By using discourse analysis from a systemic functional linguistic perspective, I argue that the sonship theme throughout Hebrews shapes how believers, as the “many sons” (2:10), relate to God, Christ, and each other. The analysis demonstrates the discourse pattern of applying sonship terms and concepts to Christ first and later to believers, including the lexemes υἱός, κληρονόμος, and πρωτότοκος. This pattern emphasizes Christ as the perfect Son of God, Christ’s solidarity with humanity, and the relational dynamic believers experience as fellow sons.
The status of sonship and the various kinship terms associated with it define the believers’ connection to Jesus. These lexemes include being brothers (ἀδελφούς, 2:11, 12a, 17) with Christ, who stands as the elder brother among many sons. Believers are also portrayed as children (παιδία, 2:13, 14) of God, forming the household that Christ oversees as the Son (3:1-6). Furthermore, the many sons are also identified as “firstborn sons” (πρωτότοκων) in the eschatological vision and culmination of the sonship theme in Hebrews 12:23. These relational dynamics with Jesus bolster the faith of believers, allowing them to move forward confidently into the future while cherishing their closeness to Christ.
Discourse analysis demonstrates the author’s emphasis on the similarities rather than the dissimilarities between Christ as Son and believers as sons. By defining believers as sons of God, Hebrews also signals the implications of their sonship status and offers direction for how sons can succeed. Through familial language and an athletic metaphor, the author argues in 12:1-13 that true sons should endure divine training and reach mature sonship through the sanctifying work of God. Indeed, their present suffering indicates that “God is treating you as sons” (Heb 12:7). By faith–in other words, by succeeding as faithful sons–they can follow in the footsteps of their pioneer to finish the race by also enduring suffering (12:1-3). Those who embrace their sonship status (12:7-11) instead of rejecting it through sin, like Esau (12:16), will join the “assembly of the firstborn sons” (12:23) who reach their goal and inherit the unshakable city (12:28).
This paper models aspects of conducting a thematic study using discourse analysis and contributes to scholarship in Hebrews through its Christological, ecclesiological, and sociological findings.