Synoptic title: Son of God

Question 1

Why were sons of gods not uncommon in the Roman Empire?

Answer 1

• Hercules, a popular demigod worshipped by soldiers, was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman
• It was widely believed the heroes of the past had Gods for parents

Question 2

Why were sons of gods not uncommon in the Eastern Empire?

Answer 2

It was common for Kings or Pharaohs to be descended from God

Question 3

What did the first Emporor, Augustus, refer to himself as?

Answer 3

Divi Filius (son of the divine one) or Dei Filius (Son of God)

Question 4

Why was Jesus not the only ‘Son of God’ of his time?

Answer 4

Augustus put the title on his coins, and the title was also used by his son, Tiberius, who ruled during Jesus’ time

Question 5

Why does John Dominic Crossan argue that early Christians called Jesus the Son of God?

Answer 5

He suggests they did this deliberately to present Jesus as a rival to the Roman Emperor

Question 6

Who was the other 1st century philosopher whose followers saw him as the Son of God?

Answer 6

Apollonius of Tyana

Question 7

Describe the 1st century philosopher Apollonius

Answer 7

He was a travelling philosopher and miracle worker in Turkey. He had prophecies about his birth and grew up to be a teacher, healer and miracle worker. After being executed by the Roman Emperor, he is supposed to have appeared to his followers, who thought he was the Son of Zeus

Question 8

Why would the claim to be ‘God’ or ‘Son of God’ be blasphemy for the Jews?

Answer 8

They believed in one God who is a spirit and does not come down to Earth to mate with human women

Question 9

When does the Old Testament use the phrase ‘Son of God’?

Answer 9

• Angels and Kings are called the ‘Son of God’
• The Jewish people as a whole are collectively referred to as ‘God’s son’

Question 10

What does C.H Dodd argue many first century Jews expected the Messiah to be?

Answer 10

The Son of God

Question 11

How do most people interpret the use of the phrase ‘Son of God’ in the Old Testament?

Answer 11

They see it as symbolic, with the Son of God expected to be someone chosen by God, sent by God and blessed by God, rather than a literal child born to God

Question 12

What is the Christian view of Jesus?

Answer 12

They believe that Jesus is a human within whom God is uniquely present

Question 13

What do Christians believe Jesus does in everything he says and does?

Answer 13

Reveals God

Question 14

Why do Christians reject the idea that there are three Gods?

Answer 14

They reject the idea of a powerful Father-God and his lesser Son-God because God is indivisible; to the ‘Son of God’ is to be God

Question 15

What kind of human is Jesus?

Answer 15

Someone who perfectly surrenders his will to God’s work and who invites God to be in his soul at all times - the perfect human with the perfect relationship with God

Question 16

Why is Jesus called the ‘last Adam’?

Answer 16

Because he is what Adam should have been

Question 17

What do Christians not believe Jesus is?

Answer 17

They refuse to believe that he was ‘God in disguise’ - God pretending to be human or a human body with God’s spirit instead of a human soul

Question 18

Why is their tension in the Christian interpretation of Jesus?

Answer 18

• Some Christians emphasise his divine quality and present him as a supernatural being walking the Earth
• Others emphasise his human quality, presenting him as the embodiment of what all humans should aim to be

Question 19

How does Matthew view the idea that Jesus is the Son of God?

Answer 19

The phrase is attributed to Jesus by his Disciples and he praises them and does not deny it. Both Mark and Luke present an angel announcing that Jesus is the ‘Son of God’

Question 20

What does John say about the idea that Jesus is the Son of God?

Answer 20

John’s gospel contains the most references to jesus being the Son of God, and the Johannine Jesus specifically talks about himself in this way

Question 21

Why do the later gospels have more refernces to Jesus being the Son of God?

Answer 21

Because it was his later followers who began to think that Jesus was divine. This means that the idea that Jesus was the Son of God only really formed after his death

Question 22

What does Raymond Brown say about Jesus’ presentation in the gospels?

Answer 22

‘The sayings and deeds of Jesus reported in the gospels have been influenced by hindsight after the resurrection’

Question 23

What evidence is there to suggest that Jesus did see himself as the Son of God?

Answer 23

• He forgave sins, which is something only God can do
• He refers to God as ‘Father’