What does it mean that Jesus is the only begotten Son?

In the book of John, it is written: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3; 16). When Jesus is referred as the "only begotten Son", what does it truly mean? False teachers have interpreted "only begotten" to mean that Jesus at a point in time was created. They use the biblical term "only begotten" as one of the proof text to countenance their false belief, and teaching that Jesus is not God. They use "only begotten Son" to deny his true deity, but they do so to their own eternal destruction. If we really want to comprehend the meaning of "only begotten Son" in relation to Christ, then it is imperative that we apply the laws of hermeneutics, in order to ascertain it's meaning. 

One of the laws of hermeneutics states that, the bible has it's own original language, and it is written in the Greek and Hebrew language. The English is a translation of the original biblical language (Greek and Hebrew). The New testament was originally written in Greek, and the old testament was originally written in the Hebrew language. For us to be able to understand the etymology of the phrase, "only begotten Son", then we need to consult the Greek meaning of the word, before we can give our final judgement. Those who use, "only begotten Son" to  prove their point that Jesus Christ was created at a point in time, or he began to be the Son of God during his incarnation, it is a clear indication that they do not apply the laws of hermeneutics when they interpret the scriptures.

The Greek word for "only begotten" is "Monogenes" and it means "only'', or ''one and only'' or ''unique in it's kind". When you check other translations like, the NLT, NIV, ESV they use ''one and only'' or ''only'' in order to avoid confusion. This is the ESV version- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. The NIV version- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. The NLT version- For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. So we can see from these translations, that they convey the meaning of "Monogenes" and it has got nothing to do with Christ being created. 

"According to one reputable Greek-English Lexicon, the word monogenes has two primary meanings in the NT. The first means “pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship.” The author of Hebrews attaches this meaning of “only begotten son” when speaking of the special and unique relationship Isaac had with his father Abraham which no other earthly person shared (Heb. 11:17). Isaac was the “only one of [his] kind within a specific relationship” in regard to being the promised son of the covenant. The second meaning is “pertaining to being the only one of its kind or class, unique in kind, single of its kind, only.” (Walter Bauer, Editor F.W. Danker, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Third Edition, (University of Chicago Press, 2001).

Jesus as the "only begotten Son", means that he is the unique Son of God. He is the one and only Son of God, who is in the same class with the father. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God by nature, for he shares the same essence with God and his Sonship distinguishes him from all others. We are sons of God by regeneration and adoption, but Jesus is the one and only Son of God in the sense that he is equal with the father. To say Jesus is the "only begotten Son", means that he is unique, it means that he is the one and only Son of the father who is co-equal and co-eternal with him. The Greek meaning of "only begotten" does not in anyway convey the idea that Jesus began to exist at a point in time. God loves us to the extent that he sent forth his only begotten Son to take on flesh and dwell among us. Our salvation was so important to the only begotten Son that he gave up heaven, he set aside his glory, his comfort, his divine prerogatives and privileges to come down, and live in this sinful world with us. The main reason why the only begotten Son of God came was to offer himself as a sacrifice, so that he can appease the wrath of God against us on account of our sins. He died for our sins and his death undeniably proved that he is human, and his resurrection on the third day indubitably affirms his divine Sonship.

 Today, our sins are forgiven, because of the incarnation and vicarious sacrifice of the only begotten Son of God. John 3; 16 is the gospel, and in my estimation, it is the most famous bible verse, and yet it is understood by few. It is incumbent on us as Christians, to reach out to the nations of the world with the glorious gospel of Christ. We must let the world know that Jesus Christ is not a creature, as they think, but that he is the only begotten Son of God that can impart eternal life to them (John 17; 3). It is important to know, that the only begotten Son is himself God. I love how apostle John wrote respecting the deity of Christ: No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us (John 1; 18). The only begotten Son is called the unique One and God at the same time. So the question is, how can the "only begotten Son" be created since he himself is God, as the apostle wrote under the influence of the Spirit? Those who disagree with the deity of the only begotten Son are unlearned and unsound in their doctrines.

 The deity of the only begotten Son is cardinal in our belief system, for without it there is no such thing as biblical Christianity. We believe that the only begotten Son of God is not created as some falsely teaches, but that he is unique and is on equal level with God the father, because that is what the bible conspicuously reveals about him. We must let them know that without any personal relationship with the only begotten Son of God, then they are doomed to perish forever. God is calling on us to reveal the biblical Jesus or the Jesus in the bible, the only begotten Son to our sphere of influence. We must share the truth of the gospel encapsulated in John 3; 16 to unbelievers around us, for God can use our message to save the lost unto himself. Immense yourself daily in the scriptures, and do not shun to talk to others about the only begotten Son. God bless you

                A thought to ponder    

We believe that the only begotten Son of God is not created as some falsely teaches, but that he is unique and is on equal level with God the father, because that is what the bible conspicuously reveals about him

We defend and exposit the truth of the gospel

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