Sons of God: Who are they?

by cameo-d 11 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  cameo-d

  Hi cameo-d,

  Yes the "sons of God" in the new testament are anyone who has "faith in Jesus Christ" as Galatians says.

  Epistle to the Galatians:

  No original of the letter is known to exist. The earliest reasonably complete version available to scholars today, named P46, dates to approximately the year 200 A.D., approximately 150 years after the original was presumably drafted.This fragmented papyrus, parts of which are missing, almost certainly contains errors introduced in the process of being copied from earlier manuscripts. [7] However, through careful research relating to paper construction, handwriting development, and the established principles of textual criticism, scholars can be rather certain about where these errors and changes appeared and what the original text probably said. [8]

  Notes on Ephesians:

  1:3 If the Greek is followed literally, verses 3 through 14 are a single sentence, joined together by various participles and relative clauses. Such lengthy and complex sentences are one of the clues that Paul did not write this letter. Paul’s style in the letters known to be his is much more simple and direct.

  1:4-5 The selection of the elect was made “before the foundation of the world.” See also v.12. This theme of predestination occurs also in Romans 8:29-30. However, if the chosen ones were preselected by God, then there is no point in preaching the gospel in order to win converts, because such proselytizing can have no effect.

  1:7 The writer declares that in Christ, the elect have “redemption through his blood.” (cf. Colossians 1:13-14.) He clearly views redemption as an accomplished fact, already achieved and enjoyed by members of the Christian community. But Jesus taught a different view of redemption. According to Jesus, redemption will occur at the second coming, when the Son of man descends on clouds from heaven with power and glory. (Luke 21:28)

  Indeed, the letter to the Ephesians does not mention the return of Christ at all. In the letter to the Colossians (3:4-6), there was still an expectation that Christ would re-appear, although the expectation no longer had any immediacy to it. But now, in Ephesians, the imagery is all about salvation and redemption in the present. (In addition to 1:7, see 2:5; 2:12-13.)
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  Chalam

  Hi cameo-d,

  Thanks for the post.

  Personally, I believe what it says here about the bible so I take it on board and the instruction of the Holy Spirit as to what to do with it.

  2 Timothy 3:16 (English Standard Version)

  16 All Scripture is breathed out by God

  Note that God's breath is His Spirit, see Gen 1:2 etc etc.

  1 Corinthians 2:14 (English Standard Version)

  14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

  So there is no point in trying to understand scripture unless we have the Counselor to help us discern them.

  To me it does not matter that we don't have the originals. We have the whole of the bible and repeating themes can be found in them from the old testament to the new, predestination included.

  "1:3 If the Greek is followed literally, verses 3 through 14 are a single sentence, joined together by various participles and relative clauses. Such lengthy and complex sentences are one of the clues that Paul did not write this letter. Paul’s style in the letters known to be his is much more simple and direct."

  Are they for real?! All of Paul's letters have mega long sentences and many of the deep things he writes about are are hard to understand. Even the bible agrees! 2 Peter 3:15-17

  "1:4-5 The selection of the elect was made “before the foundation of the world.” See also v.12. This theme of predestination occurs also in Romans 8:29-30. However, if the chosen ones were preselected by God, then there is no point in preaching the gospel in order to win converts, because such proselytizing can have no effect."

  Once again, this is totally wrong thinking. Predestination does not mean that we can stay in bed all day and keep the good news to ourselves! That goes against what Jesus told us to do.

  Luke 24:47; Matthew 24:14; Mark 11:17; Rom 1:5

  etc. etc.

  "1:7 The writer declares that in Christ, the elect have “redemption through his blood.” (cf. Colossians 1:13-14.) He clearly views redemption as an accomplished fact, already achieved and enjoyed by members of the Christian community. But Jesus taught a different view of redemption. According to Jesus, redemption will occur at the second coming, when the Son of man descends on clouds from heaven with power and glory. (Luke 21:28):"

  We who believe are redeemed already. Galatians 3:13 It will just take a while before it comes to pass in its completeness. Revelation 22:3

  "Indeed, the letter to the Ephesians does not mention the return of Christ at all. In the letter to the Colossians (3:4-6), there was still an expectation that Christ would re-appear, although the expectation no longer had any immediacy to it. But now, in Ephesians, the imagery is all about salvation and redemption in the present. (In addition to 1:7, see 2:5; 2:12-13.)"

  OK everything is explained here. The curse (1), salvation/redemption through Christ (5), those who believe in Christ are seated with Him already (6) and salvation by grace to do works (8/9/10).

  Ephesians 2 (New International Version)

  Ephesians 2

  Made Alive in Christ

  1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. BTW I returned you PM, please check you messages :) All the best, Stephen