"Sun of Righteousness" (Malachi 4:2): A History of Interpretation

“Sun of Righteousness,” not definitely applied to Jesus in the NT and
not considered messianic in Jewish sources, becomes a messianic title
in Christian interpretation without regard to its original context.
The paper surveys interpretations of the phrase from the early to the
modern period. While the messianic interpretation continues to be
popularized in songs, the English Bible translations reflect a divided
scholarly opinion over its validity. Champions of the messianic interpretation
in the twentieth century have been few.