What does the Scriptural meaning of the title "Son of Man" refer to, as you understand it?

Question

Some argue that the phrase son of man took on Messianic significance within the Christian movement primarily due to the Jewish eschatology during the time of its early conception. These people originate the phrase in the book of Daniel, in a vision, one like a son of man is described coming upon the clouds of the sky to unite the world. Contenders point out that the phrase "the son of man" and "one like a son of man" are not the same and that in Daniel 8 the phrase "son of man" is translated as merely "mortal" therefore the eschatology is added later.

As a result, some Christians believe that the New Testament's, primarily the Gospels', usage of the son of man eighty-three times represents an apocalyptic title of Jesus.[15] Some scholars and Christians have argued that the apocryphal tradition of this phrase even goes back to Jesus, himself, though not necessarily as a phrase Jesus used as a reference to himself but rather another figure alluded to in Daniel 7:13.[16] Other scholars and Christians believe Jesus did not use the phrase, originally, as a title at all and that he used it primarily to refer to humanity generally. The phrase then became reworked toward an apocryphal slant[17] Later, especially during the medieval ages, Christians interpreted it as Jesus showing humility[18] Still other Christians believe the title is meant to signify Jesus upholding his identification with his humanity and fellowship with mankind, perhaps also conveying the idea that Jesus is the man par excellence. In this last context it serves as putting humans and Jesus on the same level.

Some argue that Son of Man was a specific title for the non-violent Messiah described in prophesies such as Isaiah 53. If so, Jesus could have used it because he wanted to make it clear that he didn't intend to start a revolt against the Romans..

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Son of Man~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  The flesh that Jesus walked in, the flesh that all walk in, and the possibilities that await the flesh, the son of man.
        Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
       Job 25:6  How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
       Job 35:8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.
      Psalms 8:4  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
      Psalms 80:17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
     Psalms 146:3  Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
     Isaiah 51:12   I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass.  
  It is two-fold, it is the flesh, and the holy flesh. A certain title of certainty. Messiah is messenger, Messiah is anointed messenger, anointed by the living spirit, not by men ! Visited by the living God. It gives realization the flesh does die, that there is a spirit realm, that love is greater than hope or faith, where be the hope or faith if one knows the love of spirit ?

Anonymous · Answer

Son of Man: A term for man; human being; an apocalyptic figure; in the NT, a title for Jesus

1) In the OT
2) In Enoch--Book of enoch
3) In early Christian literature
   a. The Synoptic gospels
   b. The Gospel of John
   c. The heavenly man of the Pauline letters
4) Origin and development of the ideal
   a. Philo
   b. II Esdras
   c. Manchaean literature
   d. Manichean literature
   e. Early Gnosticism
   f.  Relation to Judaism and Christianity

In the Gospel of Mark there are two passages where in the older tradition the phrase might possibly mean a "man" --2:10 (=Matt. 9:6=Luke 5:24):" that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"; and 2:28 (=Matt.12:8=Luke 6:5): "The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath." At the same time, even when he writes the above passages, the evangelist himself must think of "Son of man" as referring to one who is more than human; He is the exalted Lord who will come in glory.

Hoped this helped   God Bless

LiveLongAndProsper · Answer

I see many in depth and well thought studies here for this question. They all have their merit, as well, and well done, too, may I add. I would like to simply make one clear and valid point to all of these great answers. Now that Jesus, who is now risen and alive forever more, has a new body. This body being those who His Spirit has entered into to become the new habitation of the Father: US the believers. Does this not show to all who the Son of Man is? For the Son is the duplicate of the Father, but He is the visible manifestation in the flesh. If Jesus gave up His body which housed the entirety of the Father God Spirit. Then His new body is US who believe and have received this same Spirit of Jesus. His anointed, the Christ body, "The Son of Man" body, that which houses the entirety of the Father God Spirit through the propitiation of Jesus. All power and rights are now ours and of the same magnitude through inheritance. Jesus is now gone to the Father and is one with Him. The only coming is by the Spirit of the Father to that one who is yielding in belief. Jesus said, I go to the Father...you will ask of me nothing...but you will ask of my Father (paraphrasing). Jesus finished everything He was to complete. He is not coming back for anything or anyone. Only by His Spirit, the Father God Spirit, moving through you and living in you, can you hope to become a Son of the Most High God in Jesus Christ. This is how you take His name, as well (in His name). You must become Him in mind and Spirit, becoming His flesh (thought and action). You will then be seen as "One like unto the Son of Man".  Many Blessings! to all.

thundercatt9 · Answer

Scripture interprets scripture. There was a dramatic confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish leaders in Matthew 26 just after he was arrested. The high priest commanded, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Samuel&#39;s · Answer

I believe that it means son of Adam and in that it qualifies as meaning all of the above too as well as identifying Jesus as the second Adam, the one who did not sin and thus he turn the tide of sin around for all of us, restoring us (the option) where Adam's sin condemned all his children. Jesus was the son of man by the fact that he had a human mother. Jesus was focusing on that side, insisting on humility without denying his deity.

Carpathian · Answer

I believe that the Son of Man is another way to saying "the first begotten Son of God." He is the first and the last Son of Man. King of Kings, Lord of Lords.

? · Answer

Jesus referred to himself as the son of man. Placing himself as our next of kin, therefore giving himself the lawful right  to redeem us. Because a redeemer has to be a relation by law. 

Blessings
Patrick

heyDavid · Answer

Mankind refers to mortals, which Jesus was not part of.  Man is the image of God, God's spiritual I AM.  Jesus is the Son of Man.  To attempt to understand this with mortal thought and image is to miss the mark entirely.

Anonymous · Answer

Son of Adam.

I like Davids answer.

of Me of Him · Answer

Son of Man,
Is a knowing and performer of thoughts to the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom God and the power behind the judgment of God and one who will be He.


There is the Son of Man and there is the son of the Son of Man. The Lord is the Son of Man, and the son of the Son of Man is he who creates through the Son of Man. The Son of Man received from God the capacity to create. He also has the ability to beget. He who has received the ability to create is a creature. He who has received the ability to beget is an offspring. He who creates cannot beget. He who begets also has power to create. Now they say, "He who creates begets". But his so-called "offspring" is merely a creature. Because of [...] of birth, they are not his offspring but [...]. He who creates works openly, and he himself is visible. He who begets, begets in private, and he himself is hidden, since [...] image. Also, he who creates, creates openly. But one who begets, begets children in private.

http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html

Trending News

What does the Scriptural meaning of the title "Son of Man" refer to, as you understand it?

17 Answers