Regarding John 3:16, which do you prefer?

"Only son", "one of a kind son" or "unique son".
μονογενής (monogenes) is highlighting the uniqueness of of the son. It is saying no other is like Him.


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Makes Jesus sound like a created being. It also misses what is at the heart of mongenes

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"only begotten son"

 

Some older threads here at Baptist Board on "Only Begotten Son."

 

But why? (Other than that is the KJV rendering)

 

Seems like around the middle of the 20th century or so, the tide turned toward translating monogenes as only, unique, or one & only. (RSV goes with “his only Son”) Prior to that only begotten held sway.

A few years ago Denny Burk wrote on the subject, particularly referencing the recent work of Lee Irons on the word monogenes. Burk: Deep in the Weeds on MONOGENES and Eternal Generation. Burk's opinion, for what it's worth, is that “Lee [Iron]’s argument will eventually carry the day. The evidence is overwhelming.”

To me it seems like a lot of people, unfortunately, are swayed one way or another based on their opinion of the the doctrine of eternal generation.

Burk's point about the Nicene Creed is intriguing, even though on the other side Doug Kutilek claims that “the Nicene Creed’s affirmation that Christ was “begotten but not made” (gennethenta, ou poiethenta) so much verbal nonsense.” Whether or not their theology is spot on, seems like the Greek speakers writing the Nicene Creed probably understood their own language.

 

If you had 2 sons but one died of an accident, you have one son now, and you can call him the only son or one and only Son.

But if you had only one son from the beginning, and now you have that son only, he is the only begotten son.

The reason why Heb 11:17 used Monogene for Isaac is because Isaac was the only begotten by the Seed of Promise though Abraham had 6 sons.

Eliyahu

 

This is not true. The fact that they have passed on does not negate the fact you do have another son.

 

Doesn't only Begotten though is used to actually denote his eternal existence, as being one with the father? Kind of tied into the prologue of John also?

 

I'd prefer "Only Begotten". It's consistent with the Nicene creed's saying Jesus is "begotten, not created".

 

Only Begotten
God has more sons (or children if you prefer). 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God... Also John 1:12 and as many as received Him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.
Believers are a "new creation, born again, and given the adoption of sons".
Begotten tells us why Christ unique.
Like post 16 said He was begotten not created.

 

TDNT goes with "only begotten" in John. That work has been accused of depending too much on etymology, but in this case I don't think it does. I agree with "only begotten" in John, and we used a Japanese equivalent for that in the Lifeline Japanese New Testament, 唯一生まれたご子息.

Back in the 1950's-1960's there was some controversy about the meaning of monogenes, and conservatives went with "only begotton" in those days. Maybe because of that, ever since I learned that some modern versions went with "unique," I've felt that was a weak word to use for Christ. We are all unique in some way or other. To simply say Christ was unique doesn't tell us how He was unique, but "only begotten of the Father" does specify His uniqueness.

 

Neither - monogenes means "one of a kind" or "unique."

"begotten" is a well known mistranslation
Jesus is not God's only son, because both Adam and every born anew believer is God's "son."

 

Ever heard of polysemy?