| THE ONLY BEGOTTEN – “MONOGENES”
In the bible you have many persons called the sons of GOD. Adam was the son of God by creation, as are the angels called the sons of God. The bible tells us that all humanity in a sense are the offspring of God. Christians are the sons and daughters of God. But the bible declares repeatedly that Jesus Christ is the "only begotten" Son of God. This shows that Jesus is the Son of GOD, in a manner no other person can be. It actually shows that he is OF the substance of GOD, and truly Divine; Because the term "only begotten" shows that Christ is not a son by title, or a son by creation, but is truly the filial Son of GOD. What amazes me today is that many people, on both side of the aisle are attacking the "begottenness" of Christ. Some who deny the divinity of Christ attack it, and some who uphold the divinity of Christ attack it! I tell you friends the "Begotteness" of Christ is the only doctrine that ensures that Christ is divine by substance and nature! Why would people attack the cornerstone of Christianity? The very doctrine that the church is built upon? Even some bibles today are removing the word "Begotten" from their pages. What I want us to do today is to investigate the begottenness of Jesus Christ, and understand the truth for ourselves. and to do this we must first look at the phrase "Only Begotten" The term ‘only begotten’ in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word Monogenes (Srong’s – 3439). Those who promote the doctrine that denies the literal sonship of Jesus Christ (1st John 2:22) tell us that ‘monogenes’ only means ‘unique’. Who is correct? Let us investigate and see who bares the weight of evidence.. Monogenes is from the greek words ‘monos’ and ‘genos’. The Strong’s Concordance defines it as “only-born”; but let’s investigate a little deeper The first article of Monogenes is 3441 monos mon'-os which is defined as: remaining, i.e. sole or single; by implication, mere:--alone, only. The Second article is 1085 genov genos ghen’-os which means an offspring or kind. It is translated ‘Born’ in Acts 18:22 and 18:24. It is translated ‘offspring’ in Acts 17:28. In the New Testament, and in the writings of Ante-Nicene Christians, the term Monogenes takes the more stable denotation of its root ‘ginomai’ (1096).{which is defined as; to cause to be ("gen"-erate or to be born)}, and thus is reckoned as ‘only begotten’. And what is the specific meaning of monogenes in the New Testament? It is used only in reference to sons or daughters, in view of the literal relationship that exists between parent and offspring. It is used repeatedly by Christian writers who lived closest to the age of the Apostles to denote the filial relationship between God and Christ. And it is the cornerstone for the pre-temporal generation of the Son from the Father doctrine, which was held universally among Christians prior to 400 AD (Modalists being exempted) and was held almost universally until the last two hundred years. Now if ‘monogenes’ simply means ‘unique’ as the propagators of the antichrist doctrine declares, then we should find it used in this manner in scripture, but it is not. Please notice that every time ‘monogenes’ is used it is specifically points to the ‘only born’ child of a person. In the following passages I have underlined where the term "monogenes" appears. Luke 7:12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. Luke 8:42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. 1John 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. Also see John 1:14, John 1:18, John 3:16, John 3:18, Hebrews 11:17 Will you ask: “And what of Hebrews 11:17, If monogenes means only begotten, then of whom was Ishmael sprung?” Truly Isaac and Ishmael were both begotten, but only Isaac was the Son of the promise; and for this reason Paul added, “In Isaac thy seed be called”. For an example, if I say, “This is my only born child that lives with me”, you would not think I have lied, if I afterward would tell you his brother lived in a far country. Thus the question is not was Isaac begotten, but in what since was he ‘only’, and it is hence: he is the lone child of the promise. Hebrews 11:17-18 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Now we must also consider the fact that ‘monogenes’ isn’t the ONLY Greek word that is translated BEGOTTEN in reference to Jesus Christ. The other word is ‘gennao’. Gennao (1080 in the Strong’s) and it retains the following meaning. To procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate. It is translated as such in the scriptures:--bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, make, spring. And it is used in the following instances in reference to Jesus Christ.. 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. Hebrews 1:5 For 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? (Also see Hebrews 5:5). 1John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. Also in the Hebrew Old Testament we see that Christ is declared to be the ‘Begotten’ Son of GOD. Here begotten is from the Hebrew word yalad and it bears the following definition: -- to bear young; to beget. And it is translated in this manner: bear, beget, birth, born, bring forth. It is used in reference to Christ in the book of Psalms. Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Jesus often spoke of two previous momentous events, his birth (Being brought forth from God) and then his coming to the world. John 16:27-28 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out (1831 exerchomai ) from God. I came forth (1831 exerchomai) from the Father, and am come (2064 erchoma) into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. John 8:42 “If God were your Father, ye would love me; For I proceeded forth (1831 exerchomai) and came from God neither came I of myself, but He sent me”. In the above passages we see the use of two distinct Greek words. First Christ states that He Came Forth or Proceeded forth from God. In both instances he uses the word exerchomai. Thayer’s Greek English Lexicon defines ‘exerchomai’ in this manner: “To come forth from physically, arise from, to be born of”. Then we see after Christ was ‘born of’ God we see that he ‘Came into the world’. The greek word for ‘Came’ is ‘erchoma’ and it simply means to “To come from one place to another”. This is also the explanation Christ gave to Pilate also. John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Clearly Jesus was begotten by God long before he came to the earth. God did indeed send His begotten Son. 1John 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. (See John 16:28). You may also note that Christ taught that his life is indeed derived from the Father. John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; The Bible teaches that the Father is the source of all things, including the life of his Son. As we inherit life from our parents, Christ inherited his life from the Father. Not only his life, but his Divinity, Power and Authority is all derived from the Father, because Christ is truly the BEGOTTEN Son of GOD (Colossians 2:9, 1:19 Matthew 28:18, 1st Corinthians 15:27) WHEN WAS CHRIST BEGOTTEN? Colossians 1:15-16 Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE: For 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: Here Jesus is declared the Firstborn of every creature. What does this phrase mean? Firstborn is translated from the Greek word prototokos, and it simply means: first-born --first begotten. We also see that prototokos is a conjunction of two root words. Protos and tikto (tikto is it’s alternate). Protos simply means: foremost (in time, place, order or importance):--before, beginning, first (of all), former. The second article is tikto which means: to produce (from seed, as a mother, a plant, the earth, etc.), literally or figuratively:--bear, be born, bring forth, be delivered, be in travail. Thus we see in these verses that Paul is telling us that Christ was ‘Begotten First or Born Before all creation’, because all of creation was created by God through Christ (Ephesians 3:9). This is also the explanation given to us concerning this verse in the Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon: “Christ is called, firstborn of all creation, who came into being through God prior to the entire universe of created things”. Wigram’s Greek Lexicon tells us the following: “Or it may be; born before all creation”. This truth is also testified to in Proverbs 8:24-25, “When there were no depths, I was brought forth (born); when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth (born)”. Jamieson, Faussett and Brown Bible Commentary has this to add: “first-born of every creature-- (Heb_1:6), "the first-begotten": "begotten of His Father before all worlds" [Nicene Creed]… Translate, "Begotten (literally, 'born') before every creature," as the context shows, which gives the reason why He is so designated. "For," &c. (Col_1:16-17) [TRENCH]. Matthew Henry’s Commentary states the following: “He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made;” This also destroys the Jehovah Witnesses’ doctrine that Christ was the first created angel; for we see that Christ was the active agent in the creation of all things, both in heaven and in earth, including angels. And what of the following verse? Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; The word ‘Beginning’ is from the Greek Arche. Arche is some times translated power and principality. And it is thus here, for it declares Christ to be the "agent" or "efficient cause" of Creation. This perfectly fits our understanding that Christ is the agent through whom God has created all things, but we are told that Christ was brought forth in a very different manner, for he is called the ONLY BEGOTTEN (MONOGENES) OF GOD, a phrase that would be utterly inappropriate to apply to any created being. HOW WAS CHRIST BORN? The bible tells us that Jesus is truly the begotten Son of GOD. It teaches that he was born before creation. How was Jesus born? I'm not sure it is important if we know how, as long as we believe he is truly the Son of GOD. But the scriptures does give us some insight. Jesus is called the Word (Logos) of GOD. A person's Word is his thoughts revealed. Our thoughts originate in our hearts (minds). I think this is what the bible alludes to when it says. John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Joh 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Joh 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. While studying some of the writings of the pre-nicean church "fathers" I noticed that they repeatedly quoted the following verses to prove that Christ was indeed begotten. The true meaning of these verses are almost lost today because of the sloppy modern translations. PSALMS 45:1-6 (LXX) For the end, for alternate strains by the sons of Core; for instruction, a Song concerning the beloved. My heart has uttered an excellent word (logos): Isn't it an awesome thought to think that Jesus originated in the heart of GOD as his 'wisdom', and before creation he was made audible and thus begotten, as a true Son, not a sound without substance. A true person, with his own intellect! This ensures the eternity of Christ, for if he existed in the heart of GOD before his birth, then he is eternal. The next few verses of this Psalm clears up any question concerning who the speaker has in mind. PSLAMS 45:2 I declare my works to the king: my tongue is the pen of a quick writer. Thou art more beautiful than the sons of men: grace has been shed forth on thy lips: therefore God has blessed thee for ever.3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Mighty One, in thy comeliness, and in thy beauty; 4 and bend thy bow, and prosper, and reign, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall guide thee wonderfully. Thy weapons are sharpened, Mighty One, (the nations shall fall under thee) they are in the heart of the king’s enemies. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy fellows. |
Babylon Forsaken Ministries |
"Come out of her My people" - Jesus Christ MONOGENES |
 |