Only begotten son monogenes
In this study we are going to look at the Greek word μονογενὴς Monogenes. What does this word mean?
Does it mean only begotten or simply only, or unique or even one of a kind.
I shall give an example of its usage in the Bible. John 1:18. In the KJV we see this word translated as only begotten.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. KJV
Now the KJV most certainly wasnt the first English Bible to translate this word as only begotten.
The Tyndale Bible, the Coverdale, the Matthews, the Great Bible, the Geneva Bible and the Bishops Bible all rendered monogenes as only begotten.
The KJV is certainly not the last Bible to do so either. The BLB, NASB1977, NASB 1995, ASV, ERV and many others have also translated it as only begotten.
This is not a KJV only issue. Now, I won’t be dealing with the textual variant son or God in John 1:18, that has been done in another writing, we are only dealing with monogenes and how it should be translated in this verse, and other verses where it is found.
Many modern versions have gone away from this reading. They translate it in other ways, and with a different meaning.
The NIV reads ” one and only”
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. NIV
The ESV has “only”
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. ESV
The ISV has “unique”
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The unique God, who is close to the Father’s side, has revealed him. ISV
And the NET Bible has “only one”
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known. Net Bible.
So it is evident that many modern translators do not understand monogenes to mean only begotten.
So which is correct? Should it read only begotten, or one of the newer readings?
Monogenes is an adjective that is the combination of two Greek words Mono, meaning one or only and Genes which is derived from Gennao meaning to begat. Only begotten would most certainly seem to fit here.
However, there are, obviously, reasons why this reading has been rejected by many scholars today. I won’t get into the argument regarding modern scholars thinking they know Greek better than all those who preceded them and did think only begotten was the correct rendering. It wasn’t until the late 1800’s that people started to challenge the translation only begotten, this started with Westcott of Westcott and Hort fame.
It is now commonly argued that the Genes is actually derived from the Greek γενος meaning class or a kind.
One of the main reasons for rejecting this word as only begotten is the fact it is used elsewhere in the Bible, and clearly does not refer to the only begotten.
Abrahams son, Isaac, is called the monogenes son of Abraham in Hebrews 11:17
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, KJV
Here the KJV translates this as only begotten. However, Issac was not the “only begotten” son of Abraham, in fact, Abraham had a child, Ishmeal, prior to Isaac. Thus it is argued that it cannot mean only begotten.
However, lets just look at this logically, lets go with the reading of the NIV
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,
Well, Isaac was also not the one and only son of Abraham. So just as Isaac was not the “only begotten” son of Abraham, he was not the one and only son. Rejection of the only begotten son on this basis would not work.
Neither would the NEt Bible’s rendering “only son”.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son.Net Bible.
Isaac was not Abrahams only son. Jesus is also not the one and only son of God. Adam was called the son of God, the referents of Genesis 6:4 are called the sons of God and believers are also referenced as being sons of God.
This argument thus is self-defeating.
So we now need to look at the meaning of the usage of monogenes in relation to Jesus, Isaac and the other times that it is used in the Bible. It is used a total of 9 times in the New Testament.
The first time it is used is in Luke 7:12
Luke 7:12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her KJV
Here the KJV has translated monogenes as the only son rather than only begotten son. When we look at the context of this verse this is referring to the only son of the woman. There are no other sons. There is also nothing intrinsically special about the son beyond being the only son. Thus only son is a perfectly acceptable rendering, even if only begotten son would be just as accurate a translation.
Luke uses monogenes two other times
Luke 8:42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. KJV
Here we see it is again translated in the KJV as only one, this time in the feminine form because it is referring to a daughter, the only daughter, so literally only one daughter. Only one would therefore be an accurate and correct rendering of monogenes in this verse, even if only begotten would be just as accurate and correct.
Luke also uses it in Luke 9:38
Luke 9:38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child
Here, again the reference is to a literal only child thus only is accurate accurate in this verse.
All 3 of these verses are referring to a singular and only son or daughter. In these verses while only begotten would be correct, as an only child is in reference the only or only one is also a perfectly acceptable rendering.
However, when the word is used in reference to Jesus and Isaac, only son is not accurate. As we have already established, a one and only son is not what is in reference.
This is why only begotten son is a more accurate reading than only one or one and only
Isaac, while not being the only son of Abraham, was a unique son. He was the only son of the promise. He was the only begotten son in relation to the promise that God had made to him that he would have a son. Ishmael was not that son. He was the result of Abraham and Hagar and was never counted by God as the son through which the seed was promised. It was a promise to Abraham and Sarah, that Sarah would conceive and it would be this son that was the son counted as the begotten son. Sarah was barren and God opened her womb in order to bring about the son that God had promised Abraham. Only Isaac was counted as the son by God. Only son is incorrect, only begotten is correct and highlights the promise made by God and the only one counted as the begotten son.
Likewise while many are called the sons of God, only Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of the Messiah. Only Jesus was begotten from death. Jesus was begotten through the resurrection as stated in Acts 13:33
Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Jesus is the begotten son of God and is the only begotten son of God.
In the context of the promises and the fact of other sons, only son would be incorrect and only begotten is correct.
Even the Trinitarian Bible society acknowledges this creates a contradiction withing scripture.
Modern translations of μονογενης as ‘one and only Son’ (NIV) or ‘only Son’ (ESV) at
https://www.tbsbibles.org/page/Monogenes
If you liked this study please subscribe here
You can buy my books on Amazon there is a link here
Help me keep this site free for all. Join our Patreon membership
here
0 Comments