Hi MaricoG,

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This is tough to find the language, and maybe it is because it is beyond our understanding, but the Biblical verse says this:

1Jo 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

It does not say God sent His Son...but that He sent His only begotten Son. The Second Person of the Godhead, was never begotten! Only the man Jesus was...



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.

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?

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.

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The problem I have with making this a doctrine, is that it is a creed that was designed by men, not inspired by God, not part of sacred Scripture, who state Jesus is "eternally" begotten, when the Scriptures do not say, nor imply this, as far as I have seen. I see that God manifested Himself in the flesh, begotten of God, made Himself as a servant, born of a woman, in a man's body, to die for us. I understand from Scripture that this is the Word of God, the Second Person of the Godhead.



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.

I am enjoying the conversation as well. :) :) :)