An Attack upon the Catholic Creed
Some years ago, I heard a self-defined atheist claim that Christians believe Jesus Christ is the “Son of God” and therefore Jesus is obviously not also God. This blasphemous error attacks the very core of what we profess: belief in the Blessed Trinity. It runs in direct contradiction to the [infallible] Nicene Creed we profess:
“…I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through Him all things were made.”
How is Our Lord Jesus Christ both God and the “Son of God” simultaneously? What does His sonship refer to? What do we mean when we say He is the Son of God if He is in fact God? Let’s explore this now so as to refute those who succumb to such an error.
Philosophy and Theology
The first obstacle to clear is a linguistic one. Our human language is incapable of expressing the depth of the mysteries of God, especially the central mystery of God – that He is One God in Three Persons. The human words we employ most certainly reveal aspects of this mystery, but they don’t exhaust or fully elucidate the divine mystery.
The second issue to clarify is a philosophical one. When we call the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity the “son” of God, we certainly don’t use the word “son” in the exact same sense that Solomon was the son of David. God is pure spirit and has no material body. We all know that He does not procreate children the way humans do.
Nevertheless, there is no more apt word in our human language than “son” to describe the relationship between the First and Second Persons of the Blessed Trinity. There is an infinite love between the two. The Son obeys the Father, honors Him, and always shows Him due reverence. The Son is so similar to the Father that they both are of the same divine substance (consubstantial). Not even human fathers and sons are that intimately related.
Third, in the theological terms developed under the infallible inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we speak of the Father “eternally begetting” the Son. While this term cannot describe human fathers and sons, in the divine context it is only an analogous comparison. For as we profess in the Creed, the Son is not made. There was never a moment when the Son did not exist. Just as the Father is eternal and infinite, so the Son is eternal and infinite. This divine begetting is therefore not physical or temporal, but rather a metaphysical truth.
The atheist that attacked this truth of the Catholic faith clearly did not understand the linguistic, philosophical, or theological context in which this term has been used by Christians for many centuries. Rather, he simply forced his own (quite limited) human understanding of the word onto a profound mystery. He clearly did not even have a well-formed scriptural or historical understanding of this term.
Scripture and History
The Catholic Encyclopedia entry on “Son of God”[1] serves as a good basis to deepen our knowledge. Let’s start with understanding what the historical usage of “son of God” refers to and see some examples of this expression appearing in the Old Testament:
“The title ‘son of God’ is frequent in the Old Testament. The word ‘son’ was employed among the Semites to signify not only filiation, but other close connection or intimate relationship…The title ‘son of God’ was applied in the Old Testament to persons having any special relationship with God. Angels, just and pious men, the descendants of Seth, were called ‘sons of God’ (Job 1:6; 2:1; Psalm 89:7; Wisdom 2:13; etc.). In a similar manner it was given to Israelites (Deuteronomy 14:50); and of Israel, as a nation, we read: ‘And thou shalt say to him: Thus saith the Lord: Israel is My son, My firstborn. I have said to thee: Let My son go, that he may serve Me’ (Exodus 4:22).”
The term “Son of God” in the New Testament is frequently applied to Our Lord to express both His Divinity along with the Father as well as His role as Messiah:
“The title ‘the Son of God’ is frequently applied to Jesus Christ in the Gospels and Epistles. In the latter it is everywhere employed as a short formula for expressing His Divinity; and this usage throws light on the meaning to be attached to it in many passages of the Gospels. The angel announced: ‘He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the most High… the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God’ (Luke 1:32, 35). Nathaniel, at his first meeting, called Him the Son of God (John 1:49). The devils called Him by the same name, the Jews ironically, and the Apostles after He quelled the storm. In all these cases its meaning was equivalent to the Messias, at least. But much more is implied in the confession of St. Peter, the testimony of the Father, and the words of Jesus Christ.”
Conclusion from the Faith
And so, we see the title “Son of God” is not meant to refer to Jesus as inferior to the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Rather, His title of “Son of God” is rather meant to express His Divinity and show His inseparable connection with His Heavenly Father, the First Person of the Blessed Trinity. There is no contradiction with Our Lord being true man and true God and also being the “Son of God.”
We too, if we keep the Commandments of God and live and die in the state of sanctifying grace, hope to be “sons of God.” And we can do so only by imitating Our Lord, keeping His Commandments, and allowing the Holy Ghost to abide in us. Stay close to the Sacraments and allow time each and every day for spiritual reading and study of the authentic Catholic Faith. By growing in virtue and grace, we can better imitate Our Lord and thereby truly honor our Heavenly Father.
Appendix – The Athanasian Creed
If the atheist attacker had read the Athanasian Creed, he would perhaps not have made such a rudimentary mistake. It certainly helps all Catholics to be familiar with this Creed, as it is one of the infallible creeds of Holy Mother Church. Here we just quote a small portion relevant to this discussion:
“[S]o the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;
And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;
And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;
So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords.
The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another.
But the whole three persons are coeternal and coequal…”
Translation taken from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library online.
[1] Aherne, Cornelius, “Son of God,” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14, (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912), 14 Sept. 2020, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14142b.htm.