What Is the Difference Between “Son of God” and “Son of Man”?
By Nick Bibile
The titles “Son of God” and “Son of Man” are both applied to Jesus Christ in Scripture. They do not contradict each other; rather, together they reveal the full glory of Christ as true God and true Man, the promised Messiah.
Jesus is described as the only begotten Son of God. This language has its roots in the Old Testament:
Psalm 2:7 — “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”
The title Son of God speaks primarily of the deity of Christ. It does not imply that the Son was created or that He is inferior to the Father. Rather, it expresses equality of nature and a unique, eternal relationship within the Godhead.
In human terms, a “son” shares the same nature as his father and enjoys a relationship of love and intimacy. Scripture uses this language analogically to help us understand the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son. Christ is called the only begotten Son, meaning He is the only one of His kind—the eternal Son who stands in a unique relationship to the Father.
Jesus Christ is of the same divine essence as the Father. He is fully God. There is no inferiority in the Son, for the Messiah is not less than God. The Father and the Son are distinct persons, yet one in divine nature. The Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Father, but they are one God.
Along with this unity of essence, Scripture also reveals a mutual affection between the Father and the Son. As a father loves his only son, so the Father loves the Son in a perfect and eternal way.
The Messiah is also frequently called the Son of Man, a title drawn from the Old Testament:
Psalm
8:4
— “What
is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou
visitest him?”
Psalm
80:17
— “Let
thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom
thou madest strong for thyself.”
The title Son of Man points to the true humanity of Christ. It emphasizes that the eternal Son of God truly became man. He did not merely appear human; He took on real human nature—body and soul.
At the same time, Christ is distinguished from all other men. He is the perfect man, without sin. He stands as the representative of His people, the second Adam, who obeyed where the first Adam failed. As the Son of Man, He fulfills God’s purpose for humanity and brings many sons to glory.
Thus, Jesus Christ is the God-man—fully God and fully man—God manifest in the flesh.
Son of God emphasizes Christ’s deity, His eternal relationship with the Father, and His equality in divine nature.
Son of Man emphasizes Christ’s humanity, His identification with mankind, and His role as the perfect representative and Redeemer of His people.
Together,
these titles confess the heart of the Christian faith:
Jesus
Christ is one person with two natures—truly God and truly man—our
divine Savior and human Redeemer.