Addressing the topic of the “eternally begotten” Son requires careful clarification. To grasp the concept is difficult, but especially when one does not understand the meaning of “begotten”, and how that can be used alongside “eternal” without being contradictory. On the surface, it is not surprising that the term “begotten” itself can be assumed to refer to a specific moment of birth or creation. Some Christological heresies directly connect to this, in that they claim Christ is exclusively human, or at the least a created being (Ebionitism, Arianism, Socinianism). The doctrine of the “eternally begotten” Son not only refutes these Christological heresies, but also pits itself against Trinitarian heresies. Historical creeds and confessions seek to correct these errors, such as the Niceno-Constantinopolitan or Nicene Creed. It claims that Christ is “the only begotten Son of God…begotten of His Father before all worlds…begotten, not made”.[1] These creeds helpfully articulate the doctrine, though not as if it was simply invented by men.
“Begotten” is an term that can be found in probably the most well-known Bible verse of all time; John 3:16. Modern translations often translate it as simply ‘only’ or ‘one and only’, and the difficulty in translating into English is due to the complexity of the word’s meaning. μονογενοῦς or ‘monogenēs’ is best understood as meaning ‘unique’ or ‘one of a kind’. By saying that God sent His only begotten Son, it means that God sent His incomparably unique Son. Essentially, it places Christ in an entirely other category, never to be shared. It describes a unique relationship with the Father, with the attributes and nature of the Son perfectly reflecting His Father. This relationship with the Father is perhaps the most crucial aspect of this doctrine. Every related truth extends from this root reality. The divinity of Christ, the Triunity of God, and our sonship in Christ are all examples of the importance of Christ being the begotten Son. The phrase should include both words ‘eternal’ and ‘begotten’, but no inherit meaning is lost when only ‘begotten’ is used, since it still describes a doctrine that cannot but include the reality of eternality, among so many other features. The Son must be begotten to be the Son at all, and to be all that the Son is! There is such profound depth in this, as Michael Reeves describes from the perspective of demonstrating love, “If at any time the Father did not have a Son whom He loved, then He simply would not be a Father. To be who He is, then, He must love. To be the Father means to love, to give out life, to beget the Son.”[2] Of course, this is not merely one-way and the relationship is not disjointed. There is perfect unity. The love of the Father is demonstrated towards the Son, but is likewise entirely present in the Son. Begetting carries the idea of such close connection that very attributes are shared. The begotten Son perfectly reflects His Father.
Much more could be said about the word ‘begotten’. The eternal nature of this begetting carries tremendous weight too, being the foundation of many glorious realities. It adds an even more mind-blowing dimension to the begetting of the Son. ‘Begotten, not made’ is another way of phrasing this, Christ being the uncreated One. The relationship of Father and Son is not only unique and perfectly united, but it has always been that way. There has never been a time when the Son was not, and therefore in the same way there has never been a time when the Son did not enjoy the fullness of His Sonship. He surrendered divine privileges through His incarnation, and suffered the Father turning His face away, yet the eternal relationship with His Father was never severed. There is nothing that can un-beget the eternally begotten One! The eternal aspect of this doctrine naturally infers divinity. Again, the begetting is such that the Son must be divine, but ‘eternal’ specifically supports that. It certainly separates lower-case sons of God from Christ as the Son of God. Wilhelmus Brakel puts it very well, “According to His Godhead, Christ is the eternal Son of the eternal Father by an eternal and incomprehensible generation, and thus He is called the Son par excellence (Heb. 1:3).”[3]
Thus far the focus has been primarily on the meaning of the doctrine. Turning to the implications and use of the eternal begetting of Christ provides more rich theological thought. Firstly, the Son must be worshipped simply on the basis of this doctrine, because it contains truths that declare His divinity. Not only that, but it goes beyond and should cause us to long to worship Him; He is uniquely related to the Father, and yet draws us close. The relationship between the Father and Son is a picture of how believers enjoy communion with God. Sonship is a theme that runs through Scripture, as Paul Twiss explores in Son of God and Son of Man.[4] The ultimate example is of course between the Son and the Father, but inextricably linked is the believer’s relationship to the Father through the Son.
This is one of the reasons that the doctrine is so important; it is extremely personal. As mentioned already, it refutes various heresies and false teaching, and positively teaches about Christ and His magnificence. But it also has serious implications for the personal reality of the Christian life. Christ is the only begotten, yet since He has won our redemption and adoption as fellow heirs, we can enjoy many of His benefits. Christ is the eternally begotten, and likewise draws us to eternal life and perfect security in our sonship. These realities regarding Christ, coupled with a right understanding of His roles regarding believers, ensures that Christians can be excited about their present and future state. With the foundation of the Son being ‘eternally begotten’, His roles as Prophet, Priest and King become fully realised and powerfully effectual. After all, there can only be true comfort and true confidence in One who is truly God!
Something that draws these things together is the way that this doctrine helps believers to worship. Colossians 3:16 speaks of Biblical truth strengthening worship, and deep doctrines like this surely provide yet more to worship God for. John 4:24 declares that God “must be worshipped in spirit and truth”, and the more accurately we can grasp these truths of God, the more precisely we can worship Him. Theologically rich “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” unite the heart and mind in worship that honours Christ. And when one seeks to understand fundamental yet profound doctrines like this, it demonstrates a heart that is positioned correctly to worship Him. And as I have sought to show, there is so much to be found in this doctrine alone which proves He is worthy to be worshipped. There is something in this which extends beyond what is often considered when thinking about and worshipping Christ, a dimension of depth that could potentially be forgotten even when His sacrificial death is considered. Modern secular scholars and historians are happy to accept that Jesus was a real man who lived and died, so how tragic it would be to only believe the same things to the extent these pagans do! Here is another way this doctrine shines; it offers a difference in understanding, even if on paper Christians and non-Christians hold to the same view. Both can say Jesus died, but believers know that only begotten Son of God is who the name Jesus is referring to. As mentioned already, the work of Jesus is only truly glorious and worthy of praise if He is eternally begotten. When we sing of the cross, we sing not only of the great pains suffered on our behalf, but of the eternal, spiritual victory and cosmic conquering that took place. The Son whom the Father loved perfectly and intimately from all eternity is our Saviour. Being able to make these significant claims and clarifications demonstrates yet again that this is a very important doctrine.
In conclusion, the doctrine of the Son of God being ‘eternally begotten’ is complex and profound, and crucially important. It is fundamentally connected to many theological realities, and has serious implications for the Christian life. Since it influences so many other basic truths, a thorough understanding of this doctrine will help to restrict false teaching and promote thoughtful worship. The doctrine speaks to the relationship between the Father and the Son, and how the Son can be truly God. It should be something that is well understood by all Christians, since it is addresses key aspects of the Gospel and leads to great confidence in who Christ is, and how we relate to God. May this truth be boldly proclaimed.
All Scripture references are from the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB).
[1] We Believe. Ligonier Ministries, 2023.
[2] Reeves, Michael. High King of Heaven. Moody Publishers, 2018.
[3] Brakel, Wilhelmus Á. A Christian’s Reasonable Service. Reformation Heritage Books, 1992.
[4] Twiss, Paul. High King of Heaven. Moody Publishers, 2018.