Introduction
Many Muslim dawagandists believe that Jesus’ claim of being the Son of God isn’t sufficient proof that he believed he was God. They highlight the fact that there is a clear distinction between the expressions "God the Son" and "Son of God," since the former implies Deity whereas the latter does not. They further contend that Jesus never called himself "God the Son," but used a title which is often applied to others without this implying that these other persons are divine beings. Why, then, do Christians assume that Jesus necessarily claimed to be God just because he said he was God’s Son?
The purpose of this article is to examine the manner in which Jesus called himself God’s Son in order to show that there is no substance whatsoever to this oft-repeated Muslim assertion. We will demonstrate that the way in which Jesus identified himself as the Son of God strongly and unambiguously supports his absolute Deity. Our goal here will be to prove that Christ was basically calling himself God the Son when he said he was the Son of God, since the latter expression functions as a synonym of the former phrase, e.g. the Son of God in reference to Jesus has the same meaning as God the Son.
With the foregoing in view we now proceed to the Biblical evidence.
The Biblical Data
Jesus is God’s beloved Son and Heir
The following parable helps us to better appreciate Jesus’ self-understanding:
"He then began to speak to them in parables: ‘A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed. He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, "They will respect my son." But the tenants said to one another, "This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours." So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.’" Mark 12:1-8
In the parable the owner represents God and the servants refer to God’s prophets which he sent to Israel:
"From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets." Jeremiah 7:25
"Again and again I sent my servants the prophets, who said, ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!’" Jeremiah 44:4
The beloved Son and Heir in this particular parable is supposed to be Jesus whom the Jewish leadership rejected and killed.
Jesus’ teaching here emphatically shows that he didn’t believe that he was on the same level of a servant like the rest of the prophets, but actually thought of himself as being greater in position and as having a more intimate relationship with God. Christ is basically claiming to be unlike the prophets/servants in that he is greater than all of them since he is God’s unique Son and the One who owns everything that belongs to his Father.
This isn’t the only time that Christ claimed to own or possess all that God possesses:
"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Matthew 11:27
"He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you." John 16:14-15
"After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him… All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.’" John 17:1-2, 10
And since he is the Heir this means that Jesus holds greater honor than and has authority over God’s servants, the prophets:
"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." Matthew 13:16-17
"‘Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’ ‘You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!’" John 8:56-58
"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 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…And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God's angels worship him.’" Hebrews 1:1-3, 6
"Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast." Hebrews 3:3-6
"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things." 1 Peter 1:10-12
In fact, Jesus claims to have been the one who sent those prophets:
"Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Matthew 23:34-37
Jesus the Son is the Exalted Lord of creation and the Divine Son of Man
Jesus further identifies himself as the Son of Man who sits enthroned at God’s right hand as King of creation and who determines the eternal destiny of every individual:
"At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send HIS angels and gather HIS elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens." Mark 13:26-27
"Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ The high priest tore his clothes. ‘Why do we need any more witnesses?’ he asked. ‘You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’" Mark 14:60-64
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by MY FATHER; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus is obviously referring to himself as that Divine Son of Man whom the prophet Daniel saw, the One who rules forever and is worshiped by every creature:
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." Daniel 7:13-14
Moreover, Jesus’ statement that he sits on God’s right hand is a direct allusion to the following Psalm:
"The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’" Psalm 110:1
By referencing this particular text Jesus was telling his accusers that he is David’s Lord who reigns with God as King, a point that he made earlier that week:
"While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, ‘How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: "The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’" David himself calls him "Lord." How then can he be his son?’ The large crowd listened to him with delight.’" Mark 12:35-37
The answer to Jesus’ question is that the Christ is both David’s Son and his Lord since the Messiah is a human descendant of David who is also God’s Son at the same time:
"And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’" Mark 1:11
"Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’" Mark 10:46-48
"regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 1:3-4
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." Revelation 22:16
Hence, as the Divine Son of God he is David’s sovereign Lord and Master; yet in regards to his humanity he is his Son.
In the same chapter of Mark 13 where Christ referred to himself as the Danielic Son of Man the Lord went on to imply that he is greater in rank than angels and men:
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Mark 13:31-32
There is clearly an order of ascendancy here, e.g. man, angels, the Son, and then the Father. This is how it would look if we were to put it in terms of rank:
It is evident from this that Christ believed that he is superior to humans and angels, being subject only to the Father in terms of authority.(1)
That’s not at all… he even speaks of his words as having the same kind of abiding authority that God’s words have:
"Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." Psalm 119:89
"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8
Thus, the Lord Jesus believed that he is greater than the entire created order since he is the Divine Son of God/Son of Man whom all nations shall and must worship as their sovereign King.
Jesus the Son is the One who perfectly reveals God
As the Divine Son Christ fully comprehends the nature of God and is therefore capable of perfectly revealing God to man:
"At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’" Luke 10:21-22
The Lord Jesus claims an intimate, reciprocal knowledge of God the Father which presupposes both his incomprehensibility and his omniscience. After all, a finite creature is not able to know God in the same way that s/he is known by God; nor can a temporal being make the assertion s/he can only be known by God since this implies that the person making this claim is incomprehensible, and thereby requires an infinite mind or omniscient entity to fully know and understand such an individual. Yet this is precisely what Jesus says about his own Person and knowledge of the incomprehensible God.
It should therefore not surprise us that it is precisely in this context that Jesus claims to be the One who chooses to reveal the Father to whomever he is pleased. Seeing that the Lord Jesus has perfect and intimate knowledge of God he alone can adequately and completely reveal God’s essence/character/nature to mankind. As Christ says in the Gospel of John:
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father." John 6:44-46
The reason why the Father brings everyone to learn from the Son is because he alone has beheld or comprehended God and therefore fully qualified to make the Father known.
To put this in simpler terms, God has clearly and fully made himself known in and through the Person of his beloved Son since the Son has complete knowledge and comprehension of the nature and Person of the Father.
Jesus the Son is coequal with the Father in essence and nature
Finally, Jesus as the Son asserts that he is equal to the Father in power and dignity, being able to do everything that God can do:
"So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.’ For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus gave them this answer: ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because WHATEVER the Father does the Son ALSO DOES. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For JUST AS the Father raises the dead and gives them life, EVEN SO the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son JUST AS they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear HIS VOICE and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." John 5:16-29
Here, the Lord informs his opponents that as the Son he does not act independently from the Father, but only works in perfect union with him. As he says elsewhere:
"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." John 6:38
And as the beloved Son he has the same Divine right to work on the Sabbath that his Father has, even though everyone else is subject to the Sabbath rules imposed by God.
As if this weren’t astonishing enough, Christ says that he is able to give life to the dead, just as the Father can, and is the very One who will raise the dead spiritually and physically, a point he makes elsewhere:
"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:39-40
The Lord further says that all must honor him just as they honor the Father, which means that Christ is demanding people to worship him as they do the Father since this is the kind of honor that the latter receives. It is little wonder that the Jews concluded that Christ was making himself equal with God.
The Lord Jesus had more to say to his opponents:
"My sheep listen to MY VOICE; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.’" John 10:27-30
Christ says that he is one with the Father in the context of preserving and giving believers eternal life, all of which are Divine functions according to the Hebrew Scriptures.
"See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand." Deuteronomy 32:39
"There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God… The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up." 1 Samuel 2:2, 6
"For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness," Psalm 95:7-8 ESV
"Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" Isaiah 43:13
Amazingly, Jesus ascribes to his own Person everything which these Scriptures attribute to Yahweh, such as:
Moreover, the OT says that there is no person who can perform works in the same way that Yahweh does:
"Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God." Psalm 86:8
"For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you." Psalm 89:6-8
And yet Jesus does exactly what Yahweh does! The reason why he can? Because he is Yahweh God the Son. To put this in the form of syllogism:
Concluding Remarks
In light of the foregoing is it any wonder that the Jews wanted to put Jesus to death for claiming that he was the Son of God in a unique manner, a Son unlike any other son of God?
"The Jews insisted, ‘We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.’" John 19:7
Does it really come as a surprise that the Jews sought to kill Christ on the grounds that he was making himself out to be God by claiming to be God’s Son in a way which made him equal with God?
"Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’ ‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your Law, "I have said you are gods"? If he called them "gods," to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken— what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, "I am God's Son"? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.’ Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp." John 10:31-39
They were obviously mistaken for disbelieving Jesus’ Divine statements and for thinking that he was blaspheming. The physical, bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead, where he has been raised to live an indestructible and immortal existence, should have convinced them that he is exactly who claimed to be, the fully Divine Son of God:
"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him… But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."’ Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Acts 2:22-24, 30-36
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son… and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 1:1-2, 4
"For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life… but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Hebrews 7:14-16, 24-25
"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.’" Revelation 1:17-18
The testimony from those who knew the OT Scriptures provides rather persuasive evidence that Christ wasn’t merely calling himself the Son of God in the sense of being a creature that was closely connected to God. The Jews correctly understood that Christ was saying that he is the Son of God in such a way as to make himself equal with God (the Father). Hence, Jesus was in fact claiming to be God the Son since he ascribed to his own Person certain functions and titles that only One who thought and believed he was God would dare do so.
As the following Christian apologist puts it:
Robert Anderson says:
"But no confirmatory evidence is more convincing than that of hostile witnesses, and the fact that the Lord laid claim to Deity is incontestably established by the action of His enemies. We must remember that the Jews were not a tribe of ignorant savages, but a highly cultured and intensely religious people; and it was upon this very charge that, without a dissentient voice, His death was decreed by the Sanhedrin – their great national Council, composed of the most eminent of their religious leaders, including men of the type of Gamaliel and his great pupil, Saul of Tarsus." 2/5
From Hilarian Felder we have this statement which brings more light on the judgment the Pharisees actually impose on themselves:
"But since they condemn the Saviour as a blasphemer by reason of his own confession, the judges prove officially and on oath that Jesus confessed not only that he was the theocratical Messiah-King and human son of God, but also that he was the divine Messiah and the essential Son of God, and that He on account of this confession was put to death." 7/306, Vol. 1
As a result of our study, we may then safely conclude that Jesus claimed deity for Himself in a way that all could recognize. These claims were regarded as blasphemous by the religious leaders and resulted in His crucifixion because "He made Himself out to be the Son of God" (John 19:7). 21/45 (Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict [Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1979], Volume I, Chapter 6. Jesus –God’s Son, 1A. His Direct Claims To Deity, 2B. The Trial, p. 92; underline emphasis ours)
And:
Hilarian Felder relates that "Gustav Dalman sees himself forced to this confession: ‘Nowhere do we find that Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the Son of God in such a way that merely a religious and ethical relation to God is meant, which others also could and should in reality possess…. Jesus has given men unmistakably to understand that He is not only "a," but "the Son of God".’" … 7/269
H.F. Stevenson comments that "it is true that the term ‘sons of God’ is used of men (Hosea 1:10) and of angels, in the Old Testament (Gen. 6:2; Job 1:6; 38:7). But in the New Testament, the title ‘Son of God’ is used of, and by, our Lord in quite a different way. In every instance the term implies that He is the one, only-begotten Son; co-equal, co-eternal with the Father." 40/123
In the repeated uses of the term "Son" in juxtaposition to "the Father," they declare His explicit claim of equality with the Father and formulate the truth of the Trinity (John 10:30-33; 3:35; 5:19-27; 6:27; 14:13; Mark 13:32; Matthew 23:9,10)…
Felder writes on Christ’s concept of God being His Father: "As often as Jesus speaks of His relations with His Father He uses constantly and without exception the expression ‘My Father’; and as often as He calls the attention of the disciples to their childlike relation to God, there is the equally definite characterization, ‘Your Father.’ Never does He associate Himself with the disciples and with men by the natural form of speech, ‘Our Father.’"
Felder continues: "Even on those occasions in which Jesus unites Himself with the disciples before God, and when therefore it would be certainly expected that He would use the collective expression, ‘Our Father,’ there stands, on the contrary, ‘My Father’: ‘I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I shall drink it with you new in the kingdom of My Father’ (Matt. xxvi, 29). ‘And I send the promise of My Father upon you’ (Luke xxiv, 49). ‘Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ (Matt. xxv, 34). Thus and similarly does Jesus distinguish unequivocally between His divine sonship and that of the disciples and men in general."
Scotchmer concludes that "His disciples and His enemies understand from their Jewish background that the real import of the term ‘Son of God’ was Deity. One hundred and four times, Christ refers to God as ‘Father’ or ‘the Father.’" (Ibid., 3A. Titles, 2B. Son of God, pp.100-101; underline emphasis ours)
It is therefore abundantly clear that by his use of the expression "the Son of God" Jesus meant that he was God the Son, the unique Son who is fully God in nature and equal with his beloved Father in essence.
Amen. Come, O blessed and immortal Lord Jesus, come! We bear witness that you are indeed God the Son, the eternal Lord of glory, our blessed King and Savior whom we love forever and ever. Amen and amen!
Further Reading
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_jesus_sonship.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/eternal_generation.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/sonship.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_jesus_sonship.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_can_do_nothing.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_jesus_changing.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_spirit_omniscient.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/zawadi_yahweh.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/zawadi_omniscience.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/smith_mixed_bag.htm
Endnotes
(1) It should be stated that certain Biblical texts reiterate the fact that Christ as the Divine Son is subject to the Father in terms of authority and rank, without this implying that he is inferior in essence and nature:
"and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." 1 Corinthians 3:23
"Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." 1 Corinthians 11:3
"When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all." 1 Corinthians 15:28
For more on this issue we recommend the following articles:
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_father_greater.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_authority_given.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_jesus_subject.htm
Articles by Sam Shamoun
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