The Eternal Son

[FreeInChrist]

You're being silly by saying that Jesus is the Word when John 1 doesn't say that. I am being rational. Where is Jesus ever called the Word even one time in all of Scripture?

Who is this? (from John 1)

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.


New World Translation says. Thats the JW translation of preference.

14 So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of divine favor and truth.

Now, you JWs who are reading this are going to argue the claim an only-begotten son from a father does not indicate Jesus or God the Father, for it could be any begotten son, except you folks also identify the Word as the one who became flesh, and you folk punch it up by actually saying he was full of divine favor and truth.

So, @Runningman .. as I asked you... who is this Word that became flesh, from the only begotten Father?

Are you going to claim that the Heavenly Father begot... begat... ????? two?

 

[FreeInChrist]

I agree that Jesus is the true God. So why is the name "Jesus" never used for God in the Old Testament?

It was needed for when the babe would be born and part of the plan.

I would imagine that the angel who told Joseph...

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

...did so because the savior child would need a name people would recognize but not one that made them stand off.

And also was Confirmed in Luke to Mary

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

 

[Runningman]

Who is this? (from John 1)

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.


New World Translation says. Thats the JW translation of preference.

14 So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of divine favor and truth.

Now, you JWs who are reading this are going to argue the claim an only-begotten son from a father does not indicate Jesus or God the Father, for it could be any begotten son, except you folks also identify the Word as the one who became flesh, and you folk punch it up by actually saying he was full of divine favor and truth.

So, @Runningman .. as I asked you... who is this Word that became flesh, from the only begotten Father?

Are you going to claim that the Heavenly Father begot... begat... ????? two?

I might ask you who the Word is too. Where is the Word saying or doing anything in the OT? Why did John call the Word a thing in 1John 1:1-3? Why did John not believe Jesus is God in Acts 4:23-31?

Your questions I have answered exhaustively. Straight answers will only sound silly if you don't understand what John's point was. Check out 1John 1:1-3 and Acts 3:23-31 and see if that clears it up.

 

[praise_yeshua]

@dwight92070

Very simple~God's Son was born in TIME around two thousand years ago, until then, God had no Son, only according to his eternal purposes ~ Jesus was born of Mary and we have the record of that birth, the only record there is to see and know when exactly Jesus became the Son of God.

Where there any sons before Jesus?

 

[civic]

@dwight92070

Very simple~God's Son was born in TIME around two thousand years ago, until then, God had no Son, only according to his eternal purposes ~ Jesus was born of Mary and we have the record of that birth, the only record there is to see and know when exactly Jesus became the Son of God.

Jesus became Gods son at His birth. Prior He was the 2nd Person of the Trinity known as the Son. Both the Father and Son have always been Father/Son since before creation. The Trinity has never changed with the exception of the Son taking upon Himself humanity permanently. We call this the Incarnation.

hope this helps !!!

 

[praise_yeshua]

Jesus became Gods son at His birth. Prior He was the 2nd Person of the Trinity known as the Son. Both the Father and Son have always been Father/Son since before creation. The Trinity has never changed with the exception of the Son taking upon Himself humanity permanently. The Sons Divine nature as God remains unchanged. We call this the Incarnation.

hope this helps !!!

Yep. Scripture is wonderful....

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 

[Runningman]

Yep. Scripture is wonderful....

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Which would mean Jesus was always a human and still is. There is no other version of Jesus that excludes him being fully human, contrary to what some say about him pre-existing as a non-human being.

 

[praise_yeshua]

Where there any sons before Jesus?

Sorry for the typo. I meant to say "Were there any sons before Jesus?"

I believe in the doctrine of the Eternal Son but I'll go even further to say I lean toward believing that Adam was patterned after the tangible bodily form of Jesus Christ when Adam was crafted from the ashes/dust of the earth.

Luk 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

 

[praise_yeshua]

Which would mean Jesus was always a human and still is. There is no other version of Jesus that excludes him being fully human, contrary to what some say about him pre-existing as a non-human being.

There is no context of humanity associated with such a statement. It is a statement relative to Character.

I want to really help you but you're resisting the simplest of things.

The Son is Eternal. His Character has never changed. The Incarnation changed Jesus Christ but it wasn't relative to His Character.

Just realize that I've been doing this for a long time. Debate after debate. Over and over again. I can help you but this attitude you have toward Jesus Christ is detrimental to you. There are many answers to these questions that you're not considering.

Thanks

 

[Runningman]

There is no context of humanity associated with such a statement. It is a statement relative to Character.

I want to really help you but you're resisting the simplest of things.

The Son is Eternal. His Character has never changed. The Incarnation changed Jesus Christ but it wasn't relative to His Character.

Just realize that I've been doing this for a long time. Debate after debate. Over and over again. I can help you but this attitude you have toward Jesus Christ is detrimental to you. There are many answers to these questions that you're not considering.

Thanks
Lewis

"Jesus" is the name given to a human. So to say "Jesus" is to refer to a human. So say he is the same yesterday, today, and forever means he has never changed. If he has never changed then he has always been a human and he was only ever a human after he was born. I

 

[praise_yeshua]

"Jesus" is the name given to a human. So to say "Jesus" is to refer to a human. So say he is the same yesterday, today, and forever means he has never changed. If he has never changed then he has always been a human and he was only ever a human after he was born. I

Oversimplification. There are many names given to the Son.

 

[Runningman]

Oversimplification.

Either that or Jesus hasn't always been the same and then we got a different problem.

 

[praise_yeshua]

Either that or Jesus hasn't always been the same and then we got a different problem.

Your character changes. Men's character change.

Do you believe the character of Jesus Christ has changed?

You must oversimplify or you're going to lose this theology you prefer. There is an alternative to your problem too. Change. What you believe isn't worth having.

 

[101G]

This thread is needed to defend the historical, orthodox and biblical doctrine of the Eternal Son of God.

John 17:1, 5
“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,

And now, Father, glorify Me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Notice above its the Son with the Father sharing the same glory together with Hm before creation, before the world came into existence. The same below. The Word who was God is the Son. Scripture interprets scripture. Hermeneutics 101.

" the Son with the Father sharing the same glory" are you saying still that the Father and son ... are not the same one PERSON, because of the term "With?".

101G.

 

[Milo Flores]

This thread is needed to defend the historical, orthodox and biblical doctrine of the Eternal Son of God.

John 17:1, 5
“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,

And now, Father, glorify Me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Notice above its the Son with the Father sharing the same glory together with Hm before creation, before the world came into existence. The same below. The Word who was God is the Son. Scripture interprets scripture. Hermeneutics 101.

Hebrews 1:1-2
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

Verse 2 is talking about the son and it says that God made the universe through him, (in the context of him being a son).

Hebrews 1:8-12
But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9;You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
10He also says,
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.

Colossians 1:15-19

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.


And Here Jesus who is both God and man says that the Father sent the Son. This shows the Son existing before becoming man.

John 3:17
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.

John tells us the same below:

1 John 4:9
This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

1 John 4:10
10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

As does Paul below:

Romans 8:3
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, / to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

You cannot send Someone who does not exist, ie the Son.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

1 John 4:9. toward us—Greek, "in our case."

sent—Greek, "hath sent."

into the world—a proof against Socinians, that the Son existed before He was "sent into the world." Otherwise, too, He could not have been our life (1Jo 4:9), our "propitiation" (1Jo 4:10), or our "Saviour" (1Jo 4:14). It is the grand proof of God's love, His having sent "His only-begotten Son, that we might live through Him," who is the Life, and who has redeemed our forfeited life; and it is also the grand motive to our mutual love.

1 John 1:1-4
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:8- The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.



We clearly see the Father in the O.T.

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Isa 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

Deu 32:6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

Mal 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

And the Son

Daniel 3:25
He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like the son of god

Psalm 2:12
Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Proverbs 30:4
Who has ascended into heaven and descended?Who has gathered the wind in His fists?Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?Who has established all the ends of the earth?What is His name or His son’s name?

Daniel 7:13
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like the son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

Matthew 11:27: “All these things have been given to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father and anyone to whom the Son of Man decides to reveal him.”

“Matthew’s use of ‘know’ ([epiginōskō is pronounced eh-pea-gih-noh-skoh, and the “g” is hard as in “get”] the present tense is gnomic, knowledge shared in eternal past, present, and eternal future) here is critical … it is likely that there is perfective force in the prefix [epi] –with the meaning ‘know exactly, completely, through and through’ (BAGD, 291), with the added idea of recognizing and acknowledging” (comment on 11:27).

The bottom line is that the Greek present tense is timeless and supports the notion that the Father and Son knew each other intimately for eternity, in the past, present and future—forever. Jesus did not become the Son at his birth or baptism (Matthew: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [Zondervan, 2010], p. 440). https://drjimsebt.com/2023/04/17/when-did-jesus-become-the-son-of-god/



John 5:26: For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. (John 5:26)

This grant cannot be temporary because the Father also has life in himself eternally. Therefore the Son also has life in himself eternally–just as the Father has this.


John 17:24:
24 Father, those whom you have given me, I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory which you have given me because you have loved me before the foundation of the world. (My translation)

Being a Father implies a Son. What was the Father doing before the foundation or creation of the world? He was loving his Son.

John 1:18 says: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” Jesus more fully reveals their status and nature–Father and Son–beyond God and Logos. Therefore the Father was in heaven with his Son before the incarnation and birth.

Jesus says that he was in the presence of the Father: “I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence” […] (John 8:38). The term “presence” can be translated as “alongside” or “next to” the Father. The point: they were in close relationship as we see in John 1:1-2, 14 and 17:5. This relationship in the Father’s presence happened before the incarnation. To be the Father, he had to have at least one son in his presence. That Son is Jesus.

Hebrews 1:2 says: “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” That verse says that the Son was the person through whom God made the universe. He was the Son before creation, long before his birth. That verses also identifies who the Logos was in John 1:1-4.

Hebrews 1:3:
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being […] (Heb. 1:3)

God’s radiance and his being are eternal because light that does not radiate is not light, and God’s being is not temporary with a beginning; therefore the Son is also eternal

Lets discuss the Eternal Son of God.

hope this helps !!!

Thank you for raising these texts. I hold them with reverence, but I must clarify my understanding. I do not deny Christ’s eternity, nor His divinity, nor His role as the Mediator of creation. What I cannot accept as dogma is the Nicene reading of “Eternal Sonship” as absolute ontological equality without causal origin, for that goes beyond what is written.

1. Created through Him, begotten from the Father
   Scripture says clearly: “through Him all things were created” (Col 1:16; Heb 1:2). Christ is the universal Mediator: everything came into being by Him. Yet Scripture also makes a vital distinction: “the only-begotten from the Father” (μονογενὴς παρὰ πατρός, Jn 1:14, 18). All things are created through Him, but He Himself is not created; He is the only One directly begotten of the Father —in a causal sense.
2. The language of heirship and primogeniture
   Hebrews 1:2 calls Him “heir of all things” (κληρονόμον πάντων), and Colossians 1:15 “firstborn of all creation” (πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως). Both terms imply relation and causality. “Heir” receives; “firstborn” proceeds. These are not terms of self-existence but of filial dependence, exalting Him as supreme yet distinguishing Him from the Father as Source.
3. John 17:5 and the pre-existent glory
   The Greek ᾗ εἶχον (“which I had”) can denote possession by gift, not by self-origin. Christ asks the Father to glorify Him with the glory He had with the Father before the world. This is eternal pre-existence, yes, but filial and participatory —not self-derived.
4. The sending texts
   “God sent His Son into the world” (Jn 3:17; Gal 4:4; 1 Jn 4:9–14). In Semitic idiom, “to send” often denotes commissioning of one already appointed in God’s plan (cf. Jer 1:5). The point is pre-existence, not necessarily eternal Sonship in the Nicene sense.
5. The exaltation and inheritance
   Philippians 2:9: “Therefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him the Name above every name.” Hebrews 1:9: “Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You.” These texts show that even in glory Christ is dependent: He is exalted by the Father, receives the Name, inherits the Kingdom (Heb 1:2). And finally, “the Son Himself will be subjected to Him… that God may be all in all” (1 Cor 15:28).
6. On homoousia
   We must also remember: ὁμοούσιος is not in Scripture. It was introduced at Nicaea under Constantine (then unbaptized), at the urging of Hosius of Cordova. Earlier councils had rejected it due to Sabellian abuse. To anathematize all who do not use this extra-biblical term would absurdly condemn the apostles, evangelists, the Didache, and many Fathers who never employed it.
7. The patristic witness
   The earliest Fathers (Ignatius, Justin, Irenaeus) spoke of the Logos as divine and pre-existent, but in relational and functional categories. Justin even calls Christ “a second God,” yet subordinate to the Father. The language of ontological equality develops gradually, not apostolically.

---

Conclusion
I affirm: Christ is eternal, for He was begotten before time itself. But “Son” implies causality: He is eternally from the Father, not without origin. He is the only-begotten, not self-begotten. All creation came through Him, yet He Himself came from the Father. He reigns as Lord with the Name above every name, but as inheritance. And at the end He delivers the Kingdom back to the Father, so that God may be all in all (1 Cor 15:28).


This preserves both truths:

• The Son is truly eternal and divine.
• The Father remains the ultimate Source and Fountain.

I respect the Nicene formulation as opinion, but I cannot elevate it as dogma, for Scripture commands us not to go beyond what is written.

 

[101G]

GINOLJC, to all
Let's clear up some misconceptions.
A. the term "Son" when used as in the Christ. is not a biological son. Son here means, character, or one's characteristics. it's the Greek term used, G5207, huios, please look it up.

B. as for begotten. it's not biological either, but spiritual. example, 1 Corinthians 4:15 "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." the apostle tells us how he begot these students. not by physically laying with each of theirs mothers, no but by the gospel. as with young Timothy. 1 Timothy 1:2 "Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord." so, was Timothy the apostle biological son? no, but a son in Faith. so, the Lord Jesus is no one's biological Son.

C. the TERM "THROUGH", as some say, or "BY", as in Colossians 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" this sounds like the Son in John 1:3 with states, John 1:3 "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." but their is one problem with the statements that, "God went THROUGH" the son, Jesus to make all things". well the problem is this, GOD WAS "ALONE" and "BY", "BY", "BY" ... himself when he made all things. supportive scripture, Isaiah 44:24 "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;" that's the problem. #1. the "LORD", all caps was ALONE when he MADE ALL THINGS. and "alone", means, having no one else present. and if there was no one else present, how can he go ... "through" / "by", someone else? the answer lay within the term "BY". let's see what it really means. using the Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of American English the term, "BY", means,
BY, prep.
1. Near; close; as, sit by me; that house stands by a river.
[L. pressus.]
2. Near, in motion; as, to move, go or pass by a church. But it seems, in other phrases,or with a verb in the past time, to signify past, gone beyond. "The procession is gone by;" "the hour is gone by;" "John went by." We now use past as an equivalent word. The procession is gone past. Gone by is in strictness tautology, as now used; but I apprehend by signifies primarily near.
3. Through, or with, denoting the agent, means, instrument or cause; as, "a city is destroyed by fire;" "profit is made by commerce;" "to take by force." This use answers to that of the Latin per, through, denoting a passing, acting, agency, or instrumentality.

so now we can see that "BY" or "through" means, with, denoting the agent, means instrument or cause So, what was the agent, or the instrument or cause of everything coming into existence? answer his spoken "WORD". THROUGH, or BY his "OWN" Words everything was made. God said, and God said. and God said.... ect...... BY Spoken Words was ALL THINGS MADE.

so no, God, Jesus himself MADE ALL THINGS .... "BY, BY, BY, HIMSELF, and no one else. as said the term "ALONE" means, "NO ONE ELSE PRESENT". so, God, the LORD JESUS did not go through anyone else.

101G.

 

[101G]

Conclusion
I affirm: Christ is eternal, for He was begotten before time itself. But “Son” implies causality: He is eternally from the Father, not without origin. He is the only-begotten, not self-begotten. All creation came through Him, yet He Himself came from the Father. He reigns as Lord with the Name above every name, but as inheritance. And at the end He delivers the Kingdom back to the Father, so that God may be all in all (1 Cor 15:28).

101G agrees here, as a matter of FACT, 101G will take it a step further by saying this. "Jesus the Christ is the "ONLY" one who is ETERNAL". supportive scripture. 1 Timothy 6:14 "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:" 1 Timothy 6:15 "Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;" 1 Timothy 6:16 "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." .

immortality is synonyms with, eternal life. and the term, "only" means.... and no one or nothing more besides; solely or exclusively. hello. understand, if the Lord Jesus is the "ONLY ONE" with eternal life, where do that leave the other two so called person of the Godhead in the trinity doctrine? understand, 101G is not here to argue, or debate, but to REASON the word of God .... ONLY.

so, 101G agrees that the Lord Jesus the Christ is ETERNAL, but just that he's the ONLY ONE who is eternal. ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES.

101G.

 

[FreeInChrist]

When Did Jesus “Become” the Son of God?

I have added a Greek text + my slightly revised translation, and I answer the odd interpretation of Luke 1:35. Now, in my mind there is no doubt about the answer. Updated once again (December 11, 2…

drjimsebt.com

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When Did Jesus “Become” the Son of God?​

Posted on April 17, 2023
I have added a Greek text + my slightly revised translation, and I answer the odd interpretation of Luke 1:35. Now, in my mind there is no doubt about the answer. Updated once again (December 11, 2024): more Scriptures!

The doctrine about Jesus “becoming” the Son of God on earth or at his birth is a variation on Adoptionism. Let’s call the variation Adoptionism-plus or Adoptionists-plus. (Recently it came to my attention that Walter Martin of the 1970s and 1980s Bible Answer Man fame, believed in this. If true, then his bad theology on this one point still influences the younger generations of Bible teachers today.)
In Luke 1:35 Gabriel announces to Mary and says of her future son: “So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Adoptionists-plus say that they can’t find Scripture that clearly says he was the Son of God before his incarnation.
What they fail to understand is that there are two aspects of his Sonship: royal at the resurrection and exaltation and his eternal Sonship before he came down to earth.
The NIV is used here unless otherwise noted. Please go to biblegateway.com for many more.
Let’s begin.
Updated: Jesus was the royal Son of God, proclaimed at his resurrection and his exaltation.
First, this passage is long, but Jesus is proclaimed the Son of God at his royal crowning at his resurrection and exaltation and heavenly priesthood:
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?
[…]
13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet. (Heb. 1:5, 13, emphasis added)
Second, Paul is particularly clear about connecting Jesus’s Sonship to the resurrection:
32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
“‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.
34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. (Acts 13:32-34, emphasis added)
Third, the author of Hebrews says that Jesus “became” the Son when he became the royal priest during his heavenly priesthood after the order of Melchizedek:
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”
6 And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb. 5:5-6)
Fourth, once again Paul links Jesus’s Sonship with his resurrection:
2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life[a] was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 1:3-4, emphasis added)
All of those above verses say that Jesus became the Son of God during his time on earth and his resurrection and exaltation: So his Sonship occurs in time.
Now let’s switch over to looking into eternal Sonship.
The Son of God in eternity past, his earthly ministry, and his eternal exaltation
1.. In eternity past (this section is the most important, since the Adoptionists-plus deny it).
Matthew 11:27: “All these things have been given to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father and anyone to whom the Son of Man decides to reveal him.”
Grant R. Osborne: “Matthew’s use of ‘know’ ([epiginōskō is pronounced eh-pea-gih-noh-skoh, and the “g” is hard as in “get”] the present tense is gnomic, knowledge shared in eternal past, present, and eternal future) here is critical … it is likely that there is perfective force in the prefix [epi] –with the meaning ‘know exactly, completely, through and through’ (BAGD, 291), with the added idea of recognizing and acknowledging” (comment on 11:27).
The bottom line is that the Greek present tense is timeless and supports the notion that the Father and Son knew each other intimately for eternity, in the past, present and future—forever. Jesus did not become the Son at his birth or baptism (Matthew: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [Zondervan, 2010], p. 440).
John 1:1-2 says that God and the Logos existed before creation:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2)
This verse further clarifies the identity of God and the Logos: they are Father and Son, who came from the Father in heaven:
The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as the only and unique Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, my translation)
Then Jesus says the same thing about the Father:
And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:5)
So how does Jesus have the status of being the Logos, and how does God have the status of being God before the world existed but do not have the status of the Father and Son before creation? Actually, Jesus is simply clarifying who God and the Logos were in John 1:14 and 17:5. They are Father and Son (who is praying the prayer in 17:5).
John 5:26:
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. (John 5:26)
This grant cannot be temporary because the Father also has life in himself eternally. Therefore the Son also has life in himself eternally–just as the Father has this.
John 17:24:
24 Father, those whom you have given me, I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory which you have given me because you have loved me before the foundation of the world. (My translation)
Being a Father implies a Son. What was the Father doing before the foundation or creation of the world? He was loving his Son.
John 1:18 says: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” Jesus more fully reveals their status and nature–Father and Son–beyond God and Logos. Therefore the Father was in heaven with his Son before the incarnation and birth.
Jesus says that he was in the presence of the Father: “I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence” […] (John 8:38). The term “presence” can be translated as “alongside” or “next to” the Father. The point: they were in close relationship as we see in John 1:1-2, 14 and 17:5. This relationship in the Father’s presence happened before the incarnation. To be the Father, he had to have at least one son in his presence. That Son is Jesus.
John 3:16 says that God sent his Son. This verse affirms that Jesus was the Son before he was sent.
Hebrews 1:2 says: “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” That verse says that the Son was the person through whom God made the universe. He was the Son before creation, long before his birth. That verses also identifies who the Logos was in John 1:1-4.
Hebrews 1:3:
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being […] (Heb. 1:3)
God’s radiance and his being are eternal because light that does not radiate is not light, and God’s being is not temporary with a beginning; therefore the Son is also eternal
1 John 5:20 says: “And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” This verse teaches that his Sonship is the same as his “Godness.” It would be odd if Jesus were always God, but not always the Son. Rather, he was eternally both.
Colossians 1:9-20 is particularly clear that Jesus was the Son before creation and earth-time, that is, in eternity past: This is my translation. I add my comments in bold font within brackets:

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Colossians 1:9-20​

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[/TR]
[TR]
[td width="312px"]9 Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἀφ’ ἧς ἡμέρας ἠκούσαμεν, οὐ παυόμεθα ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν προσευχόμενοι καὶ αἰτούμενοι, ἵνα πληρωθῆτε τὴν ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει πνευματικῇ, 10 περιπατῆσαι ἀξίως τοῦ κυρίου εἰς πᾶσαν ἀρεσκείαν, ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ καρποφοροῦντες καὶ αὐξανόμενοι τῇ ἐπιγνώσει τοῦ θεοῦ, 11 ἐν πάσῃ δυνάμει δυναμούμενοι κατὰ τὸ κράτος τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ εἰς πᾶσαν ὑπομονὴν καὶ μακροθυμίαν. Μετὰ χαρᾶς 12 εὐχαριστοῦντες τῷ πατρὶ τῷ ἱκανώσαντι ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν μερίδα τοῦ κλήρου τῶν ἁγίων ἐν τῷ φωτί· 13 ὃς ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ σκότους καὶ μετέστησεν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ υἱοῦ τῆς ἀγάπης αὐτοῦ, 14 ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν·

15 ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου, πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως,
16 ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα
ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς,
τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα,
εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες
εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι·
τὰ πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται·
17 καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν πρὸ πάντων
καὶ τὰ πάντα ἐν αὐτῷ συνέστηκεν,
18 καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ σώματος τῆς ἐκκλησίας·
ὅς ἐστιν ἀρχή,
πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν,
ἵνα γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτὸς πρωτεύων,
19 ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ εὐδόκησεν πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα κατοικῆσαι 20 καὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ ἀποκαταλλάξαι τὰ πάντα εἰς αὐτόν, εἰρηνοποιήσας διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ σταυροῦ αὐτοῦ, [δι’ αὐτοῦ] εἴτε τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς εἴτε τὰ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.[/td]
[td width="312px"]9 Because of this, we also, from the day we heard [of it], have not stopped praying for you and asking that you would be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 to walk worthily of the Lord, to please [him] fully, in every good work, producing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 [you Colossians] being empowered with all might according to the power of his glory, for all perseverance and patience; with joy 12 [you Colossians] giving thanks to the Father who qualified you [Colossians] for a [actually “the”] share of the inheritance of the saints in the light, 13 who [the Father] rescued us from the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom [shifts to Son, the nearest antecedent] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins,

15 who [the Son] is the image of the invisible God, firstborn [Sonship again] over all creation, 16 for by him [the Son] all things were created, in heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether rulers or authorities—all things were created through him [the Son] and for him [the Son]; 17 and he [the Son] is before everything and everything consists in him, 18 and he [the Son is still the subject of these clauses] is the head of the body, the church, who [the Son] is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he [the Son] would be preeminent in everything, 19 because in him [the Son] all the fullness [of God; cf. 2:9] was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him [the Son] to reconcile all things to himself [God or Christ], making peace through the blood and his [Son’s] cross—whether on the earth or in heavens.[/td]
[/TR]

That long passage is stark and clear. He was the Son before creation, that is, before his earthly birth. (Evidently, the editors of the Nestle-Aland Greek text believes that verses 15-20 should be indented because it may be an early hymn.)
The titled question has been answered. Jesus never “became” the Son of God. He was always the Son, eternally the Son.
2.. On earth (this section is not in dispute, so we don’t need to spend much time here)
As noted, Luke 1:35 says that he shall be called the Son of God (implied: he was not the son of Joseph, but Jesus’s conception was of God). People calling him the Son of God does not deny his being the Son of God before creation. That is, Luke 1:35 was written for the people’s perspective. He will be called the Son of God after his baptism–even Satan calls him the Son of God after Jesus’s baptism (Luke 4:1-13). But does this mean he was never the Son of God before his baptism? No. He was. Gabriel was simply informing his mother of his calling and destiny. We should not let people’s limited perspective guide the eternal perspective. We should not let Luke 1:35 dominate all other verses, as if it settles the matter.
Throughout his ministry, he was called the Son of God by people (Matt. 14:33; 27:54; Mark 1:1 John 1:49), demons and even Satan (Matt. 4:3, 6; 8:29; Mark 3:11). Of course his Father called him his Son (Matt. 3:17; 17:5). Humans, Satan and demons, and the Father called him the Son of God during his ministry. Why wouldn’t they? This is what Luke 1:35 predicted. It was a public acknowledgement of his nature. But Luke 1:35 does not say, “He was not the Son of God before his birth” or “This will be the first time he is the Son of God.” The verse, instead, merely reveals to Mary who her son really was going to be called, so get ready for it. It is the first time that people will acknowledge him to be the Son of God.
Bottom line: the moment the people called him the Son of God does not make him the Son of god, except in the people’s own mind. He was the Son of God before creation and at his resurrection and exaltation.
As we just saw, Jesus was appointed the Son of God with power at his resurrection (Rom. 1:4; Acts 13:33). He was already the Son, but his resurrection confirmed it with power. This declaration is his coronation (Ps. 2).
However, to follow Adoptionist-plus logic, we have to conclude that he was not the Son of God until his resurrection. In reply, there are plenty of Scriptures that proclaim he was the Son before his resurrection. We should not allow a title late in his life (resurrection and coronation) go backwards and deny his Sonship during his ministry. Likewise, we should not allow Luke 1:35 to deny that he was the Son before his birth or baptism–before creation.
All of the verses work together to reveal who he was from eternity past to eternity future.
3.. In heaven (likewise, this section is not in dispute, so let’s not spend much time here)
He is the high priest, and Hebrew 5:5 says that at this moment he is called God’s Son (cf. 5:9; 7:28): “In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” (Heb. 5:5).
Therefore Jesus was always the Son of God and will always be the Son of God, in eternity past, while he was on earth, and in eternity future.
4.. Possible reply to those three points
Adoptionists-plus agree that he will be the Son for all eternity future and was the Son of God during his ministry. However, they say that the NT authors didn’t know about the Sonship of Jesus until he was born; therefore he was not the Son in eternity past because he became the Son only after he was born! The NT authors merely projected the title “Son” in their epistles for convenience, not because he was actually the Son before his birth.
Apparently, Adoptionists-plus wants the NT authors to write something like this (boiled down):
The Father existed as the Father before creation. The Son existed as the Son before creation.
Instead, they wrote (boiled down):
The Father existed before creation (John 1:18; 8:38; 17:5; 1 Cor. 8:4; Eph. 3:14-15). The Son existed before creation (John 1:18; Col. 1:14-17).
The demand of the Adoptionist-plus is too pushy. Scripture is clear enough, as written.
References to the Father before creation
In Eph. 3:14-15 we read: “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. So his Fatherhood is lifted from the earth to the families in heaven. where eternity exists.
However, Adoptionism-plus could say that his Fatherhood began when he made the families in heaven, a moment in time, not in eternity past. In reply, the verses about Jesus being the Son before creation clarifies that he really was the Son in eternity past. A son needs a father. The heavenly Father was the Father to the Heavenly Son.
1 Corinthians 8:6 reads: “one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live.” As noted, a Father has to have at least one child, and the Son of God fits the role–all before creation.
Further, Adoptionism-plus could again claim that since the NT authors didn’t know about these titles / attributes until Jesus was born, they proleptically (“forward-fitted”) applied the title / attribute “Son” and “Father” to their later writings after they found out about it, either by personal revelation or the birth and life of Christ. So the Father was not eternally the Father. Wrong, as the above data show.
Conclusion
There is enough biblical evidence to affirm that the Trinity’s Fatherhood and Sonship are not new or tacked on only at the exact moment the Second Person was conceived in the womb or at his baptism or when people started calling him “the Son of God.” Their Fatherhood and Sonship are every bit of who they are as their mercy and love and holiness (etc.) are. Since Fatherhood and Sonship are essential to who they are, the titles are eternal and cannot be added or shed.
The Trinity has been, is, and shall forever be the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, eternally!
So how do I get to know Jesus more deeply?
The title “the Son of God” is an indispensable description of the Second Person of the Trinity. No Christian should abandon it and reduce the Second Person to a mere human prophet or teacher or rabbi or merely human son of man or messenger or make him so distant that they were to call him merely “the Second Person.” Rather, his Sonship reveals who he eternally was in relation to his Father. Now he shows us who his Father is.
The Second Person of the Trinity was never adopted as the Father’s Son, nor did he merely and only acquire the title “Son” at his birth or conception or baptism or when people called him this. He was eternally the Son.
However, we humans can be adopted. We can become the Father’s sons and daughters.
Closing verses:
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are also the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Rom. 8:14-17)
Those verses are full of truths that can transform you. You are his children and Christ’s co-heirs. We may have to suffer persecution or we just have to die to self—his sufferings. But then we will also share in his glory. Whatever happens, you are his sons and daughters by adoption.

 

[shepherdsword]

I am not so sure about the "Eternal Son" position. I have always considered the Trinity to be co-equal in every way in eternity past. The way I see it, The respective positions we see today, "Father" "Son" and "Holy Spirit" are only in respect of their roles taken in creation and redemption. Anyone of them could have just as easily fulfilled any role. However, once creation was determined they each took on the position we see now. I won't debate it if challenged though. The mystery of the Triune God is way above my head. All I know is this:
1) The Father is YHVH
2)The Son is YHVH
3) The Holy Spirit is YHVH
These three are One ("echad" unity out of plurality)

 

[101G]

When Did Jesus “Become” the Son of God?

I have added a Greek text + my slightly revised translation, and I answer the odd interpretation of Luke 1:35. Now, in my mind there is no doubt about the answer. Updated once again (December 11, 2…

drjimsebt.com

​

When Did Jesus “Become” the Son of God?​

Posted on April 17, 2023
I have added a Greek text + my slightly revised translation, and I answer the odd interpretation of Luke 1:35. Now, in my mind there is no doubt about the answer. Updated once again (December 11, 2024): more Scriptures!

The doctrine about Jesus “becoming” the Son of God on earth or at his birth is a variation on Adoptionism. Let’s call the variation Adoptionism-plus or Adoptionists-plus. (Recently it came to my attention that Walter Martin of the 1970s and 1980s Bible Answer Man fame, believed in this. If true, then his bad theology on this one point still influences the younger generations of Bible teachers today.)
In Luke 1:35 Gabriel announces to Mary and says of her future son: “So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Adoptionists-plus say that they can’t find Scripture that clearly says he was the Son of God before his incarnation.
What they fail to understand is that there are two aspects of his Sonship: royal at the resurrection and exaltation and his eternal Sonship before he came down to earth.
The NIV is used here unless otherwise noted. Please go to biblegateway.com for many more.
Let’s begin.
Updated: Jesus was the royal Son of God, proclaimed at his resurrection and his exaltation.
First, this passage is long, but Jesus is proclaimed the Son of God at his royal crowning at his resurrection and exaltation and heavenly priesthood:
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?
[…]
13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet. (Heb. 1:5, 13, emphasis added)
Second, Paul is particularly clear about connecting Jesus’s Sonship to the resurrection:
32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
“‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.
34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. (Acts 13:32-34, emphasis added)
Third, the author of Hebrews says that Jesus “became” the Son when he became the royal priest during his heavenly priesthood after the order of Melchizedek:
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”
6 And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb. 5:5-6)
Fourth, once again Paul links Jesus’s Sonship with his resurrection:
2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life[a] was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 1:3-4, emphasis added)
All of those above verses say that Jesus became the Son of God during his time on earth and his resurrection and exaltation: So his Sonship occurs in time.
Now let’s switch over to looking into eternal Sonship.
The Son of God in eternity past, his earthly ministry, and his eternal exaltation
1.. In eternity past (this section is the most important, since the Adoptionists-plus deny it).
Matthew 11:27: “All these things have been given to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father and anyone to whom the Son of Man decides to reveal him.”
Grant R. Osborne: “Matthew’s use of ‘know’ ([epiginōskō is pronounced eh-pea-gih-noh-skoh, and the “g” is hard as in “get”] the present tense is gnomic, knowledge shared in eternal past, present, and eternal future) here is critical … it is likely that there is perfective force in the prefix [epi] –with the meaning ‘know exactly, completely, through and through’ (BAGD, 291), with the added idea of recognizing and acknowledging” (comment on 11:27).
The bottom line is that the Greek present tense is timeless and supports the notion that the Father and Son knew each other intimately for eternity, in the past, present and future—forever. Jesus did not become the Son at his birth or baptism (Matthew: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [Zondervan, 2010], p. 440).
John 1:1-2 says that God and the Logos existed before creation:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2)
This verse further clarifies the identity of God and the Logos: they are Father and Son, who came from the Father in heaven:
The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as the only and unique Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, my translation)
Then Jesus says the same thing about the Father:
And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:5)
So how does Jesus have the status of being the Logos, and how does God have the status of being God before the world existed but do not have the status of the Father and Son before creation? Actually, Jesus is simply clarifying who God and the Logos were in John 1:14 and 17:5. They are Father and Son (who is praying the prayer in 17:5).
John 5:26:
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. (John 5:26)
This grant cannot be temporary because the Father also has life in himself eternally. Therefore the Son also has life in himself eternally–just as the Father has this.
John 17:24:
24 Father, those whom you have given me, I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory which you have given me because you have loved me before the foundation of the world. (My translation)
Being a Father implies a Son. What was the Father doing before the foundation or creation of the world? He was loving his Son.
John 1:18 says: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” Jesus more fully reveals their status and nature–Father and Son–beyond God and Logos. Therefore the Father was in heaven with his Son before the incarnation and birth.
Jesus says that he was in the presence of the Father: “I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence” […] (John 8:38). The term “presence” can be translated as “alongside” or “next to” the Father. The point: they were in close relationship as we see in John 1:1-2, 14 and 17:5. This relationship in the Father’s presence happened before the incarnation. To be the Father, he had to have at least one son in his presence. That Son is Jesus.
John 3:16 says that God sent his Son. This verse affirms that Jesus was the Son before he was sent.
Hebrews 1:2 says: “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” That verse says that the Son was the person through whom God made the universe. He was the Son before creation, long before his birth. That verses also identifies who the Logos was in John 1:1-4.
Hebrews 1:3:
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being […] (Heb. 1:3)
God’s radiance and his being are eternal because light that does not radiate is not light, and God’s being is not temporary with a beginning; therefore the Son is also eternal
1 John 5:20 says: “And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” This verse teaches that his Sonship is the same as his “Godness.” It would be odd if Jesus were always God, but not always the Son. Rather, he was eternally both.
Colossians 1:9-20 is particularly clear that Jesus was the Son before creation and earth-time, that is, in eternity past: This is my translation. I add my comments in bold font within brackets:

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Colossians 1:9-20​

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[TR]
[td width="312px"]9 Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἀφ’ ἧς ἡμέρας ἠκούσαμεν, οὐ παυόμεθα ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν προσευχόμενοι καὶ αἰτούμενοι, ἵνα πληρωθῆτε τὴν ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει πνευματικῇ, 10 περιπατῆσαι ἀξίως τοῦ κυρίου εἰς πᾶσαν ἀρεσκείαν, ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ καρποφοροῦντες καὶ αὐξανόμενοι τῇ ἐπιγνώσει τοῦ θεοῦ, 11 ἐν πάσῃ δυνάμει δυναμούμενοι κατὰ τὸ κράτος τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ εἰς πᾶσαν ὑπομονὴν καὶ μακροθυμίαν. Μετὰ χαρᾶς 12 εὐχαριστοῦντες τῷ πατρὶ τῷ ἱκανώσαντι ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν μερίδα τοῦ κλήρου τῶν ἁγίων ἐν τῷ φωτί· 13 ὃς ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ σκότους καὶ μετέστησεν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ υἱοῦ τῆς ἀγάπης αὐτοῦ, 14 ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν·

15 ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου, πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως,
16 ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα
ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς,
τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα,
εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες
εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι·
τὰ πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται·
17 καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν πρὸ πάντων
καὶ τὰ πάντα ἐν αὐτῷ συνέστηκεν,
18 καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ σώματος τῆς ἐκκλησίας·
ὅς ἐστιν ἀρχή,
πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν,
ἵνα γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτὸς πρωτεύων,
19 ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ εὐδόκησεν πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα κατοικῆσαι 20 καὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ ἀποκαταλλάξαι τὰ πάντα εἰς αὐτόν, εἰρηνοποιήσας διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ σταυροῦ αὐτοῦ, [δι’ αὐτοῦ] εἴτε τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς εἴτε τὰ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.[/td]
[td width="312px"]9 Because of this, we also, from the day we heard [of it], have not stopped praying for you and asking that you would be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 to walk worthily of the Lord, to please [him] fully, in every good work, producing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 [you Colossians] being empowered with all might according to the power of his glory, for all perseverance and patience; with joy 12 [you Colossians] giving thanks to the Father who qualified you [Colossians] for a [actually “the”] share of the inheritance of the saints in the light, 13 who [the Father] rescued us from the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom [shifts to Son, the nearest antecedent] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins,

15 who [the Son] is the image of the invisible God, firstborn [Sonship again] over all creation, 16 for by him [the Son] all things were created, in heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether rulers or authorities—all things were created through him [the Son] and for him [the Son]; 17 and he [the Son] is before everything and everything consists in him, 18 and he [the Son is still the subject of these clauses] is the head of the body, the church, who [the Son] is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he [the Son] would be preeminent in everything, 19 because in him [the Son] all the fullness [of God; cf. 2:9] was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him [the Son] to reconcile all things to himself [God or Christ], making peace through the blood and his [Son’s] cross—whether on the earth or in heavens.[/td]
[/TR]

That long passage is stark and clear. He was the Son before creation, that is, before his earthly birth. (Evidently, the editors of the Nestle-Aland Greek text believes that verses 15-20 should be indented because it may be an early hymn.)
The titled question has been answered. Jesus never “became” the Son of God. He was always the Son, eternally the Son.

Jesus is the Father, and shared in FLESH and blood, as the Son. God was to come in flesh as a man, the LAST ADAM.

I am not so sure about the "Eternal Son" position. I have always considered the Trinity to be co-equal in every way in eternity past. The way I see it, The respective positions we see today, "Father" "Son" and "Holy Spirit" are only in respect of their roles taken in creation and redemption. Anyone of them could have just as easily fulfilled any role. However, once creation was determined they each took on the position we see now. I won't debate it if challenged though. The mystery of the Triune God is way above my head. All I know is this:
1) The Father is YHVH
2)The Son is YHVH
3) The Holy Spirit is YHVH
These three are One ("echad" unity out of plurality)

Correct as "ONE", as in "ONE" Person while, God the Spirit, "THE HOLY SPIRIT", has two titles in the ECHAD of himself. this is the Plurality of God in Ordinal Designations. for the ECHAD of God shows ..... Designation in Time, Place, Order, Rank,

101G.