Post by iris89 on Mar 20, 2009 12:17:32 GMT -5
How Is Jesus The Only Begotten?
INTRODUCTION:
The inspired word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible, often states that Jesus (Yeshua) Christ is the only begotten of his Father, Almighty God (YHWH). Now exactly what is the meaning of these scriptures that state this as follows, all taken from the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB?
John 1:14, And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were 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 who is in the Bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.
John 3:18, He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Acts 13:33, This same God hath fulfilled to our children, raising up Jesus, as in the second psalm also is written: Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee.
1 Corinthians 4:15, For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.
Hebrews 1:5, For to which of the angels hath he said at any time: Thou art my Son, to-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 Christ also did not glorify himself, that he might be made a high priest: but he that said unto him: Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee.
Hebrews 11:17, By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
1 Peter 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead:
1 John 4:9, By this hath the charity of God appeared towards us, because God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we may live by him.
1 John 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood
Now, The expression "only-begotten" in the ASV and many other Bibles is unfortunate as it is so often misunderstood. The Greek is quite clear though. It means "one-and-only," or just "only." It can refer to the only child of a parent. It is used in general to refer to a "unique" person. How is the Son of God (Jesus) unique? He is the only Son of God.
Of course this understanding of "only-begotten" It goes along with the first principle of translating, if it does not make sense in context it is not correct no matter what all kinds of man made rules and points of grammar may say. I have seen all kinds of arguments, rules, etc. to the contrary with respect “only-begotten” and the equivalent phase in my own language, but have always taken it to mean, “one-and-only” or “one of a kind.” I do technical translation for major companies and always make sure that my translation makes sense in context no matter what the grammar rules, dictionaries, etc. say. One time in translating, I ran across a word that literally meant “wave” when translated into English, but I knew in the context it should be ‘thread on a screw’ and not wave and used the English word “thread,” and the other translator used “wave” as it went along with the inter-lingua dictionary and grammar rules. However, my translation was the only one that accurately captured the meaning the original writer writing in his own language had in mind. I apply this same concept to all translations including John 1:1 rather than one based on technicalities and so called rules which sometimes produces utter nonsense.
COMMENT BY ONE SCHOLAR ON A MAGAZINE ARTICLE DEALING WITH “ONLYBEGOTTEN”
He said,
<<<”I have a small issue with this statement I read in the Dec 15, 2008
watchtower maybe we can discuss it here briefly.
If not please disregard.
Page 12 under the study article (to be studied Feb 16-22) titled
Appreciate Jesus' unique role in Gods purpose
paragraph three reads:
"The Only-Begotten Son"
Jesus is not just "a son of God." That is how Satan referred to Jesus
while tempting him. (Matt. 4:3,6) Jesus is rightly called "the only
begotten Son of God." (John 3:16,18) The Greek word translated "only-
begotten" has been defined as "single of its kind, only," "the only
member of a kin or kind," or "unique."(emphasis added) Jehovah has
hundreds of millions of spirit sons. In what sense, then, is Jesus
the only one "of a kin or kind?"
I find this slight change rather disturbing because in the past we
have clearly argued against this 'only' 'unique' view, please note
the Root words sited.
*** ti pp. 15-16 What Does the Bible Say About God and Jesus? ***
"Trinitarians claim that in the case of Jesus, "only-begotten"? is not
the same as the dictionary definition of "begetting,"?which is "to
procreate as the father."? (Webster's Ninth New Collegiate
Dictionary) They say that in Jesus' case it means "the sense of
Un-originated relationship,"? a sort of only son relationship without
the begetting.(emphasis added) (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old
and New Testament Words) Does that sound logical to you? Can a man
father a son without begetting him?............."
"The basic Greek word for "only-begotten" used for Jesus and Isaac is
mo·no·ge·nes´, from mo´nos, meaning "only," and ***gi´no·mai,*** a root word meaning "to generate,"?"to become (come into being),"? states Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Hence, mo·no·ge·nes´ is defined as: "Only born, only begotten, i.e. an only child."?A Greek and English Lexicon of the New Testament, by E. Robinson.
The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, edited by Gerhard
Kittel, says: "[Mo·no·ge·nes´] means ?of sole descent," i.e.,
without brothers or sisters."? This book also states that at John
1:18; 3:16, 18; and 1 John 4:9, "the relation of Jesus is not just
compared to that of an only child to its father. It is the relation
of the only-begotten to the Father."?
Note MONO and GINOMAI = to generate Strongs word G1069
vs
Note Mono and GENNAO= Beget (Strongs 1085 ) vs GENOS = kind (Strongs G1096)
"Only-begotten."? Some commentators object to the translation of the
Greek word mo·no·ge·nes´ by the English "only-begotten." They
point out that the latter portion of the word (ge·nes´) does not
come from gen·na´o (beget) but from ge´nos (kind), hence the term
refers to "the only one of a class or kind." Thus many translations
speak of Jesus as the "only Son"?(RS; AT; JB) rather than the
"only-begotten son" of God. (Joh 1:14; 3:16, 18; 1Jo 4:9) However,
while the individual components do not include the verbal sense of being
born, the usage of the term definitely does embrace the idea of
descent or birth, for the Greek word ge´nos means "family stock;
kinsfolk; offspring; race." It is translated "race"? in 1 Peter 2:9.
The Latin Vulgate by Jerome renders mo·no·ge·nes´ as unigenitus,
meaning "only-begotten"? or "only."? This relationship of the term to
birth or descent is recognized by numerous lexicographers.
Edward Robinson's Greek and English Lexicon of the New Testament
(1885, p. 471) gives the definition of mo·no·ge·nes´ as: "only
born, only begotten, i.e. an only child."? The Greek-English Lexicon
of the New Testament by W. Hickie (1956, p. 123) also gives: "only
begotten."? The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, edited
by G. Kittel, states: "The [mo·no-] does not denote the source but
the nature of derivation. Hence µonogenes [mo·no·ge·nes´] means
"of sole descent," i.e., without brothers or sisters. This gives us
the sense of only-begotten. The ref. is to the only child of one's
parents, primarily in relation to them. . . . But the word can also
be used more generally without ref. to derivation in the sense of
"unique," "unparalleled," "incomparable," though one should not
confuse the refs. to class or species and to manner." Translator and
editor, G. Bromiley, 1969, Vol. IV, p. 738.
As to the use of the term in the Christian Greek Scriptures or "New
Testament,"? this latter work (pp. 739-741) says: "It means
'only-begotten.' . . . In [John] 3:16, 18; 1 Jn. 4:9; [John] 1:18 the
relation of Jesus is not just compared to that of an only child to
its father. It is the relation of the only-begotten to the
Father. . . . In Jn. 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 Jn. 4:9 µonogenes
denotes more than the uniqueness or incomparability of Jesus. In all
these verses He is expressly called the Son, and He is regarded as
such in 1:14. In Jn. µonogenes denotes the origin of Jesus. He is
µonogenes as the only-begotten."?
In view of these statements and in view of the plain evidence of the
Scriptures themselves, there is no reason for objecting to
translations showing that Jesus is not merely God's unique or
incomparable Son but also his "only-begotten Son,"? hence descended
from God in the sense of being produced by God. This is confirmed by
apostolic references to this Son as "the firstborn of all creation"?
and as "the One born [form of gen·na´o] from God"? (Col 1:15; 1John
5:18), while Jesus himself states that he is "the beginning of the
creation by God."?
It seems as if our newer view point is to accept the meaning of
monogenes as only unique, then we are not only arguing against our
selection of the English translation of only "BEGOTTEN", but we lose
an argument as far as the simple meaning of the english word beget.
Once we start saying in effect "well it says only begotten but it
means only unique" we get into a very slippery slope. Only unique
really doesn't say anything to the reader, the father is only
unique as well- we gain no new information, but if he's the only
individual made solely by the father alone, we do gain information
that is very valuble.” [source - begotten question "sthingysprts@aol.com ooose7enooo, Date: Wed Mar 4, 2009 2:11 pm ((PST))]>>>
REPLY BY ANOTHER BIBLE SCHOLAR:
<<<”I didn't have a problem with it. No doubt, the article is simply
accepting the updated explanation of MONOGENHS as found in scholarly
lexicons like BDAG (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and
Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd edition, revised and edited by
Frederick William Danker).
The BDAG defines MONOGENHS as derived from MONOS and GENOS,
"pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific
relationship, one and only, only," or "pertaining to being the only
one of its kind or class, unique (in kind)."
Concerning John 1:18, BDAG says: "An only-begotten one,
God...uniquely divine as God's son and transcending all others
alleged to be gods, or a uniquely begotten deity." (page 658)
Thus, it would seem that the two meanings are more complimentary than
contradictory: One particular way in which Jesus is unique is in his
being "begotten" only by Jehovah.
Regardless of how we have looked at it in the past, if the actual
usage of MONOGENHS in Koine Greek tended toward the meaning of
"unique" in the first century, with less emphasis on the concept of
begetting, then we should be willing to accept that fact ... if that
is the fact.
It should be noted that in the Septuagint, MONOGENHS sometimes
translates a Hebrew word (yahid) that clearly means "only."
Similarly, the Sahidic Coptic version translates MONOGENHS by the
Coptic word for "only" (nouwt). Perhaps "begotten" was understood,
though not expressed, especially in the context of human
relationships.” [source - "Solomon" Awohili@aol.com bar_enosh, Date: Thu Mar 5, 2009 10:09 am ((PST))]>>>.
LINGUISTIC USAGE
Richard Longenecker, in “The One and Only Son” said,
<<<”…The word monogenēs, with its variants mounogeneia (an early feminine poetic form) and mounogonos (a later masculine form), occurs first in extant Greek literature in the writings of the eighth-century B.C. poet Hesiod. Thereafter it appears in the work of such diverse authors as Parmenides, Aeschylus, Plato, Herodotus, Apollonius Rhodius, and Antoninus Liberalis, as well as in the Orphic Hymns. It also appears in a number of Greek papyri and inscriptions.2 Literally monogenēs means “sole descent” or “the only child of one’s parents.” It is a stronger term than the simple monos, for it denotes that the parents have never had more than this one child. This is one way it was used by Hesiod (Works and Days 376; Theogony 426), Plato (Critias 113d), Herodotus (History 7.221), and Antoninus Liberalis (Mythographi Graeci, ed. F. Martini, II [1896], 32:1).
The word, however, was also used by Hesiod (Works and Days 374; Theogony 448) and the writers of the Orphic Hymns (29:2; 32:1; 40:16) in the sense of “peerless,” “matchless,” “unique,” “of singular importance,” or “the only one of its kind,” which ideas have more to do with quality than derivation or descent. The sixth-fifth century B.C. philosopher Parmenides spoke of Being as “ungenerated [agenēton], imperishable, whole, unique [monogenēs], and without end” (Frag. 8.3-4), thereby ignoring—particularly in parallel with agenēton—any idea of generation in the word as might be found etymologically in genos. In the early fifth century, Aeschylus has Queen Clytaemestra, in mocking welcome, hail her husband, King Agamemnon, as monogenēs teknon patri (Agamemnon 898)—which must mean something like “the favored or chosen child of his father,” Atreus—and not the only child of Atreus, since Menelaus was also a son of Atreus, and Agamemnon’s brother. Plato, in arguing that the Creator (ho poiōn kosmous) did not make two or more heavens but one heaven only, strengthens his insistence on “one” by writing heis hode monogenēs ouranos (Timaeus 31b). And in the magical papyri, the term monogenēs often appears as part of the title of the deity invoked: theos, ho monogenēs or ho heis monogenēs, which translates as “God, the Incomparable One” or “The One Incomparable”—though, as is evident from the context, not a god who is alone of its kind.
Likewise the LXX and various Jewish writings in Greek use monogenēs in more than one way. The LXX translates yāhîd in Judges 11:34 by monogenēs, and so identifies Jephthah’s daughter as Jephthah’s only child. And this stress on “sole descent” or “the only child of one’s parents” is uppermost in the use of the word for Raquel’s daughter in Tobit 6:14 and 8:16 (cf. Pseudo-Philo 39:11). But the idea of sole descent gave rise to more general meanings for the term as well, depending on the context. So in Psalms 25:16 and 68:6 (Lxx) the idea of “the only one” is nuanced to mean “desolate” or “solitary” or “all alone” (NIV, “lonely”); while in Psalms 22:20 and 35:17 (Lxx), tēn mnonogenē mou is set in parallel fashion to tēn psychēn mou to signify one’s “priceless and irreplaceable” life (NIV, “my precious life”).
Further, in Genesis 22:2, 12, 16, and Jubilees 18:2, 11, 15 (possibly also Jos. Antiq. 1:222), monogenēs is used of Isaac in the sense of Abraham’s “favored,” “chosen,” or “unique” son, vis-à-vis Ishmael. It is also used in Josephus (Antiq. 20:20) in this manner of Monobazus’s son Izates (vis-à-vis Monobazus’s many other children), in 1 Baruch 4:16 of a widow’s son (vis-à-vis anything else). In Psalms of Solomon 18:4 and Ezra 6:58, Israel is referred to as both God’s prototokos and God’s monogenēs (cf. also Pseudo-Philo 39:11), which hints in something of an overlap of meaning between the two terms. And since the LXX also renders yāhîd by agapētos (Gen. 22:2, 12, 16; Prov. 4:3; Jer. 6:26; Amos 8:10; Zech. 12:10), there is the suggestion that monogenēs may also carry the idea of “beloved” or “best-loved….” [source – an article by, Longenecker in Barker, Kenneth, The NIV: The Making of a Contemporary Translation, Zondervan, pp. 119-126, 165-166.]>>>
And,
<<<”… The Greek word MONOGENHS is defined by lexicographers as single of its kind, only, or the only member of a kin or kind. (Thayers
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1889, p. 417; Liddell and
Scotts Greek-English Lexicon, Oxford, 1968, p. 1144) The term is used in
describing the relation of both sons and daughters to their parents.
The Scriptures speak of the only-begotten son of a widow who lived in
the city of Nain, of Jairus only-begotten daughter, and of a mans
only-begotten son whom Jesus cured of a demon. (Lu 7:11, 12; 8:41, 42;
9:38) The Greek Septuagint uses MONOGENHS when speaking of Jephthahs
daughter, concerning whom it is written: Now she was absolutely the only
child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.Jg 11:34.
The apostle John repeatedly describes the Lord Jesus Christ as the
only-begotten Son of God. (Joh 1:14; 3:16, 18; 1Jo 4:9) This is not in
reference to his human birth or to him as just the _man_ Jesus. As the
LOGOS, or Word, this one was in the beginning with God, even before
the world was. (Joh 1:1, 2; 17:5, 24) At that time while in his prehuman
state of existence, he is described as the only-begotten Son whom his
Father sent into the world.1Jo 4:9.
...
The angels of heaven are sons of God even as Adam was a son of God. (Ge
6:2; Job 1:6; 38:7; Lu 3:38) But the LOGOS, later called Jesus, is the
_only-begotten_ Son of God. (Joh 3:18) He is the only one of his kind,
the only one whom God himself created directly without the agency or
cooperation of any creature. He is the only one whom God his Father used
in bringing into existence all other creatures. He is the firstborn and
chief one among all other angels (Col 1:15, 16; Heb 1:5, 6), which angels
the Scriptures call godlike ones or gods. (Ps 8:4, 5) Therefore,
according to some of the oldest and best manuscripts, the Lord Jesus
Christ is properly described as the only-begotten god [Gr., MONOGENHS
THEOS].Joh 1:18, NW, Ro, Sp…” [source – MONOGENHS, by Mitchell Andrews]>>>.
CONCLUSION:
As can be clearly seen, “only begotten” as used in the inspired word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible, for Jesus (Yeshua) Christ has the meaning of ‘one and only,’ unique, etc.
To learn more, check out the following:
[1] religioustruths.proboards59.com/ An Educational Referral Forum
[2] www.network54.com/Forum/403209 A Forum Devoted to Exposing The False Religion of Islam
[3] jude3.proboards92.com/ A Free-Speech Forum For All
[4] www.freewebs.com/iris_the_preacher My web site.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
INTRODUCTION:
The inspired word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible, often states that Jesus (Yeshua) Christ is the only begotten of his Father, Almighty God (YHWH). Now exactly what is the meaning of these scriptures that state this as follows, all taken from the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB?
John 1:14, And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were 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 who is in the Bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.
John 3:18, He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Acts 13:33, This same God hath fulfilled to our children, raising up Jesus, as in the second psalm also is written: Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee.
1 Corinthians 4:15, For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.
Hebrews 1:5, For to which of the angels hath he said at any time: Thou art my Son, to-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 Christ also did not glorify himself, that he might be made a high priest: but he that said unto him: Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee.
Hebrews 11:17, By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
1 Peter 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead:
1 John 4:9, By this hath the charity of God appeared towards us, because God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we may live by him.
1 John 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood
Now, The expression "only-begotten" in the ASV and many other Bibles is unfortunate as it is so often misunderstood. The Greek is quite clear though. It means "one-and-only," or just "only." It can refer to the only child of a parent. It is used in general to refer to a "unique" person. How is the Son of God (Jesus) unique? He is the only Son of God.
Of course this understanding of "only-begotten" It goes along with the first principle of translating, if it does not make sense in context it is not correct no matter what all kinds of man made rules and points of grammar may say. I have seen all kinds of arguments, rules, etc. to the contrary with respect “only-begotten” and the equivalent phase in my own language, but have always taken it to mean, “one-and-only” or “one of a kind.” I do technical translation for major companies and always make sure that my translation makes sense in context no matter what the grammar rules, dictionaries, etc. say. One time in translating, I ran across a word that literally meant “wave” when translated into English, but I knew in the context it should be ‘thread on a screw’ and not wave and used the English word “thread,” and the other translator used “wave” as it went along with the inter-lingua dictionary and grammar rules. However, my translation was the only one that accurately captured the meaning the original writer writing in his own language had in mind. I apply this same concept to all translations including John 1:1 rather than one based on technicalities and so called rules which sometimes produces utter nonsense.
COMMENT BY ONE SCHOLAR ON A MAGAZINE ARTICLE DEALING WITH “ONLYBEGOTTEN”
He said,
<<<”I have a small issue with this statement I read in the Dec 15, 2008
watchtower maybe we can discuss it here briefly.
If not please disregard.
Page 12 under the study article (to be studied Feb 16-22) titled
Appreciate Jesus' unique role in Gods purpose
paragraph three reads:
"The Only-Begotten Son"
Jesus is not just "a son of God." That is how Satan referred to Jesus
while tempting him. (Matt. 4:3,6) Jesus is rightly called "the only
begotten Son of God." (John 3:16,18) The Greek word translated "only-
begotten" has been defined as "single of its kind, only," "the only
member of a kin or kind," or "unique."(emphasis added) Jehovah has
hundreds of millions of spirit sons. In what sense, then, is Jesus
the only one "of a kin or kind?"
I find this slight change rather disturbing because in the past we
have clearly argued against this 'only' 'unique' view, please note
the Root words sited.
*** ti pp. 15-16 What Does the Bible Say About God and Jesus? ***
"Trinitarians claim that in the case of Jesus, "only-begotten"? is not
the same as the dictionary definition of "begetting,"?which is "to
procreate as the father."? (Webster's Ninth New Collegiate
Dictionary) They say that in Jesus' case it means "the sense of
Un-originated relationship,"? a sort of only son relationship without
the begetting.(emphasis added) (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old
and New Testament Words) Does that sound logical to you? Can a man
father a son without begetting him?............."
"The basic Greek word for "only-begotten" used for Jesus and Isaac is
mo·no·ge·nes´, from mo´nos, meaning "only," and ***gi´no·mai,*** a root word meaning "to generate,"?"to become (come into being),"? states Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Hence, mo·no·ge·nes´ is defined as: "Only born, only begotten, i.e. an only child."?A Greek and English Lexicon of the New Testament, by E. Robinson.
The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, edited by Gerhard
Kittel, says: "[Mo·no·ge·nes´] means ?of sole descent," i.e.,
without brothers or sisters."? This book also states that at John
1:18; 3:16, 18; and 1 John 4:9, "the relation of Jesus is not just
compared to that of an only child to its father. It is the relation
of the only-begotten to the Father."?
Note MONO and GINOMAI = to generate Strongs word G1069
vs
Note Mono and GENNAO= Beget (Strongs 1085 ) vs GENOS = kind (Strongs G1096)
"Only-begotten."? Some commentators object to the translation of the
Greek word mo·no·ge·nes´ by the English "only-begotten." They
point out that the latter portion of the word (ge·nes´) does not
come from gen·na´o (beget) but from ge´nos (kind), hence the term
refers to "the only one of a class or kind." Thus many translations
speak of Jesus as the "only Son"?(RS; AT; JB) rather than the
"only-begotten son" of God. (Joh 1:14; 3:16, 18; 1Jo 4:9) However,
while the individual components do not include the verbal sense of being
born, the usage of the term definitely does embrace the idea of
descent or birth, for the Greek word ge´nos means "family stock;
kinsfolk; offspring; race." It is translated "race"? in 1 Peter 2:9.
The Latin Vulgate by Jerome renders mo·no·ge·nes´ as unigenitus,
meaning "only-begotten"? or "only."? This relationship of the term to
birth or descent is recognized by numerous lexicographers.
Edward Robinson's Greek and English Lexicon of the New Testament
(1885, p. 471) gives the definition of mo·no·ge·nes´ as: "only
born, only begotten, i.e. an only child."? The Greek-English Lexicon
of the New Testament by W. Hickie (1956, p. 123) also gives: "only
begotten."? The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, edited
by G. Kittel, states: "The [mo·no-] does not denote the source but
the nature of derivation. Hence µonogenes [mo·no·ge·nes´] means
"of sole descent," i.e., without brothers or sisters. This gives us
the sense of only-begotten. The ref. is to the only child of one's
parents, primarily in relation to them. . . . But the word can also
be used more generally without ref. to derivation in the sense of
"unique," "unparalleled," "incomparable," though one should not
confuse the refs. to class or species and to manner." Translator and
editor, G. Bromiley, 1969, Vol. IV, p. 738.
As to the use of the term in the Christian Greek Scriptures or "New
Testament,"? this latter work (pp. 739-741) says: "It means
'only-begotten.' . . . In [John] 3:16, 18; 1 Jn. 4:9; [John] 1:18 the
relation of Jesus is not just compared to that of an only child to
its father. It is the relation of the only-begotten to the
Father. . . . In Jn. 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 Jn. 4:9 µonogenes
denotes more than the uniqueness or incomparability of Jesus. In all
these verses He is expressly called the Son, and He is regarded as
such in 1:14. In Jn. µonogenes denotes the origin of Jesus. He is
µonogenes as the only-begotten."?
In view of these statements and in view of the plain evidence of the
Scriptures themselves, there is no reason for objecting to
translations showing that Jesus is not merely God's unique or
incomparable Son but also his "only-begotten Son,"? hence descended
from God in the sense of being produced by God. This is confirmed by
apostolic references to this Son as "the firstborn of all creation"?
and as "the One born [form of gen·na´o] from God"? (Col 1:15; 1John
5:18), while Jesus himself states that he is "the beginning of the
creation by God."?
It seems as if our newer view point is to accept the meaning of
monogenes as only unique, then we are not only arguing against our
selection of the English translation of only "BEGOTTEN", but we lose
an argument as far as the simple meaning of the english word beget.
Once we start saying in effect "well it says only begotten but it
means only unique" we get into a very slippery slope. Only unique
really doesn't say anything to the reader, the father is only
unique as well- we gain no new information, but if he's the only
individual made solely by the father alone, we do gain information
that is very valuble.” [source - begotten question "sthingysprts@aol.com ooose7enooo, Date: Wed Mar 4, 2009 2:11 pm ((PST))]>>>
REPLY BY ANOTHER BIBLE SCHOLAR:
<<<”I didn't have a problem with it. No doubt, the article is simply
accepting the updated explanation of MONOGENHS as found in scholarly
lexicons like BDAG (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and
Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd edition, revised and edited by
Frederick William Danker).
The BDAG defines MONOGENHS as derived from MONOS and GENOS,
"pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific
relationship, one and only, only," or "pertaining to being the only
one of its kind or class, unique (in kind)."
Concerning John 1:18, BDAG says: "An only-begotten one,
God...uniquely divine as God's son and transcending all others
alleged to be gods, or a uniquely begotten deity." (page 658)
Thus, it would seem that the two meanings are more complimentary than
contradictory: One particular way in which Jesus is unique is in his
being "begotten" only by Jehovah.
Regardless of how we have looked at it in the past, if the actual
usage of MONOGENHS in Koine Greek tended toward the meaning of
"unique" in the first century, with less emphasis on the concept of
begetting, then we should be willing to accept that fact ... if that
is the fact.
It should be noted that in the Septuagint, MONOGENHS sometimes
translates a Hebrew word (yahid) that clearly means "only."
Similarly, the Sahidic Coptic version translates MONOGENHS by the
Coptic word for "only" (nouwt). Perhaps "begotten" was understood,
though not expressed, especially in the context of human
relationships.” [source - "Solomon" Awohili@aol.com bar_enosh, Date: Thu Mar 5, 2009 10:09 am ((PST))]>>>.
LINGUISTIC USAGE
Richard Longenecker, in “The One and Only Son” said,
<<<”…The word monogenēs, with its variants mounogeneia (an early feminine poetic form) and mounogonos (a later masculine form), occurs first in extant Greek literature in the writings of the eighth-century B.C. poet Hesiod. Thereafter it appears in the work of such diverse authors as Parmenides, Aeschylus, Plato, Herodotus, Apollonius Rhodius, and Antoninus Liberalis, as well as in the Orphic Hymns. It also appears in a number of Greek papyri and inscriptions.2 Literally monogenēs means “sole descent” or “the only child of one’s parents.” It is a stronger term than the simple monos, for it denotes that the parents have never had more than this one child. This is one way it was used by Hesiod (Works and Days 376; Theogony 426), Plato (Critias 113d), Herodotus (History 7.221), and Antoninus Liberalis (Mythographi Graeci, ed. F. Martini, II [1896], 32:1).
The word, however, was also used by Hesiod (Works and Days 374; Theogony 448) and the writers of the Orphic Hymns (29:2; 32:1; 40:16) in the sense of “peerless,” “matchless,” “unique,” “of singular importance,” or “the only one of its kind,” which ideas have more to do with quality than derivation or descent. The sixth-fifth century B.C. philosopher Parmenides spoke of Being as “ungenerated [agenēton], imperishable, whole, unique [monogenēs], and without end” (Frag. 8.3-4), thereby ignoring—particularly in parallel with agenēton—any idea of generation in the word as might be found etymologically in genos. In the early fifth century, Aeschylus has Queen Clytaemestra, in mocking welcome, hail her husband, King Agamemnon, as monogenēs teknon patri (Agamemnon 898)—which must mean something like “the favored or chosen child of his father,” Atreus—and not the only child of Atreus, since Menelaus was also a son of Atreus, and Agamemnon’s brother. Plato, in arguing that the Creator (ho poiōn kosmous) did not make two or more heavens but one heaven only, strengthens his insistence on “one” by writing heis hode monogenēs ouranos (Timaeus 31b). And in the magical papyri, the term monogenēs often appears as part of the title of the deity invoked: theos, ho monogenēs or ho heis monogenēs, which translates as “God, the Incomparable One” or “The One Incomparable”—though, as is evident from the context, not a god who is alone of its kind.
Likewise the LXX and various Jewish writings in Greek use monogenēs in more than one way. The LXX translates yāhîd in Judges 11:34 by monogenēs, and so identifies Jephthah’s daughter as Jephthah’s only child. And this stress on “sole descent” or “the only child of one’s parents” is uppermost in the use of the word for Raquel’s daughter in Tobit 6:14 and 8:16 (cf. Pseudo-Philo 39:11). But the idea of sole descent gave rise to more general meanings for the term as well, depending on the context. So in Psalms 25:16 and 68:6 (Lxx) the idea of “the only one” is nuanced to mean “desolate” or “solitary” or “all alone” (NIV, “lonely”); while in Psalms 22:20 and 35:17 (Lxx), tēn mnonogenē mou is set in parallel fashion to tēn psychēn mou to signify one’s “priceless and irreplaceable” life (NIV, “my precious life”).
Further, in Genesis 22:2, 12, 16, and Jubilees 18:2, 11, 15 (possibly also Jos. Antiq. 1:222), monogenēs is used of Isaac in the sense of Abraham’s “favored,” “chosen,” or “unique” son, vis-à-vis Ishmael. It is also used in Josephus (Antiq. 20:20) in this manner of Monobazus’s son Izates (vis-à-vis Monobazus’s many other children), in 1 Baruch 4:16 of a widow’s son (vis-à-vis anything else). In Psalms of Solomon 18:4 and Ezra 6:58, Israel is referred to as both God’s prototokos and God’s monogenēs (cf. also Pseudo-Philo 39:11), which hints in something of an overlap of meaning between the two terms. And since the LXX also renders yāhîd by agapētos (Gen. 22:2, 12, 16; Prov. 4:3; Jer. 6:26; Amos 8:10; Zech. 12:10), there is the suggestion that monogenēs may also carry the idea of “beloved” or “best-loved….” [source – an article by, Longenecker in Barker, Kenneth, The NIV: The Making of a Contemporary Translation, Zondervan, pp. 119-126, 165-166.]>>>
And,
<<<”… The Greek word MONOGENHS is defined by lexicographers as single of its kind, only, or the only member of a kin or kind. (Thayers
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1889, p. 417; Liddell and
Scotts Greek-English Lexicon, Oxford, 1968, p. 1144) The term is used in
describing the relation of both sons and daughters to their parents.
The Scriptures speak of the only-begotten son of a widow who lived in
the city of Nain, of Jairus only-begotten daughter, and of a mans
only-begotten son whom Jesus cured of a demon. (Lu 7:11, 12; 8:41, 42;
9:38) The Greek Septuagint uses MONOGENHS when speaking of Jephthahs
daughter, concerning whom it is written: Now she was absolutely the only
child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.Jg 11:34.
The apostle John repeatedly describes the Lord Jesus Christ as the
only-begotten Son of God. (Joh 1:14; 3:16, 18; 1Jo 4:9) This is not in
reference to his human birth or to him as just the _man_ Jesus. As the
LOGOS, or Word, this one was in the beginning with God, even before
the world was. (Joh 1:1, 2; 17:5, 24) At that time while in his prehuman
state of existence, he is described as the only-begotten Son whom his
Father sent into the world.1Jo 4:9.
...
The angels of heaven are sons of God even as Adam was a son of God. (Ge
6:2; Job 1:6; 38:7; Lu 3:38) But the LOGOS, later called Jesus, is the
_only-begotten_ Son of God. (Joh 3:18) He is the only one of his kind,
the only one whom God himself created directly without the agency or
cooperation of any creature. He is the only one whom God his Father used
in bringing into existence all other creatures. He is the firstborn and
chief one among all other angels (Col 1:15, 16; Heb 1:5, 6), which angels
the Scriptures call godlike ones or gods. (Ps 8:4, 5) Therefore,
according to some of the oldest and best manuscripts, the Lord Jesus
Christ is properly described as the only-begotten god [Gr., MONOGENHS
THEOS].Joh 1:18, NW, Ro, Sp…” [source – MONOGENHS, by Mitchell Andrews]>>>.
CONCLUSION:
As can be clearly seen, “only begotten” as used in the inspired word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible, for Jesus (Yeshua) Christ has the meaning of ‘one and only,’ unique, etc.
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