Saturday, January 21, 2017

IF JESUS IS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, DOESN'T THAT MEAN HE WAS CREATED AND NOT ETERNAL?





·       Psalm 2:5-8 (ESV) Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.”

These verses are troubling because they seem to say that, as the “begotten,” Jesus had been birthed or created and is not eternal and co-equal with the Father.

However, the context, as even the rabbis admit, will not allow us to interpret “begotten” as “given birth” as this term usually suggests. Why not? Because the Son is being addressed by God, when He says, “today I have begotten you.” He already exists!

Instead, in this context, “begotten” means “to be made God’s firstborn and consequently, His heir.” The next verse illuminates what it means to be God’s “firstborn.” God will make the “nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.”

This interpretation is further supported by John 3:16, Hebrews 1:5 and 5:5.

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