eternal sonship
The teaching that the second person of the Trinity has existed eternally as the Son, so that the relationship between God the Father and God the Son has always been a Father-Son relationship.
- From scripture:
… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world … . (Hebrews 1:2, ESV)
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law … . (Galatians 4:4 ESV) - From the Belgic Confession:
Article 10: That Jesus Christ is true and eternal God.
We believe that Jesus Christ, according to his divine nature, is the only begotten Son of God, begotten from eternity, not made nor created (for then he should be a creature), but co-essential and co-eternal with the Father, the express image of his person, and the brightness of his glory, equal unto him in all things. He is the Son of God, not only from the time that he assumed our nature, but from all eternity, as these testimonies, when compared together, teach us. Moses saith, that God created the world; and John saith, that all things were made by that Word, which he calleth God. And the apostle saith, that God make the worlds by his Son; likewise, that God created all things by Jesus Christ. Therefore it must needs follow, that he, who is called God, the Word, the Son, and Jesus Christ, did exist at that time, when all things were created by him. Therefore the prophet Micah saith, His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. And the apostle: He hath neither beginning of days, nor end of life. He therefore is that true, eternal, and almighty God, whom we invoke, worship and serve.And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
- From In Understanding Be Men by T.C. Hammond, page 96:
A modern opinion, which has received a certain amount of credence among some Christians, contends that the term ‘Son’ is applicable only to our Lord’s human nature, and therefore it is incorrect to say that He was eternally the only begotten Son of God. It is contended that the Logos was eternal, but that the Logos became a Son only when He was incarnate of the blessed virgin Mary. There is one passage of Scripture that seems to directly contradict this opinion. Hebrews 1:8 reads: ‘But of the Son he says, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.”’ And indeed the language in the first chapter of St. John’s Gospel points in the same direction. Speaking of the Logos, John says ‘the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father’, where the term ‘Logos’ and the term ‘the only Son’ are applied to the same person without any suggestion that there is a period of time in which one term would not be applicable.
Opinions of this sort need to be strenuously resisted because, however unintentionally, they disparage the authority which attaches to the Person of the Son of God.
Learn more:
- Got Questions.org: What is the doctrine of eternal Sonship and is it biblical?
- Theopedia: Eternal Sonship of Jesus
- Kevin DeYoung: Primer: Eternal Sonship
- Sam Waldron: A Defence of the Doctrine of the Eternal Sonship
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