Is Jesus God's Only Begotten Son?
The phrase "only begotten" has sparked intense debate. This study presents Biblical evidence that Jesus is literally the Son of God—begotten, not created—and why this distinction matters for understanding the magnitude of God's love.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." — John 3:16
The phrase "only begotten" has sparked intense debate. Many modern theologians and Bible translations argue that Jesus is a "unique" son or a "one of a kind" son, but deny that He was literally "begotten" or "born" of the Father in eternity. They argue that "Son of God" is merely a title or a role played by a co-eternal being.
This study presents the Biblical evidence that Jesus is literally the Son of God—begotten, not created—and why this distinction matters for the Gospel.
1. Defining "Only Begotten" (Monogenes)
The Greek word used for Jesus is Monogenes (mono = only, genes = born/kind).
- Strong's Definition: "Only born."
- Compound Word Evidence: Other Greek words ending in -genes always refer to birth/origin (e.g., polygenes = born again, protogenes = firstborn).
The Argument: To translate monogenes merely as "unique" or "special" (as seen in the NIV or ESV) strips the word of its root meaning. Jesus is unique because He is the only one born from the Father's substance.
2. Begotten vs. Created
A common objection is: "If you say Jesus was begotten, are you saying He was created?"
The Bible makes a sharp distinction between Creating and Begetting.
| Created | Begotten |
|---|---|
| Made from external material (e.g., dust). | Comes from the substance of the parent. |
| The result is a different nature (Potter & Clay). | The result is the same nature (Lion & Cub). |
| Adam & Angels: Sons by creation. | Jesus: Son by begetting. |
The Principle: "Like begets like." A lion begets a lion. God begets God.
Conclusion: Because Jesus is begotten of the Father, He inherits the Father's full Divine nature. If He were merely created, He would be a creature. His true Divinity depends on His true Sonship.
3. The Evidence of Proverbs 8 (The Birth of Wisdom)
Proverbs 8 presents a personification of Christ under the title of "Wisdom."
"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way... Before the mountains were settled, I was brought forth (born)." — Proverbs 8:22-25
New Testament Link: Paul calls Christ "the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24).
The Implication: Long before the creation of the world or angels ("in the days of eternity"), the Son was brought forth from the Father.
4. Addressing Common Objections
Objection A: "God has no wife, so how can He have a Son?"
Answer: We must not limit God to human biology. God created Eve from Adam without a mother. If God can bring a woman out of a man, He can certainly bring a Son out of Himself. We accept the Virgin Birth as a miracle; we should accept the Eternal Begetting as a Divine reality revealed in Scripture.
Objection B: "Isaac was called 'only begotten' (Hebrews 11:17) but Abraham had Ishmael."
Answer: Isaac was the "only begotten" in terms of the Covenant Promise. He was the solitary son born of Sarah according to the Spirit, distinguishing him from Ishmael. Similarly, Jesus is the solitary Son born of God's substance, distinguishing Him from angels or humans who are sons by creation or adoption.
Conclusion: The Reality of God's Love
Why does this matter?
- If Jesus is just a co-eternal being who "role-played" as a son, then God didn't really give a Son—He gave a colleague.
- But if Jesus is truly God's own Son, begotten from His very being, then the sacrifice of the cross becomes infinitely more painful and powerful.
"In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world..." — 1 John 4:9
To deny the Sonship is to obscure the magnitude of God's love.