Greek word - (monogenes G3439)
Quiz - Choose the answer that is closest to what you think ONLY BEGOTTEN is.
A - only begotten
B - only biological
C - one and only
D - unique
Problem - Outdated, Misused
KJV Example - "...he gave his only begotten son..." (John 3:16).
Explanation
This phrase is used by some people in a test to determine whether a Bible version is good or not. If the Bible version says "only begotten" in John 3:16, it is a good version. If not, it is bad.
But there are two problems with this test. Number one, their own Bible does not pass it.
The Greek word behind "only begotten" is monogenes. The Bible versions that have "only begotten" for monogenes in John 3:16, do not have "only begotten" for monogenes in Luke (7:12, 8:42, and 9:38). In Luke, they have only. Only is wrong.
This is an example of a common problem with many Bible versions. They are not always consistent or correct in their translating. Most readers are totally unaware of this.
If this Greek word is translated "only begotten" in John, it should be translated "only begotten" in Luke too.
Problem number two is that these people do not know what only begotten means. They insist on using the words, but they don't know what they mean. Sad. Why would anyone insist on using words and on other people using words that they do not understand?
What does "only begotten" means? You know what only means. But what is begotten?
Begotten is the past participle of an old English verb. Do you know what it is?
Think.
I will give you a hint, the second verse in the New Testament. It says, "Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob" (Matthew 1:2). Do you got it?
Begotten is the same as begat (begotten is the past participle form, begat is the past form, and beget is the present form - beget, begat, begotten).
Beget means to procreate or generate offspring, to give birth. The Greek word (gennao) means the same thing and shares a root with a whole class of Greek words that also have something to do with birth: words like, birthday party (genesia), birth (genete), something that is born (gennema), and descendent (genos).
So begotten means born and only begotten means only born.
If parents only have one child born to them, that child is their only begotten child. They may have many adopted children, but only one that was born to them. Today we do not say that the child is their only begotten child, or even their only born child. How do we say it? We say he is their only biological child.
God has many children. We are all children of God (Romans 8:16; Galatians 3:26). But He has only one biological child. There is only one human being who has God's DNA, Jesus.
Saying that Jesus is the only biological Son of God is consistent with what the Bible teaches. Jesus was begotten, born, of the Father (Psalm 2:7; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; 5:5).
When only begotten is used of someone other than Jesus, it means the same thing: only biological (Luke 7:12, 8:42, and 9:38).
In the Bible, only begotten is only biological.
Modern Synonym - only biological
Bible Version Tally (how other versions translate this word) - only begotten (14 of 50), only born (1 of 50)
Breakthrough Version - "...He gave His only biological Son..." (John 3:16).