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Jesus as the Only Begotten Son

In the Bible, the expression “sons of God” is used to refer to both angelic and human creatures. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is often referred to as the “Son of God.” It might be possible to think that Jesus was just one of many sons of God. However there is an expression which is applied only to Jesus and it clarifies that His relationship to God is unlike that of any other son of God.

Different translations handle the expression differently. The most common versions of the expression in English are: the only, the one and only, and the only begotten Son of God. These all convey the idea that His relationship with the heavenly Father is unique - one of a kind - there is no one else of either human or angelic domains which have a similar relationship.

In John 1:14 we read, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (KJV) In his first letter, John wrote this way: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (1John 4:9 NIV)

One Greek dictionary I looked at indicated that this expression was used of those who had no siblings and were thus the “only child” of their parents. Only children do seem to have a somewhat different quality of relationship with their parents than do those of us from larger families. It could be due to the extra time that they spend with adults. It might be because the parents are less distracted and so pour all of their available energy into them.

That is not what is significant here. The expression here emphasizes the divinity of Jesus. Even though both angels and humans are described as “sons of God,” they do not share His divine essence. We are not gods. Jesus is God. The one an only Son of God is unique in that He is part of the godhead.

This makes His path of humility to the cross positively arresting. This death, and only this death, could be of such surpassing value that it could open the door of salvation to all who believe. The death of any other “son of God” would not do. It would not be enough. Jesus asked His Father to change the course to Calvary if it were possible, but it was not. Only He could do what had to be done.

I’ll end these thoughts on Jesus in His unique relationship with God with the most common wording of the idea as found in, what some say is, the best known verse of the Bible. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Ron Hughes
© November 2007