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Son of God/only son of God/only begotten son ?

Son of God/only son of God/only begotten son ? which is your personal view?

  • Son of God

    Votes: 3 15.0%
  • Only son of God

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Only begotten son of God

    Votes: 10 50.0%
  • It doesn't really make a difference to me

    Votes: 7 35.0%

  • Total voters
    20
  • Poll closed .

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
Which is it for you ? (poll to come). What are the distinctions between the three ways of referring to Jesus Christ?

Do certain religions believe in one particular definition, while others favour another ?

Could you please explain the differences and why you believe that they are important to you.
 

James the Persian

Dreptcredincios Crestin
Well, I went for only begotten Son of God, because the fact that He is uniquely the Son of God is vitally important to normative Christian soteriology, but we are all children of God in a different sense. Of course, as Only Begotten Son of God actually encompasses both of the options prior to it, I could also have chosen other, meaning all of the above.

James
 

*Paul*

Jesus loves you
JamesThePersian said:
Well, I went for only begotten Son of God, because the fact that He is uniquely the Son of God is vitally important to normative Christian soteriology, but we are all children of God in a different sense. Of course, as Only Begotten Son of God actually encompasses both of the options prior to it, I could also have chosen other, meaning all of the above.

James
signs011.gif
 

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
JamesThePersian said:
Well, I went for only begotten Son of God, because the fact that He is uniquely the Son of God is vitally important to normative Christian soteriology, but we are all children of God in a different sense. Of course, as Only Begotten Son of God actually encompasses both of the options prior to it, I could also have chosen other, meaning all of the above.

James

Thinking about this more though, and (especially more the meaning of "begotten") - all it effectively means is "Fathered"; is there any reaon why that word should have been used ? Was it meant to mean "more" than what it seems to at first sight?
 

may

Well-Known Member
THE BIBLES answer ............john 3;16"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life
 

may

Well-Known Member
michel said:
Thinking about this more though, and (especially more the meaning of "begotten") - all it effectively means is "Fathered"; is there any reaon why that word should have been used ? Was it meant to mean "more" than what it seems to at first sight?
the only one created by Jehovah alone,everything else was created through Jesus. the only one means ,,,Jesus was one of a kind.... the only one
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
I voted "Only Begotten Son of God" although "Son of God" is also correct. I believe that all of God's children are His spirit sons and daughters. Jesus Christ, however, is unique in that He was begotten of the Father. God was literally the Father of Jesus Christ, just as Mary was literally His mother.
 

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
I voted "Only Begotten Son of God" although "Son of God" is also correct. I believe that all of God's children are His spirit sons and daughters. Jesus Christ, however, is unique in that He was begotten of the Father. God was literally the Father of Jesus Christ, just as Mary was literally His mother.

Fair enough; I was more struck by the fact that begotten is - literally - the historical English for "Born of"..........
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
I was more struck by the fact that begotten is - literally - the historical English for "Born of"..........
I was not aware of the derivation of the word, but it seems to fit in with my beliefs. Jesus was born of God and the Virgin Mary.
 

James the Persian

Dreptcredincios Crestin
Thinking about this more though, and (especially more the meaning of "begotten") - all it effectively means is "Fathered"; is there any reaon why that word should have been used ? Was it meant to mean "more" than what it seems to at first sight?

The way the Greek is used, it doesn't mean fathered (not in the context of God, anyway). It means that he takes His existance from the Father (which is part of the meaning of begotten, but it is slightly different). Begotten is used specifically to oppose the idea of the Son being created. Just look at the Creed. To omit the begotten there makes one an Arian (though not necessarily overtly so).

James
 

may

Well-Known Member
Jesus is the "only-begotten Son" (Joh 3:16) in that he is the only one of God’s sons, spirit or human, created solely by God, for all others were created through, or "by means of," that firstborn Son.—Col 1:16, 17
 

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
The way the Greek is used, it doesn't mean fathered (not in the context of God, anyway). It means that he takes His existance from the Father (which is part of the meaning of begotten, but it is slightly different). Begotten is used specifically to oppose the idea of the Son being created. Just look at the Creed. To omit the begotten there makes one an Arian (though not necessarily overtly so).

James

Thanks, James.
 

joeboonda

Well-Known Member
Jesus is the only-begotten Son of God, begotten, not made. He was with God in the beginning, and He is God, not 'a' God, for there is only one. By Him the worlds were made, and by Him all things consist. He is the Alpha and Omega, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Immanuel, meaning 'God with us', conceived of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, Our Redeemer and Lord and God.

Psalm 2:7
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
I Timothy 3:16
16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Acts 20:28
28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Phillipians 2
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
  1. Matthew 1:18
    [ The Birth of Jesus Christ ] This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
    Matthew 1:20
    But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
John 1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Colossians 1
1:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
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: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
  1. John 1:14
    And 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.
    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.
    John 3:16
    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
    John 3:18
    He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
    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?
    Hebrews 5:5
    So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
    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.
    1 John 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.
    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,
 

may

Well-Known Member
The Bible teaches that Jesus lived in heaven before he came to earth. Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and also said that His origin was "from early times." (Micah 5:2) On many occasions, Jesus himself said that he lived in heaven before being born as a human. (John 3:13; 6:38, 62; 17:4, 5) As a spirit creature in heaven, Jesus had a special relationship with Jehovah.


Jesus is Jehovah’s most precious Son—and for good reason. He is called "the firstborn of all creation," for he was God’s first creation. (Colossians 1:15)

Jehovah is called a Father because he is the Creator. (Isaiah 64:8) Since Jesus was created by God, he is called God’s Son. For similar reasons, other spirit creatures and even the man Adam are called sons of God.—Job 1:6; Luke 3:38.

There is something else that makes this Son special. He is the "only-begotten Son." (John 3:16) This means that Jesus is the only one directly created by God. Jesus is also the only one whom God used when He created all other things. (Colossians 1:16) Then, too, Jesus is called "the Word." (John 1:14) This tells us that he spoke for God, no doubt delivering messages and instructions to the Father’s other sons, both spirit and human.


Is the firstborn Son equal to God, as some believe? That is not what the Bible teaches, the Son was created. Obviously, then, he had a beginning, whereas Jehovah God has no beginning or end. (Psalm 90:2) The only-begotten Son never even considered trying to be equal to his Father. The Bible clearly teaches that the Father is greater than the Son. (John 14:28; 1 Corinthians 11:3) Jehovah alone is "God Almighty." (Genesis 17:1) Therefore, he has no equal.


Jehovah and his firstborn Son enjoyed close association for billions of years—long before the starry heavens and the earth were created. How they must have loved each other! (John 3:35; 14:31) This dear Son was just like his Father. That is why the Bible refers to the Son as "the image of the invisible God." (Colossians 1:15) Yes, even as a human son may closely resemble his father in various ways, this heavenly Son reflected his Father’s qualities and personality.

Jehovah’s only-begotten Son willingly left heaven and came down to earth to live as a human. But you may wonder, ‘How was it possible for a spirit creature to be born as a human?’ To accomplish this, Jehovah performed a miracle. He transferred the life of his firstborn Son from heaven to the womb of a Jewish virgin named Mary. No human father was involved. Mary thus gave birth to a perfect son and named him Jesus.—Luke 1:30-35.
 
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