The word 'begotten' has been used throughout the Bible to describe the sexual conception and birth of a human being. The genealogy of the Old Testament contains one begat after another to recount the generations of mankind. Thus the use of this word by the translators to describe Jesus Christ in John's epistle has caused many to conclude that Christ was also a created being. They conclude that at some time in the eternal past there was a time when the Father pre-dated the Son. However, in doing so they fail to recognize that in the text John is talking about "the Word being made flesh" and not about "in the beginning was God" (John 1:1).
The belief that Christ was a created being is called Arianism after Arius, an Alexandrian theologian (250-336 AD) who taught that Christ was a divinely created being. Arianism became such a divisive issue in the early church that it was one of the chief topics of discussion in the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). At that time Arianism was rejected as being heresy, but it persists today as a deviant doctrine in the Christian community.
The belief that Jesus was created stems from the interpretation of the Greek word, 'monogenes' which is literally translated as "only kind," "one and only," "unique," "precious," "one of a kind." We need to recognize that the use of this word is in the context of "the word made flesh" (John 1:14). Thus, the word 'begotten' is referring to His birth as a unique individual. He certainly was one of a kind in which His DNA was a combination of human and divine. In this sense He was God's only begotten Son.
Some have used John 1:18 to show that Jesus sprang from the bosom of a pre-existing Father. However, here again we need to examine the meaning of the word 'bosom.' This word is translated as "Nearest to the Father's heart" (NEB), "Closest to the Father" (CEV), "At the Father's side" (NIV), The SDA Bible Commentary defines the word as "an expression indicating the most intimate association possible. He who knows the Father best" (5 BC 905).
Conclusions: There is no scriptural evidence that the word 'begotten' refers to a creative relationship between the Father and Son "in the beginning" (John 1:1) or that in any way the Father pre-dated Christ. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." "And the Word was made flesh..." (John 1:1,2; 1:14). There is no doubt that Christ was a unique person and that he was beloved by His heavenly Father. Their relationship while He was here on earth was very close and personal as Father and Son. We have the privilege of a similar relationship as "begotten sons and daughters of God."
