So what is the difference between begotten and created in regards to Yahweh's 'son'?

Question

People make a big deal about begotten but isn't the same as being created? What's the difference and why does it matter?

Answer 1

People who only go by English translations of the Greek words for created and begotten will never get the hang of this. English is insufficient to convey the nuances of the Greek. English only has one meaning for begotten - sexual reproduction. That's fine when the Bible speaks of children being born to an earthly father (who 'begets' the child). No probs. But when Christ Jesus is spoken of as 'the only begotten of the Father [God]' the Greek word 'monogenes' has to be taken in its meaning of 'only one of its kind, unique, single of its kind, only.'

Needless to say, anti-Trinitarians refuse to do that, insisting it means Jesus had a beginning - he was created. Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and Muslims refuse to consider any other meaning. But the Trinity doctrine was careful to stress (when referring to Christ Jesus) that he was 'begotten, NOT created' because the early Church Fathers knew their Greek and knew the differences of meanings employed by the writers of the Bible! They also knew the Bible said Jesus was the Word, who was with God in the beginning, and who was God. God was never created. Neither was the Word. (John 1:1) 'By him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made' (vs 3). That verse alone proves Christ is not a created being!

The importance is crucial - the difference between begotten and created is immensely significant. If Christ's begettal meant he was created, then he is not God, and neither is he the Word of God as per. John 1:1. But if Christ being the ONLY begotten means he is above all else and all others because of his priority of position, that equates with him being God, the Creator.

Answer 2

Literally mongenes means: Mono (only) genes (generated)

Begotten is not an exact definition of the word, but is the agrees with the context,

Jesus at John 1:18 is the only generated god.

In Modern English created and generated are almost exactly the same.

The english dictionary: under begotten, means to beget or to cause to exist:

No matter how you say it, begotten, created, or generated.

The meaning is the same, Jesus was brought to life, thus he has a beginning.

Jesus is the firstborn of All creation, the beginning to the creation by God.


John 1:1-3, ‘In an ancient time, there was the Expression of a thought. This Expression was with God and the Expression was Powerful. He was with God long ago. Everything came into existence through him. Life came into existence through him and the life was the light of men.’

John 1:18, ‘The only-created god (gr. monogenes theos), who is the Father’s favorite [son], has explained him.’

John 8:58, ‘I tell you the truth, I existed before Abraham was born.’

John 13:3, 4, ‘And knowing that the Father had put everything in his hands, and that he came from God and was returning to God, he got up from the meal and laid his outer clothing aside.’

John 16:27, 28, ‘The Father cares for you, because you cared for me and you believed that I came as the Father’s representative. I am from the Father and I came into the world. I am also leaving the world and returning to the Father.’

John 17:5, So, now Father, glorify me beside You with the glory that I had beside You before there was a world.’

Colossians 1:15-17, ‘He’s the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (gr. protokos pases ktiseos – first/taken all creation). Through him, everything in heaven and on the earth was created, both the things that are visible and those that are invisible. Everything has been created through him and for him, regardless of whether they are thrones, or rulerships, or governments, or powers. He was before everything and everything came into existence through him.’

Revelation 3:14, ‘And write this to the messenger of the congregation in Laodicea, ‘This is what the Amen says, the faithful and true witness, the earliest creation of God.’

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Answer 3

Begotten can also mean "adopted", in a sense. Hebrew words don't translate well into other languages and so lose a lot of their original meanings when they are translated.

Israel is called "Gods Begotten"... meaning he made/created Israel (the nation). Later, in Psalms, God calls David his "Begotten Son"... I believe this shows that God chose David to rule over Israel (again, God's Begotten). I believe that is what was being linked in Jesus' case... and not so much to try to make him look like he IS God, but Chosen BY God.

I think they make a big deal out of it because they believe that Jesus is the only man of which God has called "Begotten" in the Bible. This isn't the case at all. They see all of the people who beget others and assume that's the only definition of the word, when Hebrew doesn't translate that way.

Answer 4

This is not that hard to understand.

"Begotten" implies of the same substances, so Jesus is made of the same stuff as God (i.e.: he is a part of God).

If you son is "begotten" then he is a human being like you, with all of the same attributes as you, because you two are made of the same genes.

If you "create" a robot version of yourself, it will be inferior to you in some respects -- a semi-human, by not a real human.

Jesus is God, mankind is the "creation". Got it?

Answer 5

Interesting question. But there is a good Biblical answer. Creation means to create. Jesus was already before creation. So he could not be created. Begotten meaning

Begotten
bē̇-got´'n (ילד, yāladh; “to bear,” “bring forth,” “beget”; denotes the physical relation of either parent to a child, Gen_3:16; Gen_4:18): Used metaphorically of God's relation to Israel (Deu_32:18) and to the Messianic king (Psa_2:7); (γεννάω, gennáō, “to beget,” or “bear”): generally used of a father (Mt 1:1-16); more rarely of a mother (Luk_1:13, Luk_1:57); used metaphorically of causing or engendering moral and spiritual relations and states (1Co_4:15; Phm_1:10); of the new birth of the Holy Spirit (Joh_3:3). Men who obey and love God as sons are begotten of Him (Joh_1:13; 1Jo_2:29; 1Jo_3:9; 1Jo_4:7; 1Jo_5:1, 1Jo_5:4, 1Jo_5:18; compare 1Pe_1:23). Used especially of God's act in making Christ His Son: “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee” (Psa_2:7) quoted in Act_13:33 in reference to His resurrection (compare Rom_1:4). The same passage is cited (Heb_1:5) as proving Christ's filial dignity, transcending the angels in that “he hath inherited a more excellent name than they,” i.e. the name of son; and again (Heb_5:5) of God conferring upon Christ the glory of the priestly office.
Commentators differ as to whether the act of begetting the Son in these two passages is (a) The eternal generation, or (b) The incarnation in time, or (c) The resurrection and ascension. The immediate context of Heb_1:5 (see Heb_1:3) seems to favor the last view (Westcott). The first view would not be foreign to the author's thought: with Heb_5:5 compare Heb_6:20, “a high priest forever” (Alford). The author of Heb thinks of the eternal and essential sonship of Christ as realized in history in His ascension to the “right hand of the Majesty” (Heb_1:3). And what is emphatic is the fact and status of sonship, rather than the time of begetting.
by:
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Answer 6

There is no difference if one reads the whole bible. There is a chapter where a geneology is shown and they are all begats, which is singular for begotten. Haha. Catholics want to believe that after Mary had Jesus she stayed a Virgin because its supposedly appealing in the bedroom. That Jesus came from Gods seed is likely by his examples of being able to stand against temptation, but that Mary also was able to is highly unlikely.

Answer 7

When you are studying the Bible, it is outright invitation to error to think that the English is sufficient to understand certain concepts and meanings of words. For the most part, New Testament Greek is used to decipher what certain words mean. This is and example of what I just wrote:


John 3:18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only BEGOTTEN Son of God.

Greek: Begotten
Strong's Number: 3439
Monogenes- adjective
1. single of its kind, only

1. used of only sons or daughters (viewed in relation to their parents)
2. used of Christ, denotes the only begotten son of God
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=3439&version=kjv
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Revelation 10:6
And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who CREATED heaven, and the things that therein are *, and the earth, and the things that therein are *, and the sea, and the things which are therein *, that there should be time no longer:

Greek: Created
Strong's Number: 2936
Ktizo- Verb
1. to make habitable, to people, a place, region, island
1. to found a city, colony, state
2. to create
1. of God creating the worlds
2. to form, shape, i.e. to completely change or transform
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=2936&version=kjv

Answer 8

'Created' means to bring into being. To "give rise to". Interestingly, one dictionary describes "begotten" or "beget" as to "generate", or "a belief that power begets power". God has power and his firstborn son was created with power. That was not the case for us. Along with that, the word "begotten" carries a deeper meaning than "creation". Its evidence of a very close relationship. As can be understood from what God ( Jehovah) said about his son. (Mat. 3:17).

Answer 9

Created refers to being born into our spiritual body. Begotten
means to be born of woman into our flesh bodies. That is what is meant by ," ye must be born again". That means you were born once in a spiritual body but this time you have to be born into a flesh body through woman or you won't enter the kingdom of heaven. So it matters a lot. Some angels are refusing to do that. They are satan and his followers. They have come here a different way and that is a no no. Read the book of Jude. It is only 3 pages if that. It tell of the angels that had left there jobs and place of habitation in heaven against God's will. These were the angels spoken of that came and seduced the daughters of the people in Noah's time. Let the wise understand.

Answer 10

Adam was created, as from the dust of the Earth

Jesus, was begotten, or beget, which is to procreate, or be the father of, or sire of.

You see, you were begotten by your father, procreated or produced through another.

If you need to, please always keep a dictionary handy, often one word will lead you to look up another, the best education you could ever have.....