Dr. Lawrence Butler

The Bridge Church, Pembroke

Early Church’s Title for Jesus: This title may be the most common to us, but it was also clearly a central thought to the early church. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).

Some have pointed out that this title may not have been in the original text. Consider the conversation of Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch.

“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:36-37). Again, it has been claimed that the expression “Son of God” was not in the original text.

The View of the Apostle John: However, whether that is true in these two cases or not, it is certainly clear that Jesus was seen as such by the early church. The Apostle John made this clear in his writing.

“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (I John 4:15).

Accepting Jesus as the Son of God was necessary for salvation. It was also necessary for remaining true to Christ. “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (I John 5:5). Who was John writing to?

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (I John 5:13). The only apostle of the original 12 who was still alive, and had spent personal time with Jesus, was surely making certain that Jesus was recognized as who He really was – the “Son of God.”

The Real Reason for Jewish Hatred of Christ: Jesus refused to obey the ceremonial laws of the Jews, and for that they hated Him. However, they hated Him even more because He spoke of God as His Father, thus claiming to be the Son of God.

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18). The justification for His crucifixion was this very charge. “The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God” (John 19:7). Satan challenged Jesus’ status as the Son of God (“if thou be…”), the high priest said, “…are you?” and the angry crowd said “if thou be the Son of God…” (Matt. 27:40).

There was one at the crucifixion who said otherwise. The centurion said, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).