Begotten

Begotten Son of God

Understanding and believing in the begotten son of God is essential if we want to have life in the coming age when Jesus returns.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (life in the coming age).   (John 3:16)

So, why is it so important to understand that Jesus was begotten?

Mary

The young woman, Mary, was chosen to be the mother of God’s Messiah.  She was not the mother of God.  God did not put Jesus in her womb, He miraculously created Jesus in he womb using her egg.  This was all done by His holy spirit.

When the angel told her about God’s plan, she asked how she could bear a son if she had not been with a man.  The angel’s answer was simple, it was by God’s power, a miracle.  Since God did the begetting, the child would be called His son.

The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most-High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.  (Luke 1:35)

Joseph

Then the angel appeared to Joseph, Mary’s future husband, and told him that a child had been conceived (begotten) in Mary by God’s spirit.  You can imagine his shock!  But God knew that he would be the right man to raise His son and Joseph agreed.

But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”  (Matthew 1:20)

Begotten, the Origin of Jesus

Jesus was created by God’s spirit in the womb of Mary.  If this was the beginning, or origin, of Jesus, how could he possibly have a second genesis, origin, or beginning prior to that?

The definition of genesis, origin, or beginning, means, the point or place where something begins.  The point and place that Jesus had his beginning, was in the womb of Mary.

Definition and understanding of the words “begotten.”

STRONGS NT 1080: γεννάω (gennaó ) to beget.  HELPS Word-studies – Beget (procreate a descendant), produce offspring

“To procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother)” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance).  The word implies “of men begetting children” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

God did the begetting because He was the one who created the child in Mary, but not by normal human means.

Jesus, Begotten by the Father

Jesus began in the womb of Mary.  God miraculously begat him and he was brought forth by Mary.  There was no “spiritual sex act”, no sperm from God, just a simple miracle, just like when He created Adam and Eve. 

The main point is the fact that Jesus was begotten or procreated by God.  Procreation focuses on the conceiving and bearing of offspring, in contrast to reproduction which focuses on the production.

“Reproduction is usually defined as the action of making a copy of something, or the production of offspring by sexual intimacy. … The idea of procreation focuses on the conceiving and bearing of offspring, while reproduction focuses on the production of offspring.” (Dykstra, 2013)

Human Descendant of David

Jesus has blood relatives through Mary.  His genealogy is traced back through King David, Abraham, Noah, and ultimately to Adam.

We know Jesus’ family tree. 

“…concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh…” (Romans 1:3)

At the Right Time in History

Jesus was created at just the right time in history.  God then commissioned him and sent him forth with purpose. ( “sent forth” BibleHub)

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.   (Galatians 4:4-5)

God has given Jesus authority and power to act on His behalf, just like Pharaoh gave Joseph.  Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ring so people would know that he was empowered and sent by Pharaoh.  Likewise, God gave Jesus His holy spirit and gave him rule and authority as well, but in the future when he returns.  He even gave him immortality.

He (the Father) gave to the Son also to have life in Himself. (John 5:26)

Although God gave Jesus this authority, Jesus still humbly acknowledged that everything he had, came from the Father.

Subordinate to the Father

So there would be no confusion, Jesus declared that he had his existence because of the Father and he willingly submitted to Him.  (We will cover this in another post.)

I live because of the Father. (John 6:57)

Jesus knew his place and he was willing to accept the fact that the Father was greater than he.  He let people know that all the miracles he did were because the Father gave him tha ability.

Begotten Makes Sense

Although the miracle seemed incomprehensible, it is no more incomprehensible than Adam, a human, being created from dirt, and Eve from a rib of Adam.  Jesus was miraculously created by Mary’s egg.

Pre-existence violates the God-made rules of logic and the Bible teaches no such thing, although there are other religions that teach a similar doctrine about their Gods.

Dykstra, L. (2013). Having Babies: Personhood or Product? CederEthics: A Journal of Critical Thinking in Bioethics, 12, 2. [https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/01ac/5fc8c43881c5ef088e114b7cd0e08769e7ff.pdf]