Topical Encyclopedia
The term "Only Begotten" is a significant theological concept found in the New Testament, primarily used to describe the unique relationship between Jesus Christ and God the Father. The Greek word translated as "only begotten" is "monogenēs," which conveys the idea of uniqueness and singularity. This term is pivotal in understanding the nature and identity of Jesus as the Son of God.
Biblical References:1.
John 1:14 : "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." This verse highlights the incarnation of Jesus, emphasizing His unique status as the "one and only Son" who reveals the glory of God.
2.
John 1:18 : "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known." Here, the "one and only Son" is described as being in intimate relationship with the Father, underscoring His divine nature and role in revealing God to humanity.
3.
John 3:16 : "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This well-known verse encapsulates the Gospel message, portraying Jesus as the unique and singular Son given for the salvation of the world.
4.
Hebrews 11:17 : "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son." Although this verse refers to Isaac, the use of "one and only son" draws a parallel to the sacrificial nature of Jesus as the "only begotten" Son of God.
Theological Significance:The term "Only Begotten" is crucial in affirming the divinity and pre-existence of Christ. It distinguishes Jesus from all other beings, emphasizing His unique sonship and eternal relationship with the Father. This concept is foundational to the doctrine of the Trinity, where Jesus is recognized as co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
In the context of the Nicene Creed, the phrase "begotten, not made" is used to affirm that Jesus is of the same essence as the Father, countering early heresies that denied His full divinity. The "Only Begotten" Son is not a created being but shares in the divine nature, fully God and fully man.
Christological Implications:The use of "Only Begotten" underscores the uniqueness of Christ's mission and His role as the mediator between God and humanity. It highlights the depth of God's love in sending His Son to redeem the world, as seen in
John 3:16. This term also affirms the exclusivity of Christ as the sole means of salvation, as He alone possesses the divine authority and power to reconcile humanity to God.
In summary, the term "Only Begotten" is a profound declaration of Jesus Christ's unique identity and mission. It affirms His divine sonship, eternal existence, and the unparalleled love of God in offering His Son for the redemption of mankind.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Only BegottenONLY BEGOTTEN
on'-li be-got-'-'n (monogenes): Although the English words are found only 6 times in the New Testament, the Greek word appears 9 times, and often in the Septuagint. It is used literally of an only child: "the only son of his mother" (Luke 7:12); "an only daughter" (Luke 8:42); "mine only child" (Luke 9:38); "Isaac.... his only begotten" (Hebrews 11:17). In all other places in the New Testament it refers to Jesus Christ as "the only begotten Son of God" (John 1:14, 18;John 3:16, 181 John 4:9). In these passages, too, it might be translated as "the only son of God"; for the emphasis seems to be on His uniqueness, rather than on His sonship, though both ideas are certainly present. He is the son of God in a sense in which no others are. "Monogenes describes the absolutely unique relation of the Son to the Father in His divine nature; prototokos describes the relation of the Risen Christ in His glorified humanity to man" (Westcott onHebrews 1:6). Christ's uniqueness as it appears in the above passages consists of two things:
(a) He reveals the Father: "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18). Men therefore behold His glory, "glory as of the only begotten from the Father" (1:14).
(b) He is the mediator of salvation: "God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him" (1John 4:9John 3:16); "He that believeth not (on him) hath been judged already" (John 3:18). Other elements in His uniqueness may be gathered from other passages, as His sinlessness, His authority to forgive sins, His unbroken communion with the Father, and His unique knowledge of Him. To say that it is a uniqueness of nature or essence carries thought no farther, for these terms still need definition, and they can be defined only in terms of His moral consciousness, of His revelation of God, and especially of His intimate union as Son with the Father.
See alsoBEGOTTEN;PERSON OF CHRIST; SON OF GOD.
The reading "God only begotten" inJohn 1:18 the Revised Version margin, though it has strong textual support, is improbable, and can well be explained as due to orthodox zeal, in opposition to adoptionism. See Grimm-Thayer, Lexicon; Westcott, at the place
T. Rees
Greek
3439. monogenes --only begotten...only begotten. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: monogenes Phonetic Spelling:
(mon-og-en-ace') Short Definition:
only,
only-
begotten, unique Definition
...Library
How theOnly-Begotten Son of God is Called First-Born.
... Book IV. Chapter VIII."How theOnly-begotten Son of God is called
first-born. He who is firstbegotten is called first-born [2281...
ThisOnly Begotten Word of God Reigns, from Ages which had no...
... Pronounced on the thirtieth anniversary of his reign. Chapter II. Thisonly
begotten Word of God reigns, from ages which had no beginning?...
On the Words, theOnly-Begotten Son of God,Begotten of the Father...
... Lecture XI. On the Words, theOnly-Begotten Son of God,Begotten of the Father Very
God Before All Ages, by Whom All Things Were Made. Hebrews i.1...
Gregory Further Shows that theOnly-Begotten BeingBegotten not...
... Section 7. Gregory further shows that theOnly-Begotten beingbegotten notonly
of the Father, but also impassibly of the Virgin by the Holy Ghost, does not...
Why is Christ Called the "Only Begotten Son" of God, Since we are...
... Lord's Day 13 Question 33 Why is Christ called the "only begotten Son" of
God, since we are also the children of God? Why is Christ...
Then He Ends the Book with an Exposition of the Divine and Human...
... 7. Then he ends the book with an exposition of the Divine and Human names of the
Only-Begotten, and a discussion of the terms "generate" and "ungenerate."....
He Further Very Appositely Expounds the Meaning of the Term "Only...
... shall judge the world with righteousness and the people with equity [347] ." Thus
the several meanings of the titles "First-born" and "Only begotten" are kept...
He Convicts Eunomius of Having Used of theOnly-Begotten Terms...
... Section 2. He convicts Eunomius of having used of theOnly-begotten terms applicable
to the existence of the earth, and thus shows that his intention is to...
He Does Wrong in Assuming, to Account for the Existence of the...
... Book I. Section 20. He does wrong in assuming, to account for the existence of
theOnly-Begotten, an energy' that produced Christ's Person....
Then, Having Shown that Eunomius' Calumny against the Great Basil...
... Section 4. Then, having shown that Eunomius' calumny against the great Basil, that
he called theOnly-begotten "Ungenerate," is false, and having again with...
Resources
Is there supposed to be only one church? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the beliefs of Jesus only / oneness Pentecostals? | GotQuestions.orgWhy are there two demon-possessed men in the Gerasene tombs in Matthew, but only one in Mark and Luke? | GotQuestions.orgOnly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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