The Son Of Man In Luke 5:24 -- By: Darrell L. Bock

Journal: Bulletin for Biblical Research
Volume: BBR 01:1 (NA 1991)
Article: The Son Of Man In Luke 5:24
Author: Darrell L. Bock


The Son Of Man In Luke 5:24

Darrell L. Bock

Dallas Theological Seminary

A. Background For The Discussion

The Son of Man title is one of the most complex issues in New Testament studies.1 The issue has produced endless discussion in this century.2 Among the key, recent studies is S. Kim, The Son of Man as Son of God.3 We have some sympathy for his basic thesis which relates the Son of Man to the exalted heavenly figure of Daniel 7, which takes Daniel 7 to refer to an individual figure, and which argues that the Son of Man title in Jesus’ usage points to Jesus as Son of God who builds the new people of God. However, we are not as confident that it can be established that the title’s usage in the NT always explicitly pointed to this background.4 Such may be the case, but the NT and

extra-biblical evidence, as it stands currently, does not allow one to be quite so confident of this conclusion. Even Kim has recognized his hypothesis needs more work to become an established proposal. In the meantime, we set out on a different trail. In short, we end up at the same destination as Kim, but take a different road to get there. His work appears to be part of the equation, but not all of it.

In Luke 5:24, Jesus heals a paralytic and relates that healing to his authority as the “Son of Man.” The wording of the verse, including the unusual parenthetical break in the middle, is virtually identical in all three gospels. The fact that all three gospels share the unusual construction suggests a similar source. This verse marks the first use of the title “Son of Man” by Luke. It parallels Mark 2:10, which is also the first appearance of the title in that gospel. The Matthean parallel, Matt 9:6, is the second appearance of the title in that gospel.5 Luke uses this title 25 times in his gospel, but this text is unique in yet another way. It is the only Son of Man saying in the gospels which is bound immediately and directly to a miracle.6 As such, it is a crucial text, not only because it appears early in Jesus’ ministry, but also because it links his teaching about himself to his work, showing the connection between the two.

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