How Can Jesus Be the Begotten Son and Eternal at the Same Time?
This is a great theological question that touches on the nature of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity. The key to understanding how Jesus can be both "begotten" and "eternal" lies in distinguishing between eternal generation and temporal creation.
1. Jesus as the "Begotten Son"
The phrase “begotten Son” comes from verses like **John 3:16 (ESV)**:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (μονογενής, monogenēs), that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The Greek word monogenēs means "unique" or "one-of-a-kind" rather than implying a point of origin in time. It doesn’t mean Jesus was created, but rather that He is uniquely the Son in a way that no one else is.
2. The Eternal Generation of the Son
The doctrine of eternal generation teaches that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father. This means that His Sonship has no beginning—it is an eternal relationship within the Trinity. The Father has always been the Father, and the Son has always been the Son.
Some key Scriptures affirm this:
John 1:1-2 (ESV):
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
John 8:58 (ESV):
Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.
So, while human begetting implies a beginning in time, divine begetting is eternal. The Father eternally gives existence to the Son, not in a way that causes Him to come into being, but in a way that defines their relationship.
3. The Difference Between Created Beings and the Son
- Created beings (humans, angels) have a definite beginning.
- The Son is begotten, not made (as stated in the **Nicene Creed**: "begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father").
- His begetting is an eternal act within the Godhead, meaning there was never a moment when the Son was not.
4. An Analogy (Though Imperfect)
One way to think about this (though all analogies fall short) is how the sun always produces light. The light is always coming from the sun, yet it is not separate in essence. Similarly, the Son is always from the Father, yet He is co-eternal and of the same divine essence.
Conclusion
Jesus is both begotten and eternal because His begetting is not a temporal event but an eternal relationship within the Trinity. He is not a created being but exists eternally with the Father. This is a divine mystery, but Scripture affirms both truths simultaneously.