Be careful in how you understand "begotten"

Written by Don Cranford
Tuesday, 26 October 2010 08:19

Be careful in how you understand "only-begotten Son of God." It refers to Jesus Christ's nature and does not mean that he was created or made. If you look further in the creed, it says "begotten not made". I believe that "only-begotten" is referring to having the same nature. "Son of God" refers to the type of relationship Jesus has to God the Father. Jesus Christ was in total submission to God the Father (see Philippians 2:5-11). Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity. Jesus Christ is God and is one in essence or substance with God the Father. If you look in John 1:1-3, it says: "In the beginning was the Word [referring to Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him [ie through Jesus Christ] all things were made; without him [ie without Jesus Christ] nothing was made that has been made." "In the beginning" refers to eternity as opposed to "from the beginning" which typically refers to the creation or as far back as humans have had experience. So it says that Jesus was/is eternal.