There is reason in the Gospels, read perceptively, to think that unlike “the Messiah”, the title “the Son of God” was not applied to Jesus in his lifetime by his followers or, a fortiori, by himself. It was a revealed, early post-ministry insight.
-Raymond Brown, New Testament scholar, in his book, The Death of the Messiah, p. 482
Gary: Or, is it a case of an evolving, higher and higher christology?
Escaping Christian Fundamentalism 
Do you mean the synoptic Gospels? My reading of John seems that Jesus does say things that identify him as the “son of God” or at least say things that make him liable for blasphemy. The Jews often want to throw stones at him in that Gospel.
Matthew 16 has Peter’s confession. But in the synoptics, Jesus wanted to keep it a secret, and not even try to mention it even elliptically among the Jews.
As a Muslim, I would say “alhamdulillah”!
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Raymond Brown is speaking regarding historical probability, not based on what any Gospel author may assert.
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