Troublesome Topic: ONLY BEGOTTEN

Here I will look at Michael Heiser’s theory about the origin of that Greek word.

Heiser’s argument, given on pg 36, says the Greek word monogenes is not from mono + gennao (only beget, only bear), but from mono + genos (one of a kind). He used this to say that Jesus is unique among the sons of God, but not “only begotten” because there were other sons of God who were also divine.

            Against Heiser’s comments, I say this:

The following trusted sources all indicate that monogenes is from mono + gennao and means “only begotten”: Bauer, Arndt, and Gingrich (BAG), Liddell and Scott, Moulton, Buchsel in TDNT which is usually called Kittel, Thayer’s (who indicates it usually means “only son with no brethren,” but also says it can mean “single of a kind”). One other source, Helps Word Studies, says it can mean “one-and-only” or “one of a kind”. So what Heiser says is not totally out of the question, but is definitely against the majority of scholars.

Gennao and genos are both from the primary verb ginomai which means “to become, to exist, etc”, therefore, neither one of them can be separated very far from the idea of “becoming”. The verb form gennao means “to beget, to bring forth, to give birth, to produce”. The noun “genos” also comes from ginomai and means “offspring, progeny, family, kindred, nation, kind, race”.  There are several options under genos other than “kind”, thus even if the proper compound is mono + genos, it could mean “one offspring, one progeny, one descendant”. To say categorically that monogenes means “one of a kind” is choosing only what you want the outcome to be and ignoring everything else. Heiser chose the unlikely and questionable rendering because it fit the worldview he was trying to force upon the Bible.

But even “one of a kind” still rules out others like Him. Notwithstanding, Heiser said Jesus was one of many sons of God, but he was special.

On pages 36-37 Heiser referred to Jesus as one of the sons of God, but a unique son of God, then on page 253 he calld Jesus the second, visible Yahweh and the divine rider of the clouds, which only can refer to Yahweh in the OT (p 251-252).

By so doing, Heiser caused confusion once again.

How unique is Jesus? Is He God, part of what we call the trinity? Or is he one of the sons of God and a member of the divine council who happens to be a special son and a special member of the council? Which is it. You cannot have it both ways at the same time.

Next go to WHO IS JESUS?