What is meant by the Only Begooten Son of God?

[thereselittleflower]

 

the only son of God,

Here's the problem with creeds.  Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, but He is not "the only son of God".  Adam is called the son of God, angels are called sons of God, and also those who are born again are also sons of God.  So the above statement is not scriptural.

 

 

 

Creeds must be understood in the way their creators understood them.  It is mportant not to impute meaning or lack of meaning by a superficial read according to how we see words today.

 

When approached in this manner, I have found there are no problems with the ancient creeds at all.

 

The Creed of Anathasis expounds on the nature of God and Christ as found in of the Nicene Creed as to what the words mean.

 

 

ATHANASIAN CREED

Whoever wishes to be saved must, above all else, hold to the true Christian faith. Whoever does not keep this faith pure in all points will certainly perish forever.

Now this is the true Christian faith: We worship one God in three persons and three persons in one God, without mixing the persons or dividing the divine being. For each person—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—is distinct, but the deity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory and coeternal in majesty. What the Father is, so is the Son, and so is the Holy Spirit. The Father is uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated; the Father is infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite; the Father is eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal; yet they are not three who are eternal, but there is one who is eternal, just as they are not three who are uncreated, nor three who are infinite, but there is one who is uncreated and one who is infinite. In the same way the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, and the Holy Spirit is almighty; yet they are not three who are almighty, but there is one who is almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God; yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord. For just as Christian truth compels us to confess each person individually to be God and Lord, so the true Christian faith forbids us to speak of three Gods or three Lords. The Father is neither made nor created nor begotten of anyone. The Son is neither made nor created, but is begotten of the Father alone. The Holy Spirit is neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeds from the Father and the Son. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And within this Trinity none comes before or after; none is greater or inferior, but all three persons are coequal and coeternal, so that in every way, as stated before, all three persons are to be worshiped as one God and one God worshiped as three persons. Whoever wishes to be saved must have this conviction of the Trinity. 

It is furthermore necessary for eternal salvation truly to believe that our Lord Jesus Christ also took on human flesh. Now this is the true Christian faith: We believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, is both God and man. He is God, eternally begotten from the nature of the Father, and he is man, born in time from the nature of his mother, fully God, fully man, with rational soul and human flesh, equal to the Father as to his deity, less than the Father as to his humanity; and though he is both God and Man, Christ is not two persons but one, one, not by changing the deity into flesh, but by taking the humanity into God; one, indeed, not by mixture of the natures, but by unity in one person; for just as the rational soul and flesh are one human being, so God and man are one Christ. He suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty, and from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. At his coming all people will rise with their own bodies to answer for their personal deeds. Those who have done good will enter eternal life, but those who have done evil will go into eternal fire.

This is the true Christian faith. Whoever does not faithfully and firmly believe this cannot be saved.

 

http://www.wels.net/what-we-believe/statements-beliefs/athanasian-creed

[Bible2]

shiloh357 said in post 7:

 

The word "only" in Greek means "unique" or "one of a kind."   Jesus was uniquely begotten in that he was born of a virgin and this is unique to Jesus.

 

That's right.

 

Jesus is the only begotten (only born) Son of God (John 3:16, Luke 1:34-35) because he is the only person ever born without any human father.

 

shiloh357 said in post 7:

 

He didn't begin his existence in the womb . . .

 

Amen.

 

For Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1,14, John 10:30, John 20:28, Titus 2:13, Philippians 2:6, Matthew 1:23). And he is uncreated God, just as God the Father is uncreated God. For everything created was created by Jesus (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17). Because Jesus is uncreated, there was never a time when he was not. He has always existed. He is YHWH the Holy One, from everlasting (Habakkuk 1:12a, Acts 3:14, Micah 5:2c). He is YHWH the only Savior (Isaiah 43:11, Titus 2:13), YHWH the good shepherd (Psalms 23:1, John 10:11, Mark 10:18), YHWH who will set his feet on the Mount of Olives at his return (Zechariah 14:3-4, Acts 1:11-12), YHWH the first and last (Isaiah 44:6, Revelation 2:8), YHWH the great I AM (Exodus 3:14, John 8:58), the great God (Titus 2:13), the mighty God (Isaiah 9:6), one God with God the Father (John 10:30, John 20:28), equal in divinity to God the Father (Philippians 2:6).

 

Just as the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19) is the 3 distinct, coexisting Persons (Mark 1:9-11) of God the Father (Galatians 1:3), God the Son (Hebrews 1:8), and God the Holy Spirit (cf. Mark 13:11 and Matthew 10:19-20; Acts 5:3-4), so the Trinity is YHWH the Father, YHWH the Son, and YHWH the Holy Spirit. For YHWH is the only God (Isaiah 45:5-6). He has always been and forever will be the only God (Isaiah 43:10b).

 

-

 

There are so many ways to illustrate the Trinity (the Tri-Unity of God), it shouldn't be difficult for every Christian to get at least some realization of it. While there is no sufficient analogy to completely explain God (Isaiah 40:18), how he can be one God (John 10:30) and yet 3 Persons at the same time (Matthew 3:16-17), the Bible does refer to God speaking things into existence (Genesis 1:24; Hebrews 11:3). And what he spoke was his Word, who is that Person of the Trinity who has become flesh in Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14; 1 Timothy 3:16, Luke 24:39). But God the Word existed even before God the Father spoke anything into existence, for all things created were created by God the Word (John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16-17). And the original Greek word in John 1:1,14 for "Word" is "Logos", which refers not only to spoken words, but also to any ordered thoughts. God has always had ordered thoughts, so God the Word has always existed.

 

So a human analogy for God would have God the Father as the mind, and God the Word as the ordered thoughts, speech, and writings (incarnate words) of that mind. God the Holy Spirit would be analogous to the breath (spirit) which is inextricable from human speech, and also from ordered thought, in that a non-breathing person is dead and his brain has no thoughts. God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4) is one God with God the Father and God the Word because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:19-20 & Mark 13:11) and the Spirit of the Word (John 14:16-18, Romans 8:9). While an individual human isn't 3 persons, the truth about God can still be grasped by looking at man's design, for man was made in God's image (Genesis 1:26). Just as an individual man has his word (Revelation 12:11) and his spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23), so the one God has his Word (John 1:1) and his Spirit (Romans 8:9). But the one God is so infinitely greater than man (Isaiah 40:17) that the Word of God and the Spirit of God are distinct Persons within his single being.

 

Besides the analogy of a single human's mind, thoughts/speech/writings, and breath, the Trinity can be compared to the single sun's sphere, light, and heat. The Father would be analogous to the sun's sphere, which is invisible to humans except for its visible light, which is analogous to the incarnate, visible Word (Colossians 1:15, John 14:9). And the sun is felt by humans via its invisible, infrared rays, which would be analogous to the Spirit. The Trinity can also be compared to water, which even though it is one substance, it can exist in 3 states of solid, liquid, and gas at the same time (such as in a water pitcher 2/3 full with water and ice cubes, and with water vapor filling the top third of the pitcher). The Trinity can also be compared to space, which even though it is one area, it consists of 3 dimensions at the same time. The Trinity can also be compared to 1 x 1 x 1 = 1, or to 1a x 1b x 1c = 1abc.

 

--

 

Someone might ask: "Does God pray to himself?"

 

Jesus prays to God the Father (e.g. John 11:41-42) because even though Jesus is God (John 1:1,14), at the same time he is also human just like we are human (Hebrews 2:17). And so, as a human, he has a God and Father just like we do (John 20:17). Before Jesus became our eternally-human mediator/high priest (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 7:24-26), and the only-begotten (only-born) Son of God (John 3:16), the only human ever born without any human father (Luke 1:34-35), he preexisted (John 17:5, John 8:58) from all eternity as God the Word (John 1:1,14; 1 Timothy 3:16). He has always been, and still is, even now in human flesh (Luke 24:39; 2 John 1:7), one God with the Father (John 10:30, John 20:28, Titus 2:13), equal in divinity to the Father (Philippians 2:6, Revelation 2:8b, Isaiah 44:6).

[Shane111]

Jesus is the only begotten (only born) Son of God (John 3:16, Luke 1:34-35) because he is the only person ever born without any human father

 

i dont understand that?? Adam was born without mother and father?? Melchizedek has no father or mother either? he actually has no beginning or end?

[Bible2]

Note that Adam wasn't born. And nothing requires that Melchizedek was either. Also, Jesus has a human mother.

[Retrobyter]

Shabbat shalom, thereselittleflower.

 

 

 

the only son of God,

Here's the problem with creeds.  Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, but He is not "the only son of God".  Adam is called the son of God, angels are called sons of God, and also those who are born again are also sons of God.  So the above statement is not scriptural.

 

 

 

Creeds must be understood in the way their creators understood them.  It is mportant not to impute meaning or lack of meaning by a superficial read according to how we see words today.

 

When approached in this manner, I have found there are no problems with the ancient creeds at all.

 

The Creed of Anathasis expounds on the nature of God and Christ as found in of the Nicene Creed as to what the words mean.

 

 

ATHANASIAN CREED
Whoever wishes to be saved must, above all else, hold to the true Christian faith. Whoever does not keep this faith pure in all points will certainly perish forever.

Now this is the true Christian faith: We worship one God in three persons and three persons in one God, without mixing the persons or dividing the divine being. For each person—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—is distinct, but the deity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory and coeternal in majesty. What the Father is, so is the Son, and so is the Holy Spirit. The Father is uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated; the Father is infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite; the Father is eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal; yet they are not three who are eternal, but there is one who is eternal, just as they are not three who are uncreated, nor three who are infinite, but there is one who is uncreated and one who is infinite. In the same way the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, and the Holy Spirit is almighty; yet they are not three who are almighty, but there is one who is almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God; yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord. For just as Christian truth compels us to confess each person individually to be God and Lord, so the true Christian faith forbids us to speak of three Gods or three Lords. The Father is neither made nor created nor begotten of anyone. The Son is neither made nor created, but is begotten of the Father alone. The Holy Spirit is neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeds from the Father and the Son. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And within this Trinity none comes before or after; none is greater or inferior, but all three persons are coequal and coeternal, so that in every way, as stated before, all three persons are to be worshiped as one God and one God worshiped as three persons. Whoever wishes to be saved must have this conviction of the Trinity. 

It is furthermore necessary for eternal salvation truly to believe that our Lord Jesus Christ also took on human flesh. Now this is the true Christian faith: We believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, is both God and man. He is God, eternally begotten from the nature of the Father, and he is man, born in time from the nature of his mother, fully God, fully man, with rational soul and human flesh, equal to the Father as to his deity, less than the Father as to his humanity; and though he is both God and Man, Christ is not two persons but one, one, not by changing the deity into flesh, but by taking the humanity into God; one, indeed, not by mixture of the natures, but by unity in one person; for just as the rational soul and flesh are one human being, so God and man are one Christ. He suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty, and from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. At his coming all people will rise with their own bodies to answer for their personal deeds. Those who have done good will enter eternal life, but those who have done evil will go into eternal fire.

This is the true Christian faith. Whoever does not faithfully and firmly believe this cannot be saved.

 

http://www.wels.net/what-we-believe/statements-beliefs/athanasian-creed

 

 

 

Sorry, but this “creed” is nothing but an ultimatum delivered by a feeble, scared, little mouse who couldn’t stand the heat of an honest debate. The sixth century (501-600 A.D.) is the first we see of this “creed,” and it was a Medieval time when the “Church” imposed their will upon all, especially upon those who disagreed with them. To read these words, my gut reaction is to say, “Oh, yeah? Who says? YOU?!"

 

Now, I’m not a Jehovah’s Witness, but IMO there are good reasons why others did NOT believe in the “Trinity.” And, they had some good debates on the subject, and they had some heated debates on the subject. Finally, they had SUCH heated debates that the ruling parties finally banded together under the emperor and took it upon themselves to OUTLAW the opposing view, banishing, punishing, and killing its proponents and burning their writings! Such cowardice should NOT be rewarded with obeisance or adherence! To read about that period in history, I would think that any thinking person would be ASHAMED at the reactionary way that the “Church” accepted the doctrine of the “Trinity!” It’s certainly NOT something to be proud of, right or wrong!

 

Let’s just talk about the two Persons, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. How do they differ? How do we know that they are indeed two separate Persons? God is said to be Spirit. (John 4:24.) God is said to be Holy. (Psalm 99:9.) Wasn’t God Yeshua`s (Jesus’) Father? Doesn’t that make God “God the Father?” So, how does “God the Father” differ from the “Holy Spirit?"

 

Yochanan (John) told us:

 

1 John 4:12-14

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

KJV

 

And in the Tanakh (the OT), we read ...

 

Genesis 41:25-40

25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

KJV

 

Exodus 31:1-11

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

7 The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,

8 And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,

9 And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,

10 And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office,

11 And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

KJV

 

Exodus 35:30-33

30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;

31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;

32 And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

33 And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.

KJV

 

And, in these passages, the wording is such that the “spirit of God” is possessed by “God,” and given to these men! It is a BREATH from God!

 

I just think it’s a COWARDLY act to just say, “That’s the way it’s going to be, and if you don’t like it, too bad. End of discussion."

[JohnD]

Jesus (preincarnate or God the Word) created all created things in the beginning (John 1:1-3 / Colossians 1:13-16) by himself / alone:

 

Isaiah 44:24 (AV)

²⁴Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

 

He was in company with the Father (1 John 1:1-2) and the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1-2). But he acted all alone.

 

Thus, the sons of God in Genesis 6 and Job chapters 1 and 2 and in Luke 3:38 are sons of God the Word. Not God the Father.

 

Hebrews 1:5 (AV)

⁵For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

 

Hebrews 10:5 (AV)

⁵Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

 

John 1:14 (AV)

¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

The only thing God the Father created is the body of the Son Jesus Christ whom God the Word preexisted and became. John 1:1 / John 1:14a.

 

We who believe in Jesus are children of the Father through adoption:

 

Romans 8:15 (AV)

¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

 

Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father. This is also how the Father is his God (John 20:17 etc.).

[Retrobyter]

Shabbat shalom, JohnD.

 

You’ve only served to compound the problem, y’know.

 

Jesus (preincarnate or God the Word) created all created things in the beginning (John 1:1-3 / Colossians 1:13-16) by himself / alone:

 

Isaiah 44:24 (AV)

²⁴Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

 

...

 

Just how much are you banking on the word “redeemer?” Are you assuming that this “redeemer” must therefore be the Son of God (because it’s assumed He is called the “redeemer” elsewhere), despite the fact that the Name of God is used just one word prior? Always, ALWAYS, ALWAYS check the original language and the context! Can’t there be more than one “redeemer?” A “redeemer” is "one who BUYS BACK something.” Every person who has ever entered a pawn shop to "buy back" something he originally sold to them for some quick cash is a REDEEMER! That’s the definition of the word! And, you will not find Yeshua` named the “Redeemer” anywhere in the Brit Chadashah (the NT)!

 

Just who were the children of Israel worshipping? To whom is the "ONE GOD" of the Shema referring, this “YHVH?" And, should you answer "God the Word, the Son,” then you have a dilemma with David’s words (quoted by Yeshua` Himself):

 

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD (Hebrew: YHVH) our God is one LORD (Hebrew: YHVH):

5 And thou shalt love the LORD (Hebrew: YHVH) thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

KJV

 

 

Psalm 33:12

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD (Hebrew: YHVH): and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

KJV

 

Psalm 41:13

13 Blessed be the LORD (Hebrew: YHVH) God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

KJV

 

Psalm 110:1

110 The LORD (Hebrew: YHVH) said unto my Lord (Hebrew: Adoniy), Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

KJV

 

Matthew 22:41-46

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42 Saying, What think ye of Christ (the Messiah)? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.

43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

KJV

 

 

The only thing that makes sense in this conversation is that a child in Israel would call his father “lord” just as Sarah called Avraham “lord.” (See 1 Peter 3:6 cf. Genesis 18:12.) Therefore, this passage would confuse the P’rushiym (the Pharisees) because how could David call the “Son of David” “lord” as though he was his father? THAT’S what shut their mouths!

 

Regarding the “Redeemer,” the Redeemer Himself says how He acquired that title:

 

Exodus 6:6-8

6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

KJV

 

...

 

He was in company with the Father (1 John 1:1-2) and the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1-2). But he acted all alone.

 

...

 

 

Now, you’re dividing the “Godhead” into three Gods, one God doing the creating while the other two are sitting idly by! You no longer have one God! You have THREE, if indeed the other two are Gods at all!

 

...

 

Thus, the sons of God in Genesis 6 and Job chapters 1 and 2 and in Luke 3:38 are sons of God the Word. Not God the Father.

 

...

 

 

Here, you may be assuming that these “sons of God” are angels. I believe just the opposite; NONE of the occurrences of “sons of God” are angels! Indeed, it can be shown that the term is a term of prejudice for a group of human beings in Genesis 6 and the “sons of God” in Iyov’s book were those human beings who came to the altar to “present themselves” and offer sacrifice! Certainly Adam was a human being as are all those who put their faith in God!

 

...

 

Hebrews 1:5 (AV)

⁵For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

 

Hebrews 10:5 (AV)

⁵Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

 

John 1:14 (AV)

¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

The only thing God the Father created is the body of the Son Jesus Christ whom God the Word preexisted and became. John 1:1 / John 1:14a.

 

We who believe in Jesus are children of the Father through adoption:

 

Romans 8:15 (AV)

¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

 

Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father. This is also how the Father is his God (John 20:17 etc.).

 

 

And, this is just a spin-off from your believe that the Son created everything else. Furthermore, it begs the question because you’ve come full circle back to the question, “What does 'only begotten Son' mean?"

[JohnD]

Shabbat shalom, JohnD.

 

You’ve only served to compound the problem, y’know.

 

Jesus (preincarnate or God the Word) created all created things in the beginning (John 1:1-3 / Colossians 1:13-16) by himself / alone:

 

Isaiah 44:24 (AV)

²⁴Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

 

...

 

Just how much are you banking on the word “redeemer?” Are you assuming that this “redeemer” must therefore be the Son of God (because it’s assumed He is called the “redeemer” elsewhere),

 

 

Read the text carefully as I did:

 

Isaiah 44:24 (AV)

²⁴Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

 

John 1:3 (AV)

³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

Colossians 1:16 (AV)

¹⁶For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

 

Isaiah 44:24 (AV)

²⁴Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

 

It is only complicated if you will not accept what the Bible teaches, or if it goes against unbiblical doctrines and dogma like sabellianism or Watchtwoer theology or the like.

[Littlelambseativy]

Begotten-especially of father- to procreate or generate offspring. God the Father through the Holy Spirit "begat His Only "begotten Son, Jesus" in human form.

[thereselittleflower]

Begotten-especially of father- to procreate or generate offspring. God the Father through the Holy Spirit "begat His Only "begotten Son, Jesus" in human form.

 

 

That is not what only-begotten means.  It is not what only-begotten meant to the early christians either.     Ezra is correct in this.