Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Matt 16:16; Mark 1:1; John 1:34, 49; 1 John 5:12; cf. Luke 3:38), which means that He came to this world as the fulfillment of the Old Testament’s expectations of winning where the first Adam failed when he sinned (Gen 3:1–15) and lost his unique position as the head of humanity. Therefore, the new Adam or the second Adam had to come to redeem humanity from the bondage to sin and death and demonstrate that it was possible for the first Adam to obey God (Rom 5:12–19; 1 Cor 15:21–22). Jesus Christ came as the Promised Seed (Gen 3:15), Son of God (Mark 1:1; Luke 3:38; John 20:31), the Son of Man (Dan 7:13), and the second Adam (1 Cor 15:45–49), because the first Adam forfeited this privilege.1
God in His wisdom inspired biblical writers to describe the relationship among the three persons of the Godhead as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Almighty God is the Father, Jesus Christ is the Son, and the Third Person of the Godhead is the Spirit. Why does the Bible describe the relationship between the God Almighty and Jesus Christ as a relationship between father and son? As humans, we consider the relationship between father and son as something very close, intimate, and warm. It is the best description of a close relationship between two persons without any sexual undertone. God in His infinite wisdom eliminated terminology like “husband and wife” because it would connotate erotic relation. If He chose the phrase “friend and friend,” it may have been confusing, distant, and not so coherent. The father-son relationship is the best descriptor in our human language and experience, yet it may be misleading if it is not understood in its intended meaning.
Regarding the terminology of the heavenly Father and the Son, one needs to realize that this is metaphorical or symbolic language. It does not mean that they are in a father-son relationship (the Holy Spirit is not a mother!) as we know it in our families. We cannot put the Godhead into our image and into our human sphere. The Bible is using the best possible human language to help us understand their close relationship where they are one and in full harmony in nature, position, purpose, and goals (but different in functions). Remember that we are using our imperfect language to describe absolutely perfect divine realities. These terms do not speak about the physical origin or birth of Jesus Christ coming out of the Father. This would be a completely misguided interpretation—a blasphemy—because the Father and the Son are equal, eternal, in perfect harmony, and without a rank of subordination of one to the other, the Son to the Father (except during His incarnation).
The Father is not the first among equals, as we like to speak about the chair of a committee, the CEO of a company, or the president of a country. Their relationship cannot be compared to any of our relationships with which we are familiar. God is always above all and surpasses all our comparisons and human categories. Isaiah asks the question, “With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?” (Isa 40:18). The answer is clear: there is no thing, animal, or human or celestial being who can be equal to God. Of course, not an idol, because it is a human projection. God is the Creator of everything and everyone, so nothing can measure to Him. “‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One” (Isa 40:25). “To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?” (Isa 46:5, ESV). The answer is obvious. God Himself proclaims, “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’“ (Isa 46:9–10).
To prove the point that the term “son” regarding Jesus does not refer to categories of birth or origin, let us consider several examples from another sphere of life:
God comes to Ezekiel and consistently calls him “son of man,” which in context means a fragile human being, a mortal man in contrast to the eternal and holy Lord (Ezek 2:1, 3, 6, 8; 3:1, 4, 10, etc.). This expression is used ninety-three times in Ezekiel. This expression plainly has a figurative meaning.
Two disciples of Jesus (James and John) were eager to see the destruction of the Samaritans who did not accept Jesus as their Messiah. They wanted as in Elijah’s time to send fire down from heaven to consume and destroy them. Jesus did not agree and called them “Boanerges,” meaning “sons of thunder.” The texts states, “James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder)” (Mark 3:17, ESV, see also Luke 9:51–56). No one would argue that thunder had two literal sons because this given name is symbolic and refers to their angry character. They are as impulsive, loud, and destructive as thunder. Thus, they show the same characteristics as thunder.
The apostle Paul predicts that “the son of perdition” (2 Thess 2:3) will appear. Again, it does not mean that “perdition” had a son (“perdition” is an abstract term), but that the antichrist will perform evil actions that will lead to his destruction.
The father-son relationship vocabulary is employed in some cases even though in view were no close family relationships but a communality of the office. See, for example, the relationship between Belshazzar and Nebuchadnezzar who shared the kingly office (Dan 5:2, 11, 13, 18, 22), or the position of the kings of Judah to David who became their “father”—that is, predecessor on the throne (see, e.g., 2 Chr 17:3; 34:2–3).
The most powerful illustration is recorded in John 8:39–44:
“Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example.” … “If God were your Father, you would love me.” … “You are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (NLT)
It is evident that Jesus speaks about the leaders of Israel as having the same characteristics as the devil. How tragic! The terms “father” and “children” have obviously figurative meaning.
Thus, applied to the relationship of Jesus as Son to His heavenly Father, the terminology of father and son refers to their same beautiful characteristics and divine nature, not to their origin. It is an image to help us to understand the close, intimate relationship between these two persons, between the Father and the Son.
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1 For details on the biblical-theological meaning of the Son of God terminology, see Ty Gibson, The Sonship of Christ: Exploring the Covenant Identity of God and Man (Madrid: Safeliz, 2019).