Begotten not made

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When we Christians recite the Nicene Creed we declare:

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from True God.

(Extract from the Nicene Creed)

"Begotten" is a word that's found throughout the Bible from Genesis to the book of Revelation, in different languages, contexts, and most significantly with different meanings!

If we look up the dictionary for its meaning we find two definitions:

1 Procreation, (especially of a man) bring (a child) into existence by the process of reproduction

2 cause; bring about, or bring forth.

In the New Testament, the English word "begotten" is translated from the Greek word "Monogenes", which stems from "Monos" meaning alone (without a companion), and "Ginomai", meaning to become, i.e. to come into existence.

Today the word is an antiquated one that is seldom used in modern English. And when used about Jesus, the term cannot refer to being created at some point in time, simply because Jesus is Immanuel, which as you recall means "God with us in human form", and promised in the Old Testament.

Personally I find it easiest to understand the term as "brought forth" or entered into our earthly realm, in the sense of revealed uniquely- as the full incarnation, which means a person who embodies God in the flesh.

We, Christians, know that Jesus Christ is the only divine Son of God, who deserves our worship and praise, simply because we believe that he is the uncreated essence of the Almighty. The only Son of God who entered our world over 2000 years ago on Christmas day as a helpless babe to save us from our sins.

John tells us in the very first verse of his Gospel that the Word (Jesus) eternally existed with the Father who was sent from Heaven into our world to dwell among us.

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 1:14

The reason why the Almighty sent Jesus was simply because He created all of us and even in our fallen state he still loved us and wanted to make a way for us to return to a right relationship with Him as adopted sons and daughters through Christ.

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 3:16

Have a very peaceful Christmas, and as always, God bless,

Trev.