefore perfect in love and goodness, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be observed by them: otherwise ye will have no reward from your Father, who is in heaven.
but if ye forgive not men their transgressions, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Look at the birds of the air; they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns: and yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye preferable to them?
And upon this occasion Jesus opened his mouth and said, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and knowing, and hast revealed them to babes:
And upon this occasion Jesus opened his mouth and said, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and knowing, and hast revealed them to babes:
But the righteous shall then shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
And going a little farther, He prostrated himself, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
But when ye pray, forgive, if ye have any thing against any one, that your heavenly Father may also forgive you your trespasses:
But do ye love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing from it: and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the sons of the most High; for He is kind even to the ungrateful and the wicked: be ye therefore merciful as your heavenly Father also is merciful.
All things are delivered to me by my Father: and none knoweth who the Son is, but the Father: and who the Father is, but the Son; and he to whom the Son pleaseth to reveal Him.
And He said unto them, when ye pray, say, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done as in heaven so also upon earth;
If ye then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask Him?
And Jesus cried with a loud voice and said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. And when He had said thus, He expired.
But as many as received Him, to them granted He the privilege to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name; who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. read more. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, being full of grace and truth: and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father.
and though no one hath ever seen God, or can see Him: yet the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, hath made Him known.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily verily I tell thee, Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born? read more. Jesus answered, I tell thee of a truth, Unless a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That, which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that, which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.
That, which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that, which is born of the Spirit, is spirit. Do not wonder that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. read more. As the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound of it, but knowest not whence it cometh, or whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
No one can come to me, unless the Father, who hath sent me, draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
and He said,) therefore I told you, that no one can come unto me except it be given him from my Father.
They answered Him, Abraham is our father, Jesus replied, If ye were the children of Abraham, ye would do the works of Abraham: but now ye seek to kill me, who have told you the truth which I have heard from God: Abraham did not thus. read more. But ye do the works of your father. Then said they unto Him, We are not born of fornication, we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your father, ye would love me: for I came forth, and do come, from God; neither came I of myself, but He sent me.
and not for the Jewish nation only, but that he might also gather together the children of God that are dispersed.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
Then ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not now; for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go directly to my brethren, and tell them, "I am to ascend to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God."
but these things are written, that ye may believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life through his name.
For in Him we live and move, and exist; as some also of your own poets have said, "For we his offspring are."
but powerfully declared to be the Son of God, according to the spirit of holiness, by his resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord;
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. read more. So that the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ: if so be we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified with Him. And I account the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be set against the glory that shall be revealed to us. For the earnest expectation of the world is waiting for the revelation of the sons of God: (for the world was subjected to vanity, not willingly, but through him who made it subject:) in hope that they also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole world groaneth, and doth as it were travail in pain together even to this day. And not only others, but those also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our body.
And not only others, but those also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen, is not hope; for what any one sees, how doth he yet hope for? read more. but if we hope for what we see not, then we wait for it with patience.
for those whom he foreknew, He also predetermined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that He might be as the first-born among many brethren: and whom He before ordained, these He also called;
for those whom he foreknew, He also predetermined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that He might be as the first-born among many brethren: and whom He before ordained, these He also called;
who are Israelites, whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the form of divine worship, and the promises:
That is, not the children of the flesh are the children of God, but the children of the promise are accounted for the seed.
As He saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, who were not my people, and her beloved, who was not beloved. And in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living God.
And in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living God.
For there is no difference of Jew and Greek: for He being Lord of all is bountiful to all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
But I say again, Did not Israel know this? when first Moses saith, "I will move you to jealousy by those who are not a people, I will provoke you to anger by a foolish nation:"
But before faith came, we were kept shut up under the law, till the faith appeared which was to be revealed.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Now as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he is to be lord of all: but is under guardians and managers till the time appointed by the father. read more. So we when we were children, were in servitude under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son born of a woman made under the law, that He might redeem those that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So that thou art no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, an heir also of God through Christ.
So that thou art no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, an heir also of God through Christ.
Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of the promise.
having before appointed us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto Himself, according to the good pleasure of his will; to the praise of his glorious grace, whereby He hath made us acceptable in the Beloved: read more. in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the remission of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein He hath abounded towards us with the highest wisdom and prudence; having made known to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure, which He had before purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, He might reduce all things, both in heaven and on earth, under one head in Christ: even in Him, in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated to it according to the purpose of Him who effecteth all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, when ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also when ye believed, ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance, till the redemption of his purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.
who is the pledge of our inheritance, till the redemption of his purchased possession, to the praise of his glory. Wherefore I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, read more. and your love to all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to the knowledge of Him, and enlighten the eyes of your understanding; that ye may know, what is the hope of his calling, and how rich the glory of his inheritance in the saints;
that ye may be blameless and inoffensive, the children of God without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; among whom ye shine as lights in the world,
For to which of the angels did He ever say, "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?" and again, "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son?"
But we see Jesus, who was made for a little while lower than the angels, in order to suffer death, that by the grace of God He might taste death for every man, crowned with glory and honor. For it became Him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect by sufferings: read more. since He that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee." And again, "I will trust in Him:" and again, "Behold, I, and the children which God hath given me." Seeing then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself in like manner partook of them; that by death He might destroy him that had the empire of death, that is, the devil: and deliver those who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage. For indeed He taketh not hold of angels to save them, but of the seed of Abraham. Whence it behoved Him to be made in all things like unto his brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high-priest in the things concerning God, to make atonement for the sins of the people: for as He himself hath suffered, in being tempted, He is able to succour those that are tempted.
for ye have not resisted unto blood in striving against sin. Have ye forgotten the exhortation, which speaketh to you as to sons, saying, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor saint when rebuked by Him? read more. for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." If ye endure chastening, God treateth you as sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not chastise? But if ye be without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons. Now if we had fathers of our flesh, who corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed corrected us for a while, as seemed good to them; but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening seems for the present to be matter of joy but of grief: and yet afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those that are exercised thereby. Lift up therefore the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. And make strait paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
and every perfect gift, but no evil one, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, nor shadow of turning: who hath of his own will begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.
Pure and uncorrupt religion before God and our Father is this, to take care of orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
With it we bless God even the Father; and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy hath regenerated us to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
And if ye call upon the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
being regenerated not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever.
Therefore laying aside all malice, and all deceit, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speakings, as new-born babes desire that rational milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby: read more. for ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious; to whom coming as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also are built up as living stones, a spiritual house, an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Whence also it is said in scripture, Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, choice and precious: and he that confideth on it shall not be ashamed. To you therefore who believe it is precious: but to them that are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence. These stumble at the word through unbelief, unto which also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should declare the glories of Him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: who heretofore were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
who heretofore were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
For all that is in the world, the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world.
for whosoever denieth the Son, hath not the Father: but he that confesseth the Son acknowledgeth the Father also.
If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one, who practiseth righteousness, is born of Him.
Beloved, we are now the children of God, but it doth not yet appear what we shall be: we know however, that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
Whosoever is born of God doth not practise sin, because his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is from God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one, that loveth Him that begat, loveth Him also that is begotten of Him:
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that vanquisheth the world, even our faith.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be a God to him, and he shall be to me a son. But the fearful, and faithless, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.