Category:Son of Man (subject)

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Son of Man is a Semitic idiom denoting "humanity" or "self." In some Second Temple Jewish (and Christian) circles it came to be used in a messianic context to denote a heavenly Messiah.

< See Daniel's Vision of the Son of Man -- Parables of Enoch >


Overview

In the book of Daniel, at the end of time power and authority are not given to the Son of David, but to a heavenly, angel-like being coming from Heaven and appearing like a Son of Man. He is the heavenly representative of the “people of the Most High” (=angel Micheal?). He appears in the context of the Last Judgment, even though nothing is said about his role in the judgment.

As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire... The court sat in judgment and the books were opened... And as I watched, the beast was put to death and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire... As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a son of man (בר אנש) coming from the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away..'' (Daniel 7).

In book of the Parables of Enoch (at the turn of the Common Era) the Son of Man is a term denoting the heavenly Messiah, who now sit on the throne of God as the Final Judge.

  • The name of the Son of Man is known since the beginning of the world
  • He is the eschatological Judge; he will perform God’s judgment, sitting on the throne.
  • He is not as much the redeemer of Israel as the redeemer of the poor and oppressed from the tyranny of the powerful
  • He will be worshiped
  • He is the light of the gentiles, as well as of Israel
  • He is full of wisdom and the revealer of wisdom
  • Finally, the Son of Man is identified with Enoch.
I saw one who had a “Head of Days”: his head was white, like wool, and with him was another, who face had the appearance of a man: it was full of graciousness, a face like one of the angels… Before even the sun or the heavenly signs were created… his name was named before the Lord of the Spirits... He will be the light of the Gentiles and the hope of those who are troubled in heart. All who dwell on the earth will fall down and worship before him… His glory is for ever and ever, and his might from generation to generation. In him dwells the spirit of wisdom… He will judge the things that are secret… The Lord of the Spirits seated him on the throne of his glory… For from the beginning the Son of Man was hidden and the Most High preserved him in the presence of his power, but he has revealed him to the chosen… (Parables of Enoch)

In the Synoptics, the heavenly Messiah, Son of Man, is repeatedly identified with Jesus of Nazareth. Before his manifestation as the Eschatological Judge, the Son of Man has a mission to accomplish on earth.

"The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10). And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory (Mark 13:26).
Filled with the Holy Spirit, (Stephen) gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! (Acts 7:54-57).

In the Gospel of John (where 13 logia are preserved), the Son of Man becomes a title denoting the function of Judge of the divine Messiah.

No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man (John 3:13-15). The Father… has given [the Son] authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man (John 5:27)

In light of the Gospel of John, the Book of Revelation reinterprets the Son of Man in Daniel 7 as the divine Messiah--the Lamb is not only sitting on the throne but has now the same attributes as the Father:

I saw one like the Son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire. (Rev 1:13-34) -- Then I saw… a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered… He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne… Then I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne… Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing… And the elders fell down and worshiped… Then I saw the Lamb open one of seven seals… After this I looked and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb… and the Lamb at the center of his throne will be their shepherd. (Rev 5-7).

The Son of Man in ancient sources

The Son of Man in Scholarship

The Son of Man in Fiction

Related categories

References

External links

Selected Bibliography

2000s

  • Andrew R. Angel, Chaos and the Son of Man: The Hebrew Chaoskampf Tradition in the Period 515 BCE to 200 CE. (London: T&T Clark, 2007)
    • Charles S. Brown, The Two Sons of God: The Son of Man and the Son of God: What the Bible Really Says (Waitakere City, N.Z.: Crystal, 2005; 2nd ed. 2007)
  • 1990s

Mary Margaret Pazdan, The Son of Man: A Metaphor for Jesus in the Fourth Gospel (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991)

  • 1980s
    • Barnabas Lindars, Jesus, Son of Man: A Fresh Examination of the Son of Man Sayings in the Gospels in the Light of Recent Research (London: SPCK, 1983)
    • A.J.B. Higgins, The Son of Man in the teaching of Jesus (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1980; repr. 2005)
  • 1970s
    • Robert Hamerton-Kelly, Pre-existence, Wisdom, and the Son of Man: A Study of the Idea of Pre-Existence in the New Testament (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1973)
  • 1960s
    • Morna Dorothy Hooker, The Son of Man in Mark: A Study of the Background of the Term "Son of Man" and Its Use in St. Mark's Gospel (Montreal: McGill University Press, 1967)

Pages in category "Son of Man (subject)"

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Media in category "Son of Man (subject)"

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