Inter-Varsity Press

Contents

General preface

Author’s preface

Introduction: Sonship as a biblical metaphor

Part 1 - Sonship in the Old Testament

1. A son is born: Israel (Exodus 4:22–23)

2. A son heading home (Deuteronomy 1:31; 8:5; 14:1–2; 32:1–43)

3. A Son sworn in: the king (2 Samuel 7)

4. A prodigal son returns home (Hosea 11; Isaiah 1:2–4)

Part 2 - Sonship in the New Testament

5. Jesus, the Son of God (Luke 2:6–7; 1:32–36; Matthew 2:13–18; 3:13–17; 4:1–11; Luke 9:28–36; Matthew 27:33–54; Romans 1:3–4)

6. The Son of God and the children of God (John 1:14, 18; 5:16–30; 1:12–13; 3:1–10; 8:31–58; 11:51–52; 20:21–23)

7. Adopted sons and daughters empowered by the Spirit (Romans 8:3, 12–17; Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:4; Romans 8:16–25)

8. Children of wrath who become strong and stable sons and daughters of God (Ephesians 1:4–6; 2:1–10; 4:11–16)

9. Sonship and the second coming of God’s Son (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10; 4:16; 5:1–11)

10. A sermon on sonship (Hebrews 1:1–13; 3:5–6; 2:10–18; 12:1–11)

11. Children born and loved by God and called to love each other (1 John 2:29 – 3:3; 5:1–2)

12. Sons and daughters, home at last! (Revelation 21:3–8)

Study Guide

Author’s preface

This book arose from an earlier one I wrote entitled Adopted into God’s Family. During the writing of that volume D. A. Carson, in the course of written correspondence, made the insightful remark that the notion of sonship was probably the larger biblical concept of which adopted sonship was a part. Dr Carson’s comments were an important seed-thought which blossomed into the book you now hold in your hands. The contents, however, are entirely my responsibility.

A word about the title: ‘The Message of Sonship’ should not be taken to exclude females; indeed, it would have better to have used the word ‘children’, but ‘The Message of the Children of God’ did not have the same ring as ‘sonship’ nor did it fit with the mostly one-word titles of the other volumes in the Bible Speaks Today series. I have tried to be as inclusive as possible and so when I use the term ‘son’ males and females are usually intended, except in the case of Paul’s adoption term where males only are in view – females could not be adopted as they were unable to carry on the family name.

My reasons for writing this book are to inform, but also to encourage, edify and strengthen the faith of all Christians who are part of the church, the family of God. I have pastors in mind in the hope that they will preach some of these important texts and I trust the book will be useful for individual and group Bible study of what is an overlooked and neglected biblical theme. One legitimate way of ‘doing’ biblical theology is through narrative and I have endeavoured to use the metaphor of sonship as a means of understanding the biblical story. With this in mind, I would recommend the book is read right through; if a chapter is chosen to be read, however, I would encourage the reader to first turn to the introductory chapter which sets the context for the rest of the book.

Other New Testament letters could have been considered (e.g. 1 Peter and Galatians), but the constraints of space meant it was not possible to discuss all of them; in any case, a discussion of Galatians can be found in my earlier book, Adopted into God’s Family.

I owe a huge to debt to a number of people. I am particularly grateful to my employer, Moody Bible Institute, who granted me a sabbatical year (2010–11) during which most of the material was written. Thanks to Derek Tidball for his initial positive response to consider including this book in the Bible Speaks Today series and for the time he took to read the manuscript, as well as his encouragement throughout. I am grateful to Phil Duce at Inter-Varsity Press for reading the book and for his editorial comments which have also resulted in an improved volume. Alison Walley must also be thanked for the sterling work she has done with the copyediting and proof checking. Thanks are due to three busy pastors, Ed Searcy, Derek Hutchison and Lewis Clark, who took the time to read and provide feedback on parts of the manuscript. Many students have provided feedback, including a number formerly at Moody Bible Institute – some of whom are now in pastoral work or engaged in further training to serve the church of Jesus Christ – including Joseph Ananias, Brandon Hovey, Peter Stonecipher and Matt and Lindsay Tully.

Joe Cataio, a librarian at Moody Bible Institute and a fund of knowledge on all kinds of subjects, has been unstinting in his support in ordering any bibliographical materials I needed, in many cases actually getting the books or articles the same or next day.

My greatest debt, as always, is to my wife Yvonne, who read and commented on most, if not all, of the material and engaged in conversations on the topic. And I am grateful to our two sons, Luke and Simeon, who read some of the material and showed an interest by frequently asking ‘how’s the book going?’ It is to Yvonne, Luke and Simeon to whom this book is affectionately dedicated.

Trevor J. Burke

Chicago

January 2011