Phrases with different meanings in the OT and NT. In the OT, the phrases denote superhuman, divine beings, such as the “sons of God” who unite with the “daughters of humans” to produce a race of giants in (Gen 6:1-4; Job 38:7; Ps 89:6). In (Job 1-2), “the satan” is one of the “sons of God” (Job 1:6; Job 2:1). In (Dan 3:25), the fourth figure in the furnace has an appearance like “a son of the gods.” In the NT, however, the phrases “sons of God” and “children of God” refer to human beings who have been brought into a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ (Gal 3:26; Rom 8:14; Rom 8:16; Rom 8:19; Rom 8:21). Thus, the two phrases came to mean what would later be expressed by the word “Christian” (John 1:12; Phil 2:15; Heb 12:7; 1John 3:1; 1John 5:2).
