King and Messiah as Son of God: Divine, Human, and Angelic Messianic Figures in Biblical and Related Literature

by Adela Yarbro Collins, John J. Collins

This book traces the history of the idea that the king and later the messiah is Son of God, from its origins in ancient Near Eastern royal ideology to its Christian appropriation in the New Testament.

Both highly regarded scholars, Adela Yarbro Collins and John J. Collins argue that Jesus was called “the Son of God” precisely because he was believed to be the messianic king. This belief and tradition, they contend, led to the identification of Jesus as preexistent, personified Wisdom, or a heavenly being in the New Testament canon. However, the titles Jesus is given are historical titles tracing back to Egyptian New Kingdom ideology. Therefore the title “Son of God” is likely solely messianic and not literal.  King and Messiah as Son of God  is distinctive in its range, spanning both Testaments and informed by ancient Near Eastern literature and Jewish noncanonical literature.

Genres: Christianity, Nonfiction

275 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2008

Reviews

[David Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book focusing on how the idea of divinity of the King, Messiah and Jesus came about and became connected.

[Michael Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in conjunction with a Bible study I conducted on the same theme, this was a fabulous study by two top scholars in the Hebrew Bible, the intertestimental period (including the Dead Sea Scrolls) and the New Testament. And they're happily married to each other!
The book meticulously clarifies the origins--in Hebrew thought--of what the terms "Son of God" (royal and then messianic) and "Son of Man" (apocalyptic) meant and then developed up to and into the period of the New Testament.
John and Adela Collins write clearly, respectfully, and thoroughly. Does it take a degree in Bible or theology to understand it? Maybe.
A great read!

[Sandy Skrien]

This was a difficult book to read. We read it as part of the group and not many finished the whole book. Luckily our Pastor helped us get started. The second four chapters were easier to understand than the first four.

[Jose Papo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book about relationships between many divine, human, angelic and messianic figures in the Bible and specially during Second Temple Judaism. A great way to understand how the question of a human exalted by God is treated in the Bible.

[Trey Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting and fascinating read about Messianic and Apocalyptic thought in ancient times. I’d like to read more on this subject at some point to compare more ideas.