The Identity and Eternal Origin of the Son of God

Welcome to this Bible study on one of the most sublime themes of Holy Writ. Understanding the identity and nature of "the only begotten Son of God" is vital, for His divinity is the believer’s assurance of eternal life. 🕊️

The Identity of the Word

Before His incarnation, the Son existed as the "Word" (Greek: Logos). Scripture establishes that He is not a created being but is Himself God, existing in a distinct personality alongside the Father from the very beginning.

• Eternal Pre-existence: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God" John 1:1-2. The Greek phrase en archē (in the beginning) indicates that when the "beginning" of all created things occurred, the Word already was.

• The Creator of All: "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" John 1:3. Since He created everything that has a beginning, He Himself must be without a beginning in the sense of a created origin Colossians 1:16-17+1.

The Meaning of "Only Begotten"

The term "only begotten" (Greek: monogenēs) is used to describe Christ's unique relationship with the Father prior to His birth in Bethlehem. In the original Greek, this term signifies "unique," "one of a kind," or "only one of its type."

• Divine Nature by Birth: While angels are sons of God by creation Job 38:7 and we are sons by adoption Romans 8:14-15, Christ is the Son of God by a unique, divine "birth" or proceeding that occurred before time began.

• The Father's Express Image: He is "the image of the invisible God" Colossians 1:15 and the "express image of his person" Hebrews 1:3. As a Son, He possesses by nature and inheritance all the attributes, power, and authority of the Father Hebrews 1:4.

• From Everlasting: His "goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" Micah 5:2. The Hebrew term olam (everlasting) points back into the depths of eternity that finite minds cannot span.

Original, Underived Life

The most defining characteristic of the Son's origin is that He possesses life inherently. He does not depend on any outside source for His existence.

• Life in Himself: "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself" John 5:26. This "gift" is the communication of the Father's own self-existent nature to His Son.

• The Self-Existent "I AM": Jesus identified Himself as the God who appeared to Moses at the burning bush. "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am" John 8:58. By using the present tense ego eimi (I am), He claimed the name of Jehovah—the One who exists eternally Exodus 3:14.

The Unity of the Godhead

While the Son is a distinct person from the Father, they are one in substance, character, and purpose. This plurality in the Godhead was manifested at the very beginning of our world's history.

• The Divine Council: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" Genesis 1:26. The use of the plural "us" reveals the cooperation of the Father and the Son in the act of creation.

• Equal with God: He "thought it not robbery to be equal with God" Philippians 2:6. This equality was not something He seized, but His rightful position as the only begotten of the Father.

Summary of His Origin

According to the biblical narrative, the Son’s "origin" is not a point in time when He did not exist, but a divine relationship. He was "brought forth" or "set up" from everlasting Proverbs 8:22-25 as the direct manifestation of the Father's own glory. He is the fountain of life, and in Him is life that is original, unborrowed, and underived John 1:4.

May the Holy Spirit guide your heart as you contemplate the matchless love of the Father in giving His equal, His only begotten Son, for our redemption John 3:16. 📖✨