Understanding Sonship

Don Walker

December 14, 2008

In this study, we must first examine the Biblical usage of two Greek words. These two words are “teknon” and “huios.” Though both are translated as “son,” in various translations, these two words are distinct.

(1) Teknon (John 1:12; 11:52; Rom. 8:16-17, 21; 9:8; Phil 2:15; I John 3:1-2, 10)

The Greeks normally used this word to speak of one who is a descendant by birth. It is in most instances translated as “children,” and often as a designation of believers in Christ. John uses it exclusively this way. Christians are declared to be children of God (John 1:12; I John 3:1-2,10), having been born into His family. This word could actually be rendered “a born-one.”

(2) Huios (Matt. 5:9; Luke 20:36; Rom. 8:14, 19; Gal. 3:26)

The Greeks normally used this word to describe a relationship brought about by the legal act of adoption. Paul’s use of the word is placed within this context (Greek word - huiothesia, meaning “the placing of sons,” used in Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5-7). This act of adoption was of great significance in the ancient Greek world.

In the Western world we think of adoption in terms of taking a child from one family and making it a member of another. However, the Greek or Roman father adopted as a son his own child. Birth made him a child (teknon); adoption made him a son (huios). Between the period of birth and adoption, there were stages of growth, education and discipline, until the maturity was reached for adoption into sonship. With adoption the son was recognized as one who could faithful represent the father. He had arrived at the point of maturity, where the father could entrust him with the responsibility of overseeing the family business. The son becomes the “heir” of his father’s inheritance. Birth gives one the right to the inheritance, but adoption gives one the participation in the inheritance.

R. B. Jones, Bible commentator states:

“To be a son is infinitely more than to be a child, and the terms are never loosely used by the Holy Spirit. It is not a difference in relationship, but in position. Every “born again” child of God has in him the nature of His Father, and is a beloved member of His Father’s family. Adoption cannot make the child any nearer or dearer, yet it gives the child a status he did not enjoy before, a position he did not occupy. It is his recognition as an adult son, the attaining of his maturity, the seal upon his growth to maturity of mind and character. A child is one born of God; a son is one taught of God. A child has God’s nature; a son has God’s character.”

Another aspect of this Greek word, huios, that cannot be overlooked involves “likeness.” The New Testament contains the concept expressed in the proverb, “Like father, like son” (Matt. 5:45,48). It was typical Hebrew usage to employ the word “son” to express likeness. For instance, those who are peacemakers will be called God’s sons because they are like God (Matt. 5:9). God’s likeness, His image, will be “stamped” upon those who have been brought to maturity and adopted as sons (Rom. 8:29; I John 3:2-3).

Jesus, the Pattern Son

“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isa. 9:6).

In the fullness of time, Jesus was born a child in Bethlehem’s manger. Though never relinquishing His divinity, though without sin, Jesus became a man (Phil. 2:5-7). Being a man, He experienced the limitations of humanity, demonstrating for us a way of life under the government of God, always doing the will of the Father (Heb. 10:9). In His humanity, the Scriptures tell us that, “the child continued to grow, and to become strong in the spirit” (Luke 1:80). Hebrews 5:8 states: “Although a Son, He learned obedience through the things that He suffered.” Yet if Jesus never sinned, how could He “learn obedience”?

Apparently as Jesus grew toward maturity He, like all human children, was able to take on more and more responsibility. The older He became the more demands His father and mother could place on Him in terms of obedience, and the more difficult the tasks the Heavenly Father could assign. With each increasingly difficult task, even when it involved some suffering (Heb. 5:8), Jesus’ human moral ability, His ability to obey under more and more difficult circumstances, increased. Yet in all this He never sinned (Heb. 4:15).

Jesus was finally recognized openly by the Father at His baptism, when the heavens opened and the Heavenly Father declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). This signifies Jesus’ “adoption.” It was now time for Jesus to begin His earthly ministry.

As a Son, Jesus bore the exact “likeness” of the Father (John 14:9; II Cor. 4:4; Heb. 1:3). He only wanted to do those things that pleased the Father, and He was attentive to the Father’s voice (John 8:28-29). He did not seek His own glory, only the glory of His Father (John 8:50).

The Son was not even willing to allow death to stand in the way between Him and His Father’s will. When He faced the prospect of a horrible death on the cross, He plainly did not wish to inflict it upon Himself (Matt. 26:39). But He was willing to endure it, in order to fulfill the Father’s purpose and “because of the joy that was set before Him” (Heb. 12:2). The Father’s will was His overriding motivation. In all these things Jesus was the “pattern” for us who desire to be sons of the Father.

Sonship and Maturity

The Bible speaks of sonship both in terms of “positional” and “experiential” truth. For example, some passages relate to the “positional” aspect of sonship, where God declares us legally to be “adopted” as sons through His sovereign election (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 3:26; 4:5-7). The “fullness” of our sonship will only be complete at the Second Advent (Rom. 8:19, 23). Nevertheless, the Scriptures do clearly indicate that there is a degree to which we are expected to enter into sonship “experientially,” in this present age ( Matt. 5:9, 45; Rom. 8:14). For instance, we are exhorted in Hebrews 6:1 to “press on to maturity” (i.e.; “sonship”), to think as mature men (I Cor. 14:20), and we are to grow up in all aspects into Him (Ephes. 4:15). All of these passages, and numerous others, call us to maturity, which is synonymous with the concept of sonship.

DeVern Fromke, in his book entitled, The Ultimate Intention, makes this comment:

“God’s idea is that of ultimate sonship. This involves, as we see, much more than being born into the family; it is rather the full attainment of responsibility which comes to those who have arrived at maturity.