In this lecture, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the essential difference between the title “Son of God” as used for various people in the Bible, and Christ’s divine sonship as the Only-Begotten Son.
The Pope notes that Scripture sometimes refers to believers, Israel, or even Adam as “sons of God,” such as “Israel is My firstborn son” or “Adam, the son of God.” However, these are symbolic titles, expressing adoption, grace, or love—not divine essence.

Christ’s sonship, however, is essential and eternal. He is begotten of the Father’s own essence and nature—not created or adopted. Therefore, He is called the Only-Begotten Son, born of the Father before all ages, equal to Him in divinity and substance.

The Pope emphasizes that this is the great distinction between Christ’s divine sonship and the spiritual sonship of believers: Christ is God incarnate, while we are God’s children by grace, not by nature.

✝️ Spiritual Lessons:

• Biblical titles must be understood in light of Christ’s true divinity.

• Christ is the Only-Begotten Son by nature, not by honor or adoption.

• We become God’s children through grace and faith in Christ.

• The eternal relationship between the Father and the Son reveals divine love.

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