I believe once one understands that God’s
only begotten Son is in truth God’s very Word then hopefully things will become clearer for you concerning the meaning of God’s "
only begotten" Son.
God said His Christ shall be like my Son, and God would be His Father in
2 Samuel 7:14 and is confirmed in
Hebrews 1:5.
God’s Word, like a Son,
came forth like seed from God the Father; whom God the Father also empowered and anointed to be both Lord and Christ.
If you notice in several posts I highlighted the word "of" in the phrase Son "of" God, this is because just as God’s words comes forth "
from" God, the words spoken are therefore "
of" God, just as Christ is God’s (
1 Corinthians 3:23)
This is also why Jesus said
the Father was greater than Himself, because the Word
came out from God the Father in heaven; as this also shows the point of
origin of the Word
of God.
Now let’s look at the word begotten, or only begotten as used in some scriptures. Many go to
Psalm 2:7 and
Acts 13:33 as proof of when Jesus Christ was
first begotten of the Father, and those verses that speak of the Son of God as being the
first begotten "from the dead"; which we will see a bit later.
Also some use
Romans 1:4to try to prove when the Son of God was first begotten. But I believe that verse is just another proof of the fulfillment of
Psalm 2:7, and is used as a declaration that proved whom Jesus Christ was by the power given Him of the Father, and of the resurrection from the dead.
Let’s look at the Bible usage of the Hebrew word yâlad in
Psalm 2:7 which is translated as "
begotten" in the KJV….יָלַד yâlad, yaw-lad'; a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage:—bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do
the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
The KJV translates Strongs H3205 in the following manner:
beget (201x),
bare(110x),
born (79x),
bring forth (25x),
bear(23x),……. Also the KJV translates the word gennaō Strongs G1080 in
Acts 13:33also in the following manner:
begat (49x),
be born (39x),
bear (2x),
gender (2x),
bring forth (1x),
be delivered (1x), misc (3x).
So both the Hebrew and Greek show pretty much the same usage in scripture as Bible usage shows…..to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail….(Niphal) to be born….
Bible usage also shows the Greek word “monogenes” as in
John 1:14 in the The KJV that translates Strongs G3439 in the following manner:
only begotten (6x),
only(2x),
only child (1x).
Bible usage being defined as….single of its kind, only….used of only sons or daughters (viewed in relation to their parents)….. used of Christ, denotes
the only begotten Son of God.”
So why all the stir and hub bub about calling Jesus Christ the “only begotten” Son "of"God when both the Hebrew and Greek translations seem to be saying the same?
Well I personally believe it is because people do not fully understand that the words of God are often spoken in a mystery, as many also cannot truly hear what it is the Spirit is saying concerning how God "
likened" His Word to His Son.
And how like a son
comes forth from a father, so too did God’s Word
come forth from His own bosom, and was made flesh in the man Jesus, as is also written.
Also many think since the word “begotten” is used in scripture it somehow suggests that God had a beginning of days, and or that His Son was born or created later on; or perhaps the term “begotten” somehow takes away from the divinity of Christ. But that is not what the Spirit is saying concerning God’s Word being the “only begotten” Son of God.
I would also like to add that Abraham's son Isaac in
Hebrews 11:17 is also referred to in scripture as his “only begotten” son. But we also know by scripture that Abraham, like God the Father, had many other sons.
I also will try to explain why I believe Isaac is referred to in this manner, as I believe there is a connection to Christ in all this as well.
So again, when you understand God’s Son is
His Word, then the only begotten of the Father might begin to make a little more sense to you. The word only in only begotten Son suggest
just one, and God’s seed is One, which seed is also the Fathers Living Word, or Christ.
This one seed is shown here in
Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
This is also why I believe Christ is called the only begotten Son of God, because God’s
One seed is Christ, which seed is also God’s Word of Life that was with Him from the very beginning, and that was later made flesh in the man Jesus.
This also makes the connection to Abraham and to his seed by the promise, and to his “only begotten” son Isaac (a similitude of the offering to come in Jesus Christ).
Who also had that same "One seed of promise" dwelling "in" them both, or the Spirit of Christ "in" them.
This is also what Jesus meant when He said we shall all be One, He in us, we in Him, even as He and the
Father are
One by the same Spirit.
When a person is truly born again of the Spirit they then have that One seed dwelling "in" them, which is the Living Word of God in them, or Christ dwelling in them. (God with us, or in us)
Proof of the word of God being that one holy seed "in" us is also shown in the parable of the seed being sown in the world.
The seed is the word of God as shown here in
Luke 8:11 “Now the parable is this:
The seed is the word of God.”
But now also notice the children of the kingdom are also shown as the "good seed" in
Matthew 13:38 “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;”
So though there is only
One Holy seed, which is the Living Word of God, this One Holy seed dwells in all the children of the Kingdom of God. And those who are born of God also have Christ dwelling in them, the seed of promise, which is the incorruptible seed as shown in
1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,
by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
Notice Peter mentioned we are born again by the word of God which lives= the Living Word of God. God gave
the power of Life to His Word in the very beginning, so we know the Son was around with the Father
before the world was, because it is written God created
all things by His Son, which is His Word.
Now concerning Abraham and Isaac notice what Jesus said to the Sadducees in Matthew chapter 22 concerning the resurrection, which they didn’t believe in any way. Jesus reminded them of the words of God concerning their question about the resurrection of the dead when He said “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead,
but of the living.”
Paul also confirms who are of "the seed" in
Romans 9:8 “That is,They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted
for the seed.”
Once again this explains why Isaac was considered the “only begotten” of Abraham and not his firstborn son Ishmael; as the promise of the Spirit of Life was to Abraham and to his seed according to the promise. Abraham being the father of the faith was also circumcised in the heart by the Holy Spirit, which also speaks of Christ in them by way of the Spirit. (Spirit of promise)
So that is why I believe Isaac is also shown as the only begotten son of Abraham, being that they all lived by that same spiritual seed of promise which dwelled in them, which is the Spirit of Christ that dwelled in them.
But even still many have trouble thinking of the Son of God as being the only begotten Son of God before Jesus died and was resurrected. But when you understand what the Lord is showing in the "
likeness" of giving birth to (or being begotten of) and giving
the power of Life to His Word, then perhaps you will also better understand how God’s only begotten Son came forth from the Father.
And God has anointed His Word, and has empowered His Word to save and resurrect Life through Him; as Jesus Christ said “I am the resurrection and the Life.”
Also by the written words of God we get to know the Father and get to know what He is like. We get to
know His likes and dislikes. We see His nature in and through
the image of His Word Jesus Christ.
Just as Jesus Christ being the very Word of God is also the
express image of the invisible God. Jesus said if you have seen me, then you have also seen the Father; so by God’s Word we know what God is like, as we see the Light of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
I believe the word begotten is also used concerning the Word because God "likens" spiritual things to natural things, as in this case like natural child birth. I believe the word begotten simply suggests
the coming forth from the Father as Jesus said he did, much like a son being born into the world, or made alive.
This does not mean the Son of God being the very Word of God had a certain beginning of days, but it just shows
the origin from whence the Word of God came; which in fact
came out from God the Father in heaven.
And that is what I believe the Father is saying of His Son in
Psalm 2:7 concerning his resurrection from the dead and being begotten "again" concerning “this day.”
Also compare and notice the word again used in
Acts 13:33 in connection with
Psalm 2:7…..
Acts 13:33 “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus "
again"; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”
So when the Spirit of Life entered back into the body of Jesus "again" and he was raised up again, or made
alive again; this is what I believe God meant by His Son being begotten on that certain day in
Psalm 2:7.
Another important thing to notice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the giving again of Life and the power of Eternal Life to the Son by the Father; and this life also to whom the Father has given to the Son.
This sign of the first begotten given the power of Life to me also holds a shadow of the relationship with God and His Son in the beginning of all creation. Even as Jesus being raised up again was now also like a whole new beginning to a whole "new creation" yet to be fully realized.
But again starting with Christ who is the beginning of all things that are, and were created by God. Which new creation will also be fully realized in the regeneration and resurrection to come, and then being complete with the coming of new heavens and a new earth.
In
John 1:4 concerning the Son it is written “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” And also in verse 9 it is written of the Son “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
I believe these verses hold a clue in understanding how the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world when certain death came upon all of mankind by way of sin. Just as Jesus said the Devil was a murderer from the very beginning, even as Cain being of that wicked seed killed his own righteous brother Abel.
Also the Son of God is also shown as the first begotten prior to Jesus death as in
Hebrews 1:6 “And again, when he bringeth in
the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” But God’s Son is also shown as the first born of every creature in
Colossians 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of every creature:”
So Jesus Christ being raised up again, or "begotten again", is like the new starting point of a whole new creation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; as we are also shown in scripture as being made new
creatures in Christ.
So when the body of Jesus was raised up again, or made "alive again", that prophecy was fulfilled in
Psalm 2:7 of “that day” and of Jesus being
begotten again. But this in no way suggests that God’s Word, or Son was not considered the only begotten Son of God prior to Jesus’ resurrection as some have suggested in the past. This just simply means that He was made
alive again from the dead.
Even God the Father called Christ His Son before Jesus’ death and resurrection. Also the scriptures confirm that God the Father created all things
by His Son, which is His Word, and that He was also was with Him from the very beginning.
God the Father in the beginning gave
the power of Life to His Word, which is His only begotten Son, by which all things were created, exist, and have Life. Jesus said “As the living Father hath sent me,
and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.”
And here Jesus said
John 5:26 “For as the Father hath life in himself;
so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;”
And again in
John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are life.”
So as it was in the beginning God empowered His Word to have Life and to also give Life, as the Son was also resurrected again and given the power to give eternal Life to those who believe on Him.
This notion of being "begotten again", or made alive again is also shown in us by way of Christ in
1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,.”
Even the Lord said in
Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and
the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”
So simply put what is being said in
Psalm 2:7 and
Acts 13:33 is this, the only begotten Son of God was made
alive again being the first born (begotten) from the dead as shown in
Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Even the Lord confirms the same of being alive again, or begotten again from the dead and made alive forevermore.
Revelation 1:18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
So I have concluded in my studies that the only begotten Son of God was already the only begotten Son of God even before Jesus was begotten again from the dead, or else how could God the Father say He sent His "only begotten Son" into the world prior to His death and resurrection as is also written?
1 John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent
his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”
So for one to say the Son of God was not the “only begotten” Son of the Father until after the death resurrection of Jesus would make the above verse a false statement, and we know that is not the case.
And concerning those whose names that are written in the Lambs book of Life from the foundation of the world, I believe it is the Father who gave those names whom He did foreknow to His Son. Notice what Jesus says here in
John 17:1-3 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh,
that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom
thou hast sent.”
And also in
John 17:5 “And now, O Father, glorify thou me
with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee
before the world was.
Now think about this in light of the Lord being the beginning and the end, the first and with the last, He also being the root and "in" the offspring. Christ being the
One seed that was determined to die so that we might have eternal life through Him, and He also being the true Vine whereby we could also bear fruit by abiding "in" Him.
Now listen to Jesus’ words here…..
John 12:23-24 “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but
if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
What a marvelous work the Lord has performed in the death and resurrection of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. In that we by Him can also bring forth fruit to the glory of both the Father and the Son Jesus Christ.
Be fruitful and multiply! Peace and God bless,
