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V-30. John 1:18 The ONLY BEGOTTEN GOD!
The King James Version of the Bible says the only begotten “SON” but the New American Standard Translation of the Bible says the only begotten “God”. So what does John 1:18 TRULY mean in the LIGHT of the whole word of Almighty God? I will quote John 1:18 from 31 different English translations. I will also organize the different translations for you into THREE categories. The first category will be the translations of John 1:18 WITH the word “BEGOTTEN”. The second category will be the translations of John 1:18 WITHOUT the word “BEGOTTEN” which means that verse 18 would read in such a way that you can NOT interpret it any other way than as Jesus being “God”. You can still interpret Jesus being [A] God using only the context within verse 18. However, that does not seem to be the intended purpose of the “TRANSLATORS”. And thus, to me, I see category number two as being completely “BIASED” toward the doctrine of the Trinity. And then, in category number three, I will quote the translations that leave out the word “BEGOTTEN” but they translate Jesus as being the ONLY SON. And that to me, is also a little biased. For you see, WITHOUT the word “BEGOTTEN” Christians can argue that Jesus had no BEGINNING. And the doctrine of the Trinity MUST have Jesus having NO beginning or it is proven to be false teaching.
The first translation will be from the New American Standard Version that translates John 1:18 as the only BEGOTTEN “God”. This is the only translation that I will include a link to the website BibleStudyTools.com. You can also go to Bible Hub and Blue Letter Bible websites to read John 1:18 from several different Bible translations.
John 1:18 from the (NAS) New American Standard Version.
“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”
We will cover two questions in this study.
#1. Is this an accurate translation?
#2. Does this translation agree with the whole word of God?
The answer to question number 1 is yes, and no. Yes, there is a manuscript that translates accurately as the only begotten God. But, according to the Textus Receptus or the received manuscripts from which the King James Version is translated, the answer is NO, it is NOT an accurate translation. All the received or widely accepted manuscripts are translated as the only BEGOTTEN SON.
So then, should we trust the manuscript that was used to translate John 1:18 in the New American Standard Version of the Bible? I mean, does the translation “begotten God” AGREE with the WHOLE word of Almighty God?
The answer to question number 2 is, in my opinion, YES, I sincerely believe that Almighty God Yahweh has a Son whom He Himself highly exalted to become [a] God to sit on His throne AT the right-hand side of the Father. Let us read through the remaining 30 translations of John 1:18 so that you can see the DIFFERENCES as well as seeing what they ALL AGREE upon. And as you read these different translations please notice that they ALL AGREE on three things.
#1. All of these translations AGREE that no man has ever seen God at any time.
#2. All of these translations AGREE that Jesus is now AT the SIDE OF the Father which we know to be in heaven. So that means that there are TWO on the throne and NOT just Almighty God the Father ALONE.
#3. All of these translations AGREE to clearly identify the God that no man has ever seen at any time as being the FATHER and the God AT His SIDE as being His only BEGOTTEN Son.
#4. And most of these translations AGREE that Jesus revealed or made known to us the God that no man has ever seen at any time.
#5. But some of these translations can be interpreted as the Father SPOKE forth His Son into existence.
The Wycliffe Bible says the one begotten Son that the Father has TOLD OUT. Keep in mind that there were no commas in the original Greek text so the last part of John 1:18 could be interpreted as the Father DECLARED him, as is, Yahweh the Father DECLARED the end from the beginning the future of Him having a righteous Son to sit beside Him on the throne. But most Christians interpret the last part of John 1:18 as the Son clearly SHOWING us the Father. Personally, I can see both ways as being sound Biblical interpretations. Please keep these five things that are in AGREEMENT in mind as you read through these 31 different translations of John 1:18. I will quote the New American Standard Version again so that it will be fresh in your mind while you read the three categories.
John 1:18 from the (NAS) New American Standard Version.
“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”
CATEGORY ONE.
John 1:18 WITH the word BEGOTTEN.
John 1:18 from the Wycliffe Bible.
“No man saw ever God [No man ever saw God], but the one begotten Son, that is in the bosom of the Father, he hath told out.”
John 1:18 from the Darby Translation.
“No one has seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, *he* hath declared [him].”
John 1:18 from the King James Version.
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
John 1:18 from the New King James Version.
“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
John 1:18 from the American Standard Version.
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].”
John 1:18 from the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible.
“No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the Bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
John 1:18 from the Jubilee Bible 2000.
“No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared <em>him</em>.”
John 1:18 from the Tyndale Bible.
“No ma hath sene God at eny tyme. The only begotte sonne which is in ye bosome of ye father he hath declared him.”
John 1:18 from Young’s Literal Translation.
“God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten Son, who is on the bosom of the Father -- he did declare.”
John 1:18 from the Webster Bible.
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].”
John 1:18 from the Third Millennium Bible.
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”
In the following two translations, the Greek word that is translated as “BEGOTTEN” is translated as “unique” Son and as “God-EXPRESSION”. Both of these Bibles are paraphrased translations. They are not “accurate” translations but no one can deny the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus that was one of a king and unique only to Jesus. So while not being accurate translations, they do not directly contradict the Bible.
John 1:18 from the Complete Jerusalem Bible.
“No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father's side -- he has made him known.”
John 1:18 from the Message Bible.
“No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day. Thunder in the Desert”
In the following SBLG Greek New Testament, the Greek says begotten “God”. But I do not know what the abbreviation (SBLG) means. I do not know from which manuscript this Greek New Testament was translated.
μονογενής = BEGOTTEN
Θεός = God
μονογενὴς θεὸς = BEGOTTEN God
John 1:18 (SBLG) from the Greek New Testament.
“θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε · μονογενὴς θεὸς ⸃ ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.”
Here is how E-Sword defines the Greek word “monogenēs” pronounced “mon-og-en-ace”.
G3439
μονογενής
monogenēs
mon-og-en-ace
From G3441 and G1096; only born, that is, sole: - only (begotten, child).
Total KJV occurrences: 9
Here is how E-Sword defines the Greek word “theos” pronounced as “theh'-os”.
G2316
θεός
theos
theh'-os
Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very: - X exceeding, God, god [-ly, -ward].
Total KJV occurrences: 1343
Now, the Greek word “monogenes” is a compound word that comes from the two Greek words “mono” that means only, and “ginomai” which means generated, to become, come to be, cause to be, come into being, and to be brought to pass. Here is how E-Sword defines “ginomai”.
G1096
γίνομαι
ginomai
ghin'-om-ahee
A prolonged and middle form of a primary verb; to cause to be (“gen” -erate), that is, (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literally, figuratively, intensively, etc.): - arise be assembled, be (come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, be done, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.
And when we read the ORDER of the events in which Yahweh PROPHESIED them we can clearly see that Yahweh PERFORMED His own word of PROPHECY that came forth OUT FROM His own mouth to bring to pass what He IMAGINED to be in His mind and plan from the foundation of the world.
Please read Isaiah 9:6,7.
“For (Order of event #1 that has already been FULFILLED) unto us, a CHILD is BORN, (THEN comes Order of event #2 that has also already been FULFILLED) unto us a son is given: (Speaking of the HUMAN Son of MAN, Jesus as the Son given as the ONE sacrifice for the sins of the world. Yahweh provided His own Lamb that was slain in the mind of God from the foundation of the world. God chose His Lamb to be made inferior to the angels so He made the human race a little lower than the angelic beings) and (And THEN Order of event #3 is YET FUTURE and it is YET TO BE FULFILLED) the government shall be upon his shoulder: (Which is the WRATH of God executed by Jesus. That is WHEN the kingdoms of this present world will become the kingdom of God's dear Son to begin the 1000 year reign of Jesus) and ( And THEN will come Order of event #4 that is YET FUTURE and it is YET TO BE FULFILLED WHEN the government will be set upon the shoulder of Jesus IN the world to come, at which TIME) his NAME shall be CALLED Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, (Or more precisely, according to Hebrew 5:9, the Father of everlasting life or the AUTHOR of eternal life. For you see, it was BECAUSE, OF the Son of man, Jesus, obeying his God and Father's Will that Jesus made it possible for whosoever believes in him shall be saved. Jesus was MADE perfect and he BECAME the Father of eternal life AFTER the cross. For you see, the Son of MAN, Jesus, was GIVEN the authority and the power AFTER the cross to JUDGE and also to give eternal life to whomsoever he chooses. This is why Psalms 2 prophesies to kiss the feet of God’s Son whom He ordained to be his King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is also called) The Prince of Peace. (And, according to Revelation 1:5, Jesus is our Prince right now standing at the right hand of God. But at his second coming, Jesus will SIT on the right hand of Yahweh to rule and reign FOR Yahweh as the Lord of the Sabbath. And at that time, the kingdoms of this present world will become the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. And)
7. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Also, please notice WHO is doing the PERFORMING of His own spoken word of PROPHECY that came forth OUT FROM His mouth. It is Almighty God Yahweh the creator who is performing His own word. So to me, Jesus is the FULFILLMENT of the spoken word of PROPHECY. Jesus began as a THOUGHT in God’s mind as God's secret plan of salvation. Not just the salvation of mankind that He had not yet created, but also the RESTORATION of the entire universe back to being at PEACE having no WAR. God created the human race to put an END to evil. Please read the studies under the heading >>>WHY ARE WE HERE-IS GOD AT WAR?<<<
But for now, let us read the remaining translations of John 1:18 in category number two where there is NO word “BEGOTTEN”. And as you read these verses I want you to notice how these translations word verse 18 in such a way that you can not interpret it any other way than Jesus being God. So basically, these other translations in category two are interpreting John 1:18 FOR you as Jesus being God. BUT you can still interpret even some of the most “BIASED” translations that try and make Jesus be Almighty God Yahweh Himself as Jesus being [A] God UNDER and SUBJECT to his God and Father the ONLY TRUE God.
CATEGORY TWO.
John 1:18 WITHOUT the word BEGOTTEN.
John 1:18 from the Good News Translation.
“No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the SAME AS God AND is AT the Father's SIDE, he has made him known.”
John 1:18 from the English Standard Version.
“No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.”
John 1:18 from the Common English Bible.
“No one has ever seen God. God the only Son, who is at the Father's side, has made God known.”
John 1:18 from the New International Version.
“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”
John 1:18 from the New Century Version.
“No one has ever seen God. But God the only Son is very close to the Father, and he has shown us what God is like.”
John 1:18 from the New International Readers Version.
“No one has ever seen God. But God, the one and only Son, is at the Father's side. He has shown us what God is like.”
John 1:18 from the New Revised Standard Version.
“No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.”
John 1:18 from the Lexham English Bible.
“No one has seen God at any time; the one and only, God, the one who is in the bosom of the Father--that one has made [him] known.”
John 1:18 from the New Living Translation.
“No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”
The Bible does indeed, say that Jesus is called God but in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear can clearly see that Jesus was APPOINTED to become [a] God under and subject to his God and Father Yahweh who is the HIGHEST God OF Gods. So, I myself, do not have any real problem with the New American Standard Version translating John 1:18 as the only BEGOTTEN God with the exception that Jesus was not God DURING the days of his FLESH. But rather, the Son of MAN, Jesus, was BEGOTTEN to become a God AFTER the cross. Let us continue with category number three which again is a little biased in that they translated verse 18 WITHOUT the word “BEGOTTEN” which proves that Jesus had a BEGINNING. And all Christians agree that the only true God never had a beginning.
CATEGORY THREE.
John 1:1 WITHOUT the word BEGINNING.
John 1:18 from the Bible in Basic English.
“No man has seen God at any time; the only Son, who is on the breast of the Father, he has made clear what God is.”
John 1:18 from the Hebrews Name Bible.
“No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.”
John 1:18 from the God’s Word Translation.
“No one has ever seen God. God's only Son, the one who is closest to the Father's heart, has made him known.”
John 1:18 from the Revised Standard Version.
“No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.”
John 1:18 from the World English Bible.
“No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.”
John 1:18 from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.
“No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son- the One who is at the Father's side- He has revealed Him.”
John 1:18 from the Weymouth New Testament.
“No human eye has ever seen God: the only Son, who is in the Father's bosom--He has made Him known.”
The two translations below are the Hebrew translation and the Greek New Testament that we already briefly went over. I am assuming that the Orthodox Jewish Bible was translated from Hebrew. I believe that the New Testament was originally written in Greek but that does not mean that the Greek New Testament was never “TRANSLATED” into the Hebrew language. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew and yet we have it “TRANSLATED” into the Greek language. My point is that both of these two translations agree with the New American Standard translation that Jesus was begotten of Yahweh to become [a] God who SHARES Yahweh’s divine nature AFTER the cross.
John 1:18 from the Orthodox Jewish Bible.
“No one has ever seen Hashem [Ex 33:20]. It is Elohim the Ben Yachid [who shares the nature of Hashem, the Chochman Ben Elohim at his side, see very importantly Mishle 8:30; 30:4)], it is he, the one being in the kheyk (bosom) of HaAv, this one is Hashem’s definitive midrash (exegesis).”
John 1:18 (SBLG) from the Greek New Testament.
“θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε · μονογενὴς θεὸς ⸃ ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.”
θεὸν= God
οὐδεὶς= not even one (human person)
ἑώρακεν=seen, discerned, perceived
πώποτε = at any time, never
μονογενὴς= BEGOTTEN
θεὸς= God, as in [A] God under Yahweh seeing that Jesus was brought into existence BY Yahweh
ὁ= the
ὢν= being, to be, one to be, being one, is
εἰς= to or into (indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, fig. purpose, result)
τὸν= the
κόλπον= bosom which carries the meaning of being in a close intimate relationship
τοῦ= the, of the
πατρὸς= Father
ἐκεῖνος= the one there, that one, as in, the begotten God who came into being in the bosom of the Father, the only begotten Son
ἐξηγήσατο= DECLARED
Now, let us read John 1:18 using these meanings with the Greek words by each meaning.
“θεὸν= God οὐδεὶς= not even one (human person) ἑώρακεν=seen, discerned, perceived πώποτε = at any time, never. Μονογενὴς = BEGOTTEN θεὸς= God, as in [A] God under Yahweh seeing that Jesus was brought into existence BY Yahweh ὁ= the ὢν= being, to be, one to be, being one, is εἰς= to or into (indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, fig. purpose, result) τὸν= the κόλπον= bosom which carries the meaning of being in close intimate relationship τοῦ= the, of the πατρὸς= Father ἐκεῖνος= the one there, that one, as in, the begotten God who came into being in the bosom of the Father, the only begotten Son ἐξηγήσατο= DECLARED.”
Now, let us read John 1:18 using these meanings without the Greek words by each meaning.
“God, not even one human (Has) seen at any time ever. Begotten God, the one to be entered into the bosom relationship of the Father, that one DECLARED.”
It is this last phrase “that one DECLARED” which I want to focus on for the remainder of the study on John 1:18 to answer the questions.
#1. Is Jesus a begotten God?
#2. Is Jesus the begotten Son of God?
#3. Is Jesus BOTH the begotten Son of God AND a begotten God as well?
We already know that most Christians interpret John 1:18 as Jesus manifestly declaring who the Father is. But in the LIGHT of the order of the events that Yahweh PROPHESIED DECLARING the END from the beginning, John 1:18 could also be interpreted as the Father DECLARED that one to be entered into His bosom.
Here is how Bible Hub defines the Greek word “ἐξηγήσατο” pronounced “ex-ayg-eh'-om-ahee”.
1834 eksēgéomai (from 1537 /ek, "completely out of from" intensifying 2233 /hēgéomai, "to lead by showing priority") – properly, lead out completely (thoroughly bring forth), i.e. explain (narrate) in a way that clarifies what is uppermost (has priority).
And here is how E-Sword defines the two Greek words from which “eksēgéomai” is made up of in order to be a compound word.
G1537
ἐκ, ἐξ
ek ex
ek, ex
A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds), from, out (of place, time or cause; literally or figuratively; direct or remote): - after, among, X are, at betwixt (-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for (-th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, . . . ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with (-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
G2233
ἡγέομαι
hēgeomai
hayg-eh'-om-ahee
Middle voice of a (presumed) strengthened form of G71; to lead, that is, command (with official authority); figuratively to deem, that is, consider: - account, (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, think.
And one of the meanings is to deem, to consider in a specific way, and to IMAGINE TO BE. Please read the study “WHAT DOES PROVERBS 8:22-31 TRULY MEAN?”
We all know that Jesus said the Scriptures testify of him. We have already seen in the PROPHECY in Isaiah 9:6,7 that Jesus shall be CALLED by the name the mighty God WHEN the government will be LAID upon his shoulders in the world yet to come. And when we read the context that follows John 1:18 we can see that the Jews wanted to know WHO is the “Christ” that was prophesied to come. The Jews were not looking for Yahweh Himself, but rather, they were looking for the ANOINTED Prophet who was prophesied to come.
So to me, all the Scriptures point to Jesus as being the FIRST begotten Son of God who right NOW is the ONLY begotten Son of God. AND the Scriptures ALSO point to Jesus as a BEGOTTEN God as well who will reign as the God over the whole earth FOR Yahweh for 1000 years. And at the end of the Millennial reign of Jesus, he will commit the Kingdom back into his God and Father’s hand. Please read the study “ARE THERE TWO GODS?”
Below is a complete list of all the studies that I have which show WHY I no longer believe in the doctrine of the Trinity and why I can NEVER believe in the doctrine of Oneness. I assure you that every verse that SEEMS to be saying that Jesus pre-existed in eternity past has another meaning that does NOT contradict any other verses of Scripture in the entire Bible.
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.
For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1, In the BEGINNING!
And also read the study called D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
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Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
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Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century.
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