SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF MAN (from Daniel 7:13)
The Aramaic phrase ("ben enosh," BDB 1085 CONSTRUCT and BDB1081) "son of man" is different from the similar Hebrew phrase ("ben adam") found in Psalms and Ezekiel. Both phrases are used in parallel in Job 25:6; Ps. 8:4; 90:3; 144:3; Isa. 13:12. This obviously refers to the Messiah and it links
Jesus uses the phrase to refer to Himself in the NT. It was very rarely used of the Messiah in rabbinical Judaism (b. Sanh. 98a). It had no exclusivistic, nationalistic, militaristic connotations (i.e., OT views on the Messiah's work). It uniquely describes the Messiah as fully human and fully God (cf. John 1:1-14; Rom. 8:3; Phil. 2:6-8; Col. 2:9; Titus 2:13; 1 John 4:1-3). Daniel's usage is the first which focuses on its divine aspect!
Jesus used the phrase for Himself in three senses.
From The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1657 and also see George E. Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament, pp. 136-139, the later Jewish traditions about this text in Daniel are listed.
The phrase "son of man" was used by I Enoch to describe God's coming Messiah. I Enoch, written in the 2nd century B.C., reflects Jewish thinking about God's special coming Judge. It was well known by Jews and Christians of the first two centuries A.D. It was never accepted as Scripture by the synagogue, but it is included in the Septuagint.
SPECIAL TOPIC: OT TITLES OF THE SPECIAL COMING ONE
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