The Son And Sons

Quotquot autem receperunt dedit eis potestatem filios Dei fieri... Tangitur hic tertium, scilicet adventus ipsius fructus sive utilitas, quae est divinae filiationis adeptio. Quia haec utilitas non se extendit, nisi ad eos qui eum receperunt et in eum crediderunt; ideo dicit: Quotquot autem receperunt. Ita sui eum non receperunt, sed quotquot receperunt eum, dedit eis potestatem filios Dei fieri. Et haec magna utilitas; primae loannis tertio: Videte, qualem caritatem dedit nobis Pater, ut fiiii Dei nominemur et simus; et in hoc magna utilitas; unde ad Romanos octavo: Si filii,et heredes, heredes quidem Dei, coheredes autem Christi. Ita ergo hanc potestatem filiationis Dei dedit his qui receperunt. Sed quia haec receptio est per fidem, ideo explicat: His qui credunt in nomine eius; ita dedit eis qui receperunt, his qui credunt in nomine eius, id est in re nominis eius. Nomen eius est Emmanuel, id est nobiscum Deus. Ille igitur credit in nomine, qui credit eum Deum et hominem; et hic est filius Dei; primae loannis quinto: Omnis, qui credit, quoniam lesus est Filius Dei, ex Deo natus est. Quia vero filii Dei non fiunt nisi per generationem spiritualem, non carnalem, ideo dicit: Qui non ex sanguinibus, id est commixtione seminum; neque ex voluntate carnis, id est mulieris; neque ex voluntate viri, id est delectatione et pruritu; sed ex Deo nati sunt; quia infra tertio: Quod natum est ex carne caro est, et quod natum est ex spiritu spiritus est; et primae Petri primo: Renati non ex semine corruptibili, sed incorruptibili, per verbum Dei vivi et permanentis in aeternum, hoc est semper. Sanctus Bonaventura, Commentarius In Evangelium Ioannem, Caput I Source: Here, p252

But as many as received Him, He gave the power to be sons of God.. 1 This touches on the third matter, certainly the fruit and usefulness of His advent, which is adoption to Divine sonship. Since this usefulness does not give itself but to those who will receive Him and believe in Him, therefore it says, 'But as many as received Him.' Thus they do not receive it from themselves, but 'as many as received Him, He gave power to be sons of God.' And this is of great benefit. In the third chapter of the first letter of John, 'See how much love the Father had for us, so that we might name ourselves sons and be so.' 2 And in this there is great gain, for in the eighth chapter of Romans, 'If sons, even heirs, heirs of God, and coheirs of Christ.' 3 Thus God gives the power of sonship to those who receive Him. But because reception is through faith, he explains here, 'To those who believe in His name.' Thus it is given to those who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, that is, in the meaning of His name, which name is Emmanuel, that is, God is with us. Therefore He believes in His name who believes Him to be God and man, and he is a son of God. In the fifth chapter of the first letter of John, 'Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is born from God.' 4 But because the son of God does not come to be unless by spiritual generation and not carnal generation, therefore he says, 'Who not from blood,' that is the mixing of seed, 'nor from the will of the flesh,' that is woman, 'nor from the will of man' that is desire and lust, 'but from God are born.' Because in the third chapter below, 'What is born from flesh is flesh, and what is born from the spirit is spirit.' 5 And in the first chapter of the first letter of Peter, 'Reborn from incorruptible not corruptible seed, through the word of the living God which remains forever.' 6 That is, always. Saint Bonaventura, Commentary On The Gospel Of Saint John, Chapter 1 1 Jn 1.12 2 1 Jn 3.1 3 Rom 8.17 4 1 Jn 5.1 5 Jn 3.6 6 1 Pet 1.23