ForgotPassword?
Sign Up
Search this Topic:
Forum Jump
Posts: 758
Dec 7 06 1:13 AM
Lover of the Word
Quote: by Brian: It depends on how you mean "begotten". If you're using it to mean "born", i.e. a beginning, then you are right. However, as I've said earlier, orthodox Trinitarian thought says that he was eternally begotten of the father - not referring to a birth or beginning, but instead of the special relationship of Father to Son - which existed into eternity past. In that sense, he was and is begotten.
Quote:Notice also that the text says "God sent his only begotten Son into the world" and not "God sent his only Son to be begotten into the world" - do you see the difference?
Quote:One more example may help clarify this point: Hebrews 11:17 says Isaac was Abraham's "only begotten Son". This can not be referring to the birthing of Isaac, because Abraham also had another son, Ishmael. Instead, the phrase signifies the special unique relationship had between that father and son, a relationship not shared with anyone else, not even Ishmael.
Quote:Yes, of course a Creed is not scripture. However, it is simply the church explaining its position, its understanding of the scripture. In other words, it appears in the creed not because the church wanted to add it to scripture, but because that's what the church saw the scripture as saying in the first place. I.e. "God sent his begotten Son" as meaning he was begotten before being sent (not just after), and thus since he had no beginning "eternally begotten" is simply the term to explain how he was begotten before his incarnation. Its simply a term to explain how he was the "Son" yet without a beginning.
Share This