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What Does the Word Begotten Mean?

Begotten. Not a word we use every day. And it certainly didn’t make the trending words list for this year. Nevertheless, begotten is theologically dense. It’s packed full of doctrinal insight. In what is perhaps the most famous verse in all Scripture, we read, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NASB). Many, like myself, hear the word begotten for the first time and think, “What does that mean?”

How one defines this word will say a lot about who they understand Jesus to be. It’s a word we can’t afford to misinterpret as many false teachers have done. Numerous wolves in sheep clothing have misconstrued begotten and heretically emptied Jesus of His divinity.

So what does begotten mean? In its literal sense, begotten refers to a child who shares the same nature as his father. False teachers have taught that the word means produced, made, or created. But think about it. If Jesus was produced, made, or created, He’s not divine. This is crucial. If words matter—and they do—then rarely has a word mattered more.

This word powerfully shows that Jesus shares the same divine nature as the Father. Begotten is meant to equate Jesus with the Father, not deflate Him before the Father.

Jesus’s divine nature has been defended since the early church. In the fourth century, a teacher named Arius taught that Jesus was a created being and refused to embrace the divinity of Christ. Emperor Constantine called together a group of bishops at Nicea to settle the Arian controversy once and for all. By the end of the council, the bishops had formulated a creed that rejected Arianism by strongly affirming that Jesus was “begotten, not made.” This wonderfully worded creed was meant to state with precision that Jesus Christ is Immanuel. God with us.

Reflection

I think if we’re honest, none of us as Christian’s feel like the perfect model. That’s why we need to keep our eyes solely on Jesus. So we can shine more for Him. Think about it. It’s hard to reflect Him if we don’t reflect upon Him. God wants to show Jesus to the world—through YOU! How cool is that? We are His image bearers. Take a little time today to reflect on Jesus and ask God to help you add a little extra shine to this lost and dying world.

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