Only Begotten Son

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"Jesus is not God! He is the only begotten son of God! The trinity is a man made theory and does not appear any where in the Bible!" (sic) Have you ever ran across someone who says something like this? Perhaps, this is something you would say. Regardless, the usual response from Christians to this type of comment is to dismiss it as the heresy it is. But, what always gets me when I read a comment like this is wonder why so many people think that their understanding of what they read is always the correct understanding. They see the words, "only begotten son" and automatically assume that God created Jesus. Therefore, Jesus can't be God. But, do they ever ask, "What does it mean to be the only begotten son?" How often do we hear this word used in modern conversation? If you're like me, and I bet you are, the answer is never. The Bible warns against getting involved with people like this who have an "unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions ... ( 1 Timothy 6:4)" and reminds us "not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers (2 Timothy 2:14)." Usually, the outcome of such "quarrels about words" is just endless back and forth or a mud slinging contest as those involved hurl insults at each other. Nobody wins and God is not edified. The meaning of words is important and can help us resolve a disagreement. However, the real issue is whether or not the parties involved are willing to learn the truth when it comes to disputes about the meanings of words. I am one that understands that knowing the meanings of words is helpful, but is not always necessary to solve problems like this. I don't think God requires people, especially His children, to be scholars in the Greek and Hebrew language in order to fully understand the Bible. In fact, the occupations of the 12 Apostles were things like fishermen, tax collector, tent maker, and thief, if you want to include the behavior of Judas. These men were not necessarily the scholars of their time, much less schooled in the understanding of multiple languages. This is not a put down to them or their occupations, it is just to reflect how God used common men to deliver an uncommon message. But, for those that enjoy the discovery of the meaning of words, here is a short description of what begotten means as described by one Christian website. "The phrase "only begotten" translates the Greek word monogenes ... The second definition is "pertaining to being the only one of its kind or class, unique in kind." This is the meaning that is implied in John 3:16 (see also John 1:14, 18; 3:18; 1 John 4:9). John was primarily concerned with demonstrating that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:31), and he uses monogenes to highlight Jesus as uniquely God's Son—sharing the same divine nature as God—as opposed to believers who are God's sons and daughters by adoption (Ephesians 1:5). Jesus is God’s “one and only” Son." In short, the phrase is used to describe the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as having the same divine nature as God; Jesus is God.

It is a blessing that these explanations are available to support and defend a Christian's faith in Jesus Christ. Although for me, I gravitate towards other evidence to help me support and defend Jesus Christ as being God. If Jesus isn't God, then why didn't He correct Thomas when after the resurrection Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God (John 20:28)”? You would think Jesus' reaction would have been, "Whoa, Thomas, I am not God, just His only begotten Son!" But, He didn't. Jesus accepted Thomas' testimony as true. If Jesus isn't God, then why did He say, "I and the Father are one (John 10:30)"? You can't be one with God if you are a separate creation of God! Immediately after Jesus said this, the Jews picked up stones to stone Him. When Jesus asked them what work He had done that made them want to stone Him, they responded, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God (John 10:33).” Again, Jesus didn't say, "Hold up! Put your stones down. There is a mistake. I am not God, just his only begotten Son!" In Revelation 1, John is describing his encounter with the Lord God (v8). During this encounter, God said the following, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades (Revelation 1:17-18)." The question must be answered, "When did God die?" God died when Jesus Christ died on the Cross! What did the writers of the New Testament have to say about Jesus Christ being God? In Acts 20:28, while speaking to the church leaders in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul tells them "to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." Again, when did God shed blood? He did it on the Cross when Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world! In Titus 2:13, Paul speaks of our blessed hope, which is "the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ ..."   Peter, at the beginning of his second letter, writes, "To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1)." In two separate places, written by to different authors, we see the same, five simple words; "God and Savior Jesus Christ." And last, but not least, is Isaiah 9:6. It reads, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." In one verse we Isaiah prophesy about a son being born who will be called Mighty God and Everlasting Father. This can only be Jesus Christ! And before I forget, it also puts to rest the whole Trinity is a "man-made theory" argument as well. In the verse, we have the (Everlasting) Father, the son and the Wonderful Counselor (Holy Spirit). There is your Trinity right there. There is also a fourth layer if you want to add in the Prince of Peace. But, I digress. Jesus is the "only begotten son" of God, but that doesn't make Him lower than God. It is just another way of saying He is equal with Him. In our finite minds, there is only so many ways God can communicate with us. Let us not deny who He is and Whom He became because we don't understand the words He uses.