Early Adventist Views on the Begotten Son

Yes, it is certainly true that the early pioneers taught that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God who proceeded from the Father in the remote ages of eternity, possessing a beginning of days prior to the creation of any other being or worldPTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1. This understanding of His divine sonship establishes Him as being of the very substance and nature of God, possessing all the attributes of Deity by right of birth and inheritancePTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+2.

The Nature of the Only Begotten Son

The pioneers held that the term "only begotten" describes a real relationship where the Son derived His existence from the FatherATO 128.1+1.

• A Real Origin: There was a point in the far-distant eternity when Christ proceeded forth from the bosom of the FatherPTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1.

• Distinct from Creation: Christ was not created like the angels or humans, but was begotten; therefore, He is of the same nature as God the FatherPTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+2.

• A Finite Comprehension: While He had a beginning, that time was so far back in the days of eternity that to the human mind it is practically without beginningPTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1.

• Scriptural Basis: This is supported by the prophecy that His "goings forth" have been "from of old, from the days of eternity" Micah 5:2.

The Priority of the Father

In the relation of Father and Son, there is a natural priority of existence assigned to the FatherATO 128.1+1.

• The Concept of Fatherhood: The very idea of Father and Son supposes that the Father existed before the SonATO 128.1+1.

• The Order of Nature: In the order of nature, the Father must have been before the Son, as the source and head of all thingsATO 128.1+1.

• The Gift of Life: The Father has "life in Himself" and has given to the Son to also have "life in Himself" John 5:26DAR1909 430.1+1.

• Supreme Authority: While the Son is equal in nature and character, the Father is the "only Potentate" in the sense of being the Supreme Ruler who is the ultimate source of all 1 Timothy 6:16ATO 128.1.

The Son’s Pre-eminence and Equality

Despite having a beginning in eternity, Christ is presented as being fully divine and superior to all created beingsLTJMB2 79.1+1.

• Inherited Name: He has by inheritance a more excellent name than the angels, which is the name of His Father Hebrews 1:4PTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1.

• The Express Image: He is the "express image" of the Father's person and the "brightness of His glory," filled with all the fullness of the Godhead Hebrews 1:3PTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1.

• Joint Creator: He existed before the first act of creative power and was the agent through whom all things in heaven and earth were brought into existence Colossians 1:15-17ATO 128.1+1.

• Divine Equality: He was in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be equal with God, sharing the Father's glory before the world was John 17:5SLH 75.4+1.

The Mystery of the Incarnation

This divine pre-existence is what makes the sacrifice of Christ so valuable, as it was not a mere human or angel who died, but the divine Son of GodATO 125.2+1.

• The Word Made Flesh: The same Word that was with God in the beginning was actually converted into flesh to become a real substitute for fallen man John 1:1, 14ATO 135.1+1.

• Voluntary Humiliation: He voluntarily laid aside His glory and immortality to suffer death for the redemption of the world Philippians 2:9ATO 153.1+1.

• Creative Power in Redemption: Because He is the Creator, His work of saving man is a "new creation" accomplished by the same divine power that brought the world into being 2 Corinthians 5:17MEDM April 29, 1908, page 240.1+1.