In Scripture, the words God chooses are very important – and we can learn much about the gospel from examining them. At this Christmas season, there is one word in particular that we’ve all heard but may have never studied. The word is “begotten”.
This posting is about the New Testament word μονογενής, which is most frequently translated as “begotten”. This Greek word is used 9 times in the New Testament and we can learn a great deal about the gospel message from examining the use of this single but very important word.
The word monogenēs is translated as “only begotten” six times, as “only” twice, and as “only child” once. Of these nine usages, Christ Himself is being referred to in five of them. What is so very interesting however is what God is referring to in the remaining four passages – and that’s where I want to focus.
First, here are the five passages with Christ in view:
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.
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.
Scripture uses this word in describing Jesus Christ, Who is eternal God and without beginning. A fair question one might ask is “What does God mean by saying Christ was the ‘only begotten’? Thanks be to God that we can let Scripture define itself as we examine it more thoroughly. Here are the remaining four times this Greek word is used – I encourage you to read the preceding and proceeding verses in each case to get the full context for the cited passages:
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.
Luke 9: 38 — And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
Heb 11:17 — By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son].
In each of these instances, the following traits are in evidence:
1. An only child is being featured
2. The child has died or is given up for dead
3. The child was raised or is rescued from death
See for yourselves. Each of these four passages serve as parables providing a glimpse into the gospel message. That message is that Christ is the only Son and that He endured the second death (eternal damnation) for all the people He came to save, and He arose again as proof that the price for sin had been fully paid.
To God Be The Glory for His inexpressible gift to us – and how throughout Scripture He repeatedly shows us the plan of salvation…if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.
Merry CHRISTmas everyone!
Posted by Jeff & Cindy 
Posted by Jeff & Cindy 
