Verse Study: Only Begotten Son?

 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 (King James Version)

Perhaps the most widely-quoted Bible verse among Christians today is John 3:16. In this passage, a man named Nicodemus, a respected teacher of Jewish religious customs, has come to Jesus to ask about his teachings. Jesus answers that one must be "born again" (or "born from above" or "Born in the Spirit" depending on the translation) in order to be "saved" - to obtain salvation from sin. Jesus summarizes his mission in verses 16 and 17, providing us with the oft-quoted verse that summarizes Christian theology - that Jesus is the Son of God who came to us to be sacrificed for our sins so that we may have eternal life with God in Heaven.

It occurred to me the other day that we Christians are so familiar with this verse that we often overlook the significance of one particular word. Read the verse again and notice who God sent - His "only Son", right? Look closer. It says "only begotten Son". 

So, what about this word "begotten"? What does it mean? Here we have an English translation of the original Greek word monogenes - "mono" as in "one" or "only" and "genes" as in "created by" or "born of". In essence, one could translate the phrase as "one and only Son uniquely born of God". To most of us, that boils down to simply "only Son". However, I believe there is another, deeper meaning.

I am the father of two adopted sons. As such I am keenly aware of both "biological" families - those uniquely "born of" a father and mother - and adopted families. While I share no DNA with my sons they are nevertheless fully and completely my sons, both legally and emotionally. Families with mixed biological and adopted siblings tell us there is no difference in the level of love the parents feel between their adopted and biological children. They are all their children - regardless of DNA.

So, how does this relate to this verse and our relationship with Jesus? Let's back up a few verses:

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. - John 3:3-8, King James Version

Here, Jesus explains to Nicodemus that in order to see Heaven, one must be "born of the Spirit". Think of it this way: Jesus, the Son of God, an eternal being, had to be born "of the flesh" - that is to come to Earth in human form (think Christmas) in order to become like us so that He could be a worthy sacrifice for our sins. As such He was uniquely "begotten" of God. However, we are temporal beings who must experience a spiritual birth ("of the Spirit") in order to become more like Jesus and receive Heaven. Therefore we, by becoming both physical and spiritual beings, become like Jesus and become "adopted" Sons of God! How marvelous that the Creator of the Universe, the Great and Almighty God would do this for us - to "adopt us into His eternal family!

And to think that we usually overlook this important truth!

This is not the only verse in the Bible where we can find this truth. Other verses include:

• Romans 8:14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
• Galatians 4:5-7: "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
• 1 John 3:1: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."

So rejoice, Christians! God has not only saved us through Jesus Christ but has made us part of the family! While Jesus is God's only begotten Son - the only one uniquely created by God's divine hand - we also are sons (and daughters) of God! What difference a single word can make.

- May God bless you.