Topical Bible: Titles and Names of Christ: Only-Begotten

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The title "Only-Begotten" ascribed to Jesus Christ holds profound theological significance, emphasizing His unique and eternal relationship with God the Father. This term is primarily derived from the Greek word "monogenēs," which is often translated as "only-begotten" or "one and only." It underscores the singular and unparalleled nature of Christ's sonship.

Biblical References:

1. John 1:14 : "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." This verse highlights the incarnation of Christ, affirming His divine origin and unique status as the "One and Only" Son who reveals the Father's glory.

2. John 1:18 : "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known." Here, the "Only-Begotten" is presented as the one who fully reveals God to humanity, being in intimate communion with the Father.

3. John 3:16 : "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This well-known verse emphasizes the sacrificial love of God in giving His "Only-Begotten" Son for the salvation of humanity, highlighting the exclusivity and preciousness of Christ's sonship.

4. Hebrews 11:17 : "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was about to offer his one and only son." While this verse refers to Isaac, it draws a typological parallel to Christ, illustrating the depth of the Father's love and the uniqueness of the "Only-Begotten" Son.

Theological Significance:

The title "Only-Begotten" affirms the eternal generation of the Son, a doctrine that maintains that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, not created or made. This begetting is not a temporal event but an eternal truth, signifying the Son's co-equal and co-eternal nature with the Father. The Nicene Creed, formulated in A.D. 325, encapsulates this belief, declaring Jesus Christ as "begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father."

In the context of the Trinity, "Only-Begotten" distinguishes the Son from all creation and from believers who are called "children of God" through adoption. While believers are brought into the family of God by grace, Christ's sonship is inherent and unique, underscoring His divine nature and authority.

Christological Implications:

The use of "Only-Begotten" in Scripture serves to affirm the full deity of Christ, countering early heresies such as Arianism, which denied the eternal divinity of the Son. By emphasizing His unique sonship, the title upholds the truth of Christ's divine nature and His essential role in the Godhead.

Furthermore, the "Only-Begotten" Son is central to the redemptive work of God. His unique relationship with the Father is the basis for His authority to reveal God, to atone for sin, and to mediate between God and humanity. The title thus encapsulates the mystery and majesty of the Incarnation, where the eternal Son took on human flesh to accomplish the divine plan of salvation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

To Bishop Timotheus.
... and "Lord of all creation"; and that the names "Jesus Christ ... however, He was never
called either Christ or Jesus. ... He is called also by the titles which are ...
/.../theodoret/the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/cxxx to bishop timotheus.htm

That Worthy Name.
... Only Christ can give joy and comfort, peace and rest to ... think of some of the familiar
titles and names of that ... How these titles of our blessed Lord, what He is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/that worthy name.htm

On the Clause, and in one Lord Jesus Christ, with a Reading from ...
... And He is called by two names, Jesus Christ; Jesus, because He saves,"Christ, because
He ... the inspired Prophet Moses conferred these two titles on two ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture x on the clause.htm

Proof of the Catholic Sense of the Word Son. Power, Word or Reason ...
... when He was not,' and, before His generation, Christ was not ... but if He be less than
the names, yet He ... of the generation from the Father these titles are tokens ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/chapter iv proof of the catholic.htm

The Benefits of Christ Made Available to us by the Secret ...
... Here it will be proper to point out the titles which the ... full vigor of life, he hence
obtains the names of "Oil ... our minds are intent on the Spirit, Christ is in ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 1 the benefits of.htm

Then Returning to the Words of Peter, "God Made Him Lord and ...
... being a servant, to be King from being a subject, to be Christ from being ... n. 6):
but he here probably means no more than that names or titles which properly ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 4 then returning to.htm

On Christ.
... He is called by many different names, according to ... and the Resurrection: for all
these titles are derived ... are the Father's are also Christ's, certainly among ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen de principiis/chapter ii on christ.htm

To John the Oeconomus.
... But this common use of titles gives no offence to ... was made man, then He was named
Christ, then human ... of the Church, however, constantly used the names of the ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/cxlvi to john the oeconomus.htm

He Brings Forward the Witness of God the Father to the Divinity of ...
... pleased: that the addition of the titles might denote ... that the special character
of His names might support ... witness concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, when He ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xvi he brings forward.htm

Subject Continued. Third Proof of the Son's Eternity, viz. From ...
... on the other hand, O ye enemies of Christ, is not ... 15, note), they said that such
titles marked, not only ... the instance of Godhead only have the names Father and ...
/.../chapter vi subject continued third proof.htm