"Stupid" Question

[SugarMag]

I read a lot here, but not much in posting. I'm a raised Catholic and a newish Christian path follower in the making. I'm embarrased by my lack of knowledge, but I have a question I've asked a lot sources and get no answer.

Is Jesus the only one on Earth who ever claimed to be THE son of G-d?

(except for cult headers of course).

This question has been bugging me for a long time, and I also want to be more prepared when I am arguing with an antitheist (who get way in my face).

Thank you much.

 

[SBG]

I read a lot here, but not much in posting. I'm a raised Catholic and a newish Christian path follower in the making. I'm embarrased by my lack of knowledge, but I have a question I've asked a lot sources and get no answer.

Is Jesus the only one on Earth who ever claimed to be THE son of G-d?

(except for cult headers of course).

This question has been bugging me for a long time, and I also want to be more prepared when I am arguing with an antitheist (who get way in my face).

Thank you much.

Jesus Christ is not the only one who claimed this position. But, He is the only one to claim this and back this up with the miracles He performed, including the dying on the cross.

Before you enter the argument with any non-believer, you should do as you have done here. Seek understanding first, from Scripture, and from Pastors who hold to a Bible-based teaching. Bible-based teaching is very important because there are many churches who will preach on their own understanding rather than on principles of the Bible.

Even here in the Christian only area's there will be ones who don't believe all that is written in the Bible, and will claim they do but interpret it differently. Don't fall for this. And always, always do as Paul taught, test everything against scripture, including what Pastors say. No one is outside this teaching, other than Christ Jesus who is God.

 

[Dad Ernie]

I read a lot here, but not much in posting. I'm a raised Catholic and a newish Christian path follower in the making. I'm embarrased by my lack of knowledge, but I have a question I've asked a lot sources and get no answer.

Is Jesus the only one on Earth who ever claimed to be THE son of G-d?

(except for cult headers of course).

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Most recently Sun Myung Moon(sp?) has declared himself to be the Christ. In the Catholic doctrines, you are going to have to dig for this, but the Pope is the current "Christ on this earth".

And of course, there have been many throughout the years who have claimed the title of Christ.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[SugarMag]

Thank you all.

I mean proclaiming Son of G-d and having an impact such as Jesus but not nearly as huge as JC of course.

 

[Veritas]

. In the Catholic doctrines, you are going to have to dig for this, but the Pope is the current "Christ on this earth".

Wrong. Why do speak of what you do not know? The pope is the successor of St. Peter on whom Christ Himself built His Church. He is known as the "Vicar of Christ", which is His representative. Nobody, most especially Catholics, think the pope is Jesus. The word pope means "papa"; a term of endearment.

 

[Dark_Lite]

Oh, and Catholics are Christians.

Thanks for noting that fact!

 

[Matthan]

The pope has many titles. Vicar means "replacement for" or "in place of." Therefore, the pope claims to be the replacement for Christ, or the earthly man taking the place of Christ. The pope also is called pontifex maximus, but we won't go there in this thread....

Matthan <J><

 

[12volt_man]

Thank you all.

I mean proclaiming Son of G-d and having an impact such as Jesus but not nearly as huge as JC of course.

You have to ask yourself what is meant by the phrase "son of God".

There are primarily two interpretations for this.

1. There is "Son of God", referring to Jesus' birthright, that is, His co-equality with God the Father.

2. "Son of God", referring to Christ's submission in His humanity to the Father.

Either of these may be correct, depending on the context.

There are a lot of people who have claimed to be the son of God, but none of them could back it up. They're all dead now.

By the way, I like your screen name.

We always manage to work a couple of Dead songs into our sets.

Right now, because of Jimmy Buffett's cover, we're doing "Scarlet Begonias".

 

[Dark_Lite]

The pope has many titles. Vicar means "replacement for" or "in place of." Therefore, the pope claims to be the replacement for Christ, or the earthly man taking the place of Christ. The pope also is called pontifex maximus, but we won't go there in this thread....

Matthan <J><

*Checks Catholicism*

Nope, he's still only a representative.

I'll check again in a few hours.

 

[Oblio]

Therefore, the pope claims to be the replacement for Christ, or the earthly man taking the place of Christ.

I'm sure this will come to a suprise to all the Catholics here, as none of them believe that. Of course if you say they do, I guess that makes it so.

 

[Celticflower]

. In the Catholic doctrines, you are going to have to dig for this, but the Pope is the current "Christ on this earth".

funny how my Catholic friends never mentioned this in our deeper conversations. Wonder where Dad Ernie gets his info on Catholics. I was told the Pope is the leader of the catholic church on earth and is never proclaimed to be more than a mortal man (at least in his lifetime. I think some of them have been elevated to saints haven't they? Don't quote me on this as I may be wrong and would welcome correction from a knowlegable source)

Celtie

 

[Edial]

I read a lot here, but not much in posting. I'm a raised Catholic and a newish Christian path follower in the making. I'm embarrased by my lack of knowledge, but I have a question I've asked a lot sources and get no answer.

Is Jesus the only one on Earth who ever claimed to be THE son of G-d?

(except for cult headers of course).

This question has been bugging me for a long time, and I also want to be more prepared when I am arguing with an antitheist (who get way in my face).

Thank you much.

I don't know if this question is stupid, but it made me think.
Technically speaking the angels are also called sons of God.
Christians are also called sons of God.

However, Chrisans are sons of God through the adoption. And the angels are the sons of God through the creation.

Only Christ is the one through the eternity. He is also the one and only Son of God.

So, no. No one ever claimed to be the Son of God in the context of the Christ.

That is why if one would believe who Christ claims to be (claims to be God) he will be able to distinguish between the fake Christs and test them.

Does this help?

Thanks,
Ed

 

[mrcrow]

I'm sure this will come to a suprise to all the Catholics here, as none of them believe that. Of course if you say they do, I guess that makes it so.

and son of man..he wanted us to be in on it as well..
the pope-vicarius filii dei..in the place of the son of god.
his chief title, is Vicarius Christi (Vicar of Christ)

 

[Oblio]

I don't think so.

Vicar

1 : one serving as a substitute or agent; specifically : an administrative deputy
2 : an ecclesiastical agent: as a : a Church of England incumbent receiving a stipend but not the tithes of a parish b : a member of the Episcopal clergy or laity who has charge of a mission or chapel c : a member of the clergy who exercises a broad pastoral responsibility as the representative of a prelate


Even if you were to twist the meaning of Vicar to mean in the place of the son of god, it is in this context (what Catholics believe) meaningless, being outside the church of mrcrow.

 

[Shok]

Jesus Christ is not the only one who claimed this position. But, He is the only one to claim this and back this up with the miracles He performed, including the dying on the cross.

I agree. I would like to add Jesus proved his identity by more than just miracles but by fulfiling prophesy and the law.

• Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Only one man was born of a virgin, the only begotten son of God, Jesus Christ.

Shok

 

[SBG]

Thank you for the addition Shok.

For those who feel the need to argue on a different subject - Catholics vs whatever - can we leave this argument alone for the sake of helping the OP-ers questions? She could use kind words, not the bitterness of a dispute.

Blesses are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. WE ALL NEED mercy from God.

 

[Veritas]

I don't think so.

Vicar

1 : one serving as a substitute or agent; specifically : an administrative deputy
2 : an ecclesiastical agent: as a : a Church of England incumbent receiving a stipend but not the tithes of a parish b : a member of the Episcopal clergy or laity who has charge of a mission or chapel c : a member of the clergy who exercises a broad pastoral responsibility as the representative of a prelate


Even if you were to twist the meaning of Vicar to mean in the place of the son of god, it is in this context (what Catholics believe) meaningless, being outside the church of mrcrow.

Thanks Oblio! I would also point out for our anti-Catholic friends here that the Church's interpretation of "vicar" is drawn from Isaiah 22:20-22, from which Matt. 16:18 is derived---

"In that day I will call my servant Eli'akim the son of Hilki'ah, and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open."

As you can see, it is primarily an administrative office with the powers of binding and loosening. I realized that you and I, Oblio, don't necessarily agree on the Catholic view of Matt. 16:18, but the Catholic Church feels it can adequately back up the office pope through Scripture and Tradition. What we do at least agree on, is his role and its scope. No one can take the place of Christ, ever. Period.

 

[herev]

I'm sure this will come to a suprise to all the Catholics here, as none of them believe that. Of course if you say they do, I guess that makes it so.

lol, think how surprised the pope will be!

 

[visionary]

There is one set of keys, that is the keys to life and death, and Jesus holds them. He received the right when He became "Ressurected". It was not just the willingness to die, it was the power to return to life that shows that He is God in the flesh.

Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Even Jesus pointed to His ressurection as proof...

John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

It was not the cross but the resurrection that was where the power of the testimony of Jesus as the Son of God.

Acts 4:33
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

It was the resurrection that cause such a flurry among some of the Sadducees who did not want to believe in Jesus's power over death, who prophesied, then fulfilled this divine claim, otherwise they would have to believe that He is the Son of God.

Luke 20:27
Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

Acts 24:21
Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

Remember it is the resurrection that shows the power of God, He is the only one who can give life. He can breath life into the clay, and it can become a living soul.

Romans 1:4
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

It is our blessed hope also to be resurrected just as Christ was.

Romans 6:5
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

The biggest excitement for the first century was the risen Christ. This was the explosive force of truth, that propelled believers into wanting to live as Christ lived, so that they may also be found worthy to be resurrected into a new life. It was the main thrust of Paul's preaching.

1 Corinthians 15: 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

Paul pointed to the resurrection many times with deep convictions as to what an astounding event that was.

Philippians 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

So did Peter....

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

So let it also be our blessed hope, for we have the firstfruits of resurrection in the body of Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead and has gone on before us.

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

 

[gsusfish]

You shouldn't feel bad. I don't have a lot of bible knowledge either, yeah it is kinda embarassing. but just keep reading and soon you'll be able to witness.