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Only Begotten
 : The
Greek word for "only begotten" is MONOGENAS.
It is used nine times in the New Testament. Five of the
nine times the word is used in reference to Christ (John
1:14,18; 3:16; John 3:18; 1 John 4:9). The other four
times it is used of other people (Luke 7:12; 8:42; 9:38;
Heb 11:17).
This Greek word does not mean "only begotten."
Its root meaning is "one and only."
It has the sense of unique or exceptional without the
idea of being first born. The emphasis is not on being
born but on being unique or special. Look at what happens
when MONOGENAS is used in Heb. 11:17 in reference to
someone other than Jesus Christ,
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. (KJV) Heb. 11:17 This
passage says that Issac was Abraham's only begotten son.
But we know that is not true. Abraham had two sons: Ishmael
and Isaac. But to say that Isaac was Abraham's "unique"
or his one and only in preference is true. Unfortunately,
the faulty English translation has not been corrected
except in some of the newer translations. So John 3:16
could be retranslated as,
For God so loved the world, that he gave his exceptional Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 |
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