What Does it Mean That Jesus Was Begotten?

What Does it Mean That Jesus Was Begotten?

Throughout the Bible, we read that Jesus was begotten of the Father such as in 1 John, "By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him," (1 John 4:9 NASB1995). According to some, these verses prove Arianism. Firstly, let us learn what the word "begotten" or "μονογενῆ" means. According to the A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, the Greek word used means: "pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship," (Arndt). Based on this definition of the word, there is no conflict with the Trinity; in fact, this word further proves the Trinity by showing a specific relationship among God.

Works Cited:

Arndt, William. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2000.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.