Robert L. Mowery, «Son of God in Roman Imperial Titles and Matthew», Vol. 83 (2002) 100-110

The christological formula qeou= ui(o/j, which appears in the NT only in three Matthean passages (14,33; 27,43.54), exactly parallels the two-word Roman imperial son of god formula found in the titulature of Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, Titus, and Domitian. This formula occurred more widely in first century imperial titulature than has previously been reported; in addition, various three-word imperial son of god formulas also deserve notice. The Matthean formula qeou= ui(o/j would have evoked Roman imperial usage for at least some members of Matthew’s community.

and Anazarbus⁶⁴. While we lack comparable evidence for the Flavian cult in Syria and Palestine, a Syrian inscription preserves a letter in which Domitian refers to his father as ‘the god father Vespasian’⁶⁵ and two inscriptions at Gerasa call Domitian ‘son of god Vespasian’⁶⁶.

        Although it is difficult to believe that members of Matthew’s community would have been unaware of the Roman imperial cult, it is impossible to document the extent of their knowledge. But disciples could have learned about the imperial son of god claims in other ways. Many of the inscriptions which touted these claims stood in highly-visible public locations like statue bases, dedications, honorary steles, public baths, theatres, archs, bridges, boundary stones, and even milestones. These inscriptions functioned like first century ‘billboards’ to advertise the power of Rome and her emperors, and many of these inscriptions remained visible long after they had been created. Even illiterate members of Matthew’s community who trudged past these inscriptions could have learned about their imperial claims from literate members of the community. These claims must have also been proclaimed orally.

        Coins provided another ‘public’ proclamation of these imperial claims. Coins struck in Syria honor Augustus and Claudius as qeo/j, Tiberius as qeou= Sebastou= ui(o/j, and Augustus and Nero as qeou= ui(o/j⁶⁷. While coins minted in Judea during the reigns of Augustus and many of his successors lack such titles, coins struck in Judea during Domitian’s reign bear Latin legends which honor Vespasian as divos [sic] Vespasianus, Titus as divos [sic] T, and Domitian as divi f ⁶⁸. Domitian is even honored as divi Vesp f on coins issued by the last Herodian ruler, Agrippa II⁶⁹. Since these Judean and Syrian coins must have remained in circulation for many years, they must have continued to have advertised these imperial claims long after they had been struck.

4. qeou= ui(o/j in Roman Imperial Titles and Matthew

        The christological formula qeou= ui(o/j occurs only three times in the NT, and all three are in Matthew. While all three are in Markan contexts, all three appear to be redactional. The first occurrence is in the distinctive Matthean conclusion to the story of Jesus walking on the sea. After seeing Jesus, the