FROM ONLY BEGOTTEN TO FIRST-BORN
God sent His only begotten Son to provide salvation for all of mankind. (John 3.16) Some heretical doctrines have arisen from wrongly interpreting the word “begotten”, as if it meant generated or that it had a beginning or birth, but this is an error based on the meaning of a translation and not the original. The original Greek word is monogenes, which has two distinct meanings. The first is pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship and the other pertaining to being the only one of its class; being unique in kind. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.
The Bible never refers to Jesus as the only son of God, as some translations have protrayed, but as the only begotten Son of God. The term “son of God” is not unique to Jesus. Angels were called “sons of God”, (Job 38.7), as was Adam, (Luke 3.38), Satan, (Job 1.6), fallen angels, (Gen. 6.2), and even all those who have been born again, (Romans 8.14). These “sons” refers to those who were directly created by God. But, Jesus is the “monogenes”; a class all His own. As John said: “He was in the beginning with God”. (John 1.2). He is before creation, above creation and is the second person of the Triune God.
God’s purpose in sending His only begotten Son is so that He would become the First-born of many brothers, (Romans 8.29), in the sense of Jesus being uniquely preeminent among the children of God. In almost every reference in the New Testament, the term brother is synonymous to believers. The Greek word for “first-born” is “prototokos”. The ancient, Greek philosopher, Philo, used this word to mean archetypal and governing idea. In applying this definition to Jesus, He is the prototype, the pattern, or cornerstone. This denotes His status and character and not His origin.
Jesus is the first-born of all creation, (Heb. 1.6), and all His angels are summoned to worship Him. He is the first-born from the dead, (Col. 1.18), who brings resurrection life to all who believe on His name. He is also the first-born of among many brothers, (Rom. 8.29), thus becoming God’s culmination of grace in redeeming mankind from damnation. The only begotten Son, (unique in kind), is the first-born, (prototype), and head of His Body, the Church of the First-born, (Heb. 12.23). To this great company of believers, Jesus is their Lord and pattern, and all are to be conformed to His image.
Those who put their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, become part of the Family of God. You may be the only believer in your family, work or school, but you are not alone. God has set you apart. He has made you unique. His divine nature has been given to you and through you we wants to bring many others into His family. God’s purpose is to make you like Christ in order to create a great, redeemed humanity over which He will reign and be forever preeminent. You may be the first, but you are not the last. Follow the pattern. Let your life reflect the beauty and holiness of the Lord. Be filled and overflowing with His love and life, and you will see many others experiencing the wonders of His grace
Scriptures to meditate on:
John 1.1, 14; 3.16-18; Rom. 8.29; I John 4.9-10; Col. 1.18