God Has Sons This point is misunderstood to some degree by most Christians. In addition to showing that there is only one true God, the Bible teaches that the Most High God has sons. In the Old Testament, the term sons of God (Heb. beney elim, beney elohim, and beney haelohim) refers to the angelic host, as shown by the Scriptures below. GENESIS 6:1 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God [beney haelohim] saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose . . . 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God [beney haelohim] came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. (NKJV) DEUTERONOMY 32:8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God [beney elohim]. (ESV) JOB 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God [beney haelohim] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. (NKJV) JOB 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God [beney haelohim] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. (NKJV) JOB 38:4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God [beney elohim] shouted for joy? (NKJV) PSALM 29:1 O give the Lord you sons of God [beney elim], give the Lord glory and power; 2 give the Lord the glory of his name. Adore the Lord in his holy court. (The Psalms: A New Translation) PSALM 89:5 The heavens proclaim your wonders, O Lord; the assembly of your holy ones proclaims your truth. 6 For who in the skies can compare with the Lord or who is like the Lord among the sons of God [beney elim]? (The Psalms: A New Translation) The New Testament expands the concept of Gods family by showing that humans can also become sons of God, just like the angels. In Luke 20:35-36, Yeshua states that humans who attain the first resurrection will be equal to the angels and will be sons of God, just as the Old Testament shows the angels are: LUKE 20:35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels [isaggelos] and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (NKJV) The Greek word translated by the phrase equal to the angels is isaggelos, which is a combination of isos meaning equal or same and aggelos or angel. This Scripture is corroborated by Revelation 21:17, which shows that after the resurrection there will be no difference between men and angels: REVELATION 21:17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. (NKJV) The book of Revelation also shows that the loyal angels are the brothers of the saints: REVELATION 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren [adelphon hemon], who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. (NKJV) In Revelation 12:10, John hears the voice of an angel in heaven proclaiming the coming kingdom of God and the expulsion of Satan and his demons from heaven. This angel refers to the saints as our brethren [adelphon hemon], indicating that the loyal angels and the saints are brothers. In I Timothy 5:21, Paul calls the holy angels the elect angels: I TIMOTHY 5:21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect [eklekton] angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. (NKJV) The word eklekton is a form of the Greek word eklektos, which means chosen or elect. The root word eklektos, or a variation of it, is used numerous times in the New Testament to refer to those humans called by God to be part of His family (Matt. 20:16; 22:14; 24:22, 24, 31; Mark 13:20, 22, 27; Luke 18:7; Rom. 8:33; 16:13; Col. 3:12; II Tim. 2:10; Tit. 1:1; I Pet. 1:2; 2:9; II John 1, 13; Rev. 17:14). Pauls use of the term in I Timothy 5:21 indicates that God also considers as His sons those angels who have remained loyal to Him. The Scriptures indicate that all who have the Holy Spirit are Gods sons: ROMANS 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (NKJV) Most scholars use the first two chapters of Hebrews to denigrate the position of the angels and claim that they are not sons of God. However, the author of Hebrews was simply emphasizing the superiority of the Messiah over the angels. This preeminence does not mean that the angels are not also Gods sons. They have a different role in Gods plan than Messiah and humanity, but any interpretation of the book of Hebrews which denies sonship to the angels obviously contradicts the Old Testament references cited above.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 01:54:18 +0000
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