Year: 2014

The Son of Man was a title Jesus applied to himself. As such, most New Testament mentions of this phrase are found in the four gospels.

Jesus used this phrase euphemistically. His close followers likely understood it to mean the Son of God, yet his adversaries (the Jewish leaders) were in the dark.

It’s likely that had he publicly called himself the Son of God, he would have been quickly executed for blasphemy. In fact, he was killed only hours after he admitted to being the Son of God (Luke 22:70).

The phrase son of man is also found in the Old Testament, mostly in the book of Ezekiel, seemingly as a pet nickname that God called Ezekiel.

However, Daniel records that “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven” (Daniel 7:13).

Jesus likely took his title, the Son of Man, from this verse.

Key verse about Son of Man: Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:3-5, NIV)

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

The Son of God is a descriptive name for Jesus since he is the Son of the Heavenly Father (God).

However, instead of referring to himself as the Son of God, Jesus generally called himself the Son of Man.

Key verse about Son of God: We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:19-21, NIV)

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

The Son, or Son of God, is the second part of the Godhead, or Trinity, which is comprised of the Father, the Son (Jesus, the Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

God the Father sent his Son, Jesus, to earth to redeem or reconcile us to him.

While he was on earth, Jesus generally referred to himself as the Son of Man.

Key verse about Son: I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. (Genesis 6:17-19, NIV)

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

A savior is one who saves or rescues another from a calamity or danger. This descriptive noun is often used as a proper noun, Savior, to reference Jesus who rescues those who follow him.

Also see Christ and Messiah.

Key verse about Savior: Come quickly to help me,  my Lord, and my Savior (Psalm 38:22, NIV)

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.