The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum a son and the son of God in John 1:12

I was in a discussion and someone stated that their is a major difference between ''a'' son of God and ''the'' son of God in John 1:12,.. I don't know Greek well enough, but looking at it I don't see any definite article to make that distinction, are you familiar with the difference if any?

Here is the actually quote from this person.. ''To become "a" sons of God, and to become "the"sons of God have a different emphasis. John 1:12-13 is not about how to become "a" sons of God, but how to become "the" sons of God or how "the" sons of God must be.''..

The Greek text says neither. The word "sons" (uios) doesn't appear in the original. John, as is typical of him uses the word "children" (teknon). From my personal studies, there is a major difference between the two words:

1. Children connotes (filial) relationship to someone. And this relationship is the result of generation/regeneration (cf. 1Jh 2:28,29; 3:9,10).
2. Son(s) connotes a legal standing to someone. And this standing is via adoption (cf. Gal 4:5-7; Eph 1:5).

Thus, in John 1:12, it says that to those who received Him (Christ), God gave them the right (didomi) [not power] to become [via generation/regeneration] (genesthai) [the] children (teknon) of God... Thus, having been born of God they will exhibit that which belongs to the Father; holiness, love of the brethren, etc.

Thank you for the clarity,.. I presented this to the one in question and they never replied back,.. this is a very sad and strange time we are in with many departing even from orthodoxy, even denying the clear historical link on certain topics, only for us to reiterate what was previously given centuries ago.