Alan Gross
Well-Known Member
I personally can't take Jesus' Eternal Sonship as "being birthed", by the Father, but only, " brought up with Him", as we understand the tender relationship and nourishing of the Son's togetherness and companionship, from Eternity Past, as it be properly fitting to Deity.
Also, with God the Son and God the Father being Co-Eternal and of the Same Divine Essence, for God the Son's Personhood or Deity, to be said to "begin" in some fashion as a "birthing", would be precluded.
As we see from Proverbs 8:22-29, below, from Eternity Past, God the Son says, "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way",
"I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was",
"I was brought forth", "When he prepared the heavens,
I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth", etc., as opposed to being "birthed".
Adapted from:
Proverbs 8 Bible Commentary -
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible.
"This chapter contains the instructions of Wisdom or Christ; showing the excellency of them, and the author of them, in opposition to the harlot and her allurements, in the preceding chapter.
"Christ, under the name of Wisdom, is represented as an herald, publishing the Gospel in the ministry of the word, either in person or by his servants, Proverbs 8:1.
"The places where this proclamation is made are described, Proverbs 8:2; the persons to whom, Proverbs 8:4.
"The excellency of the things delivered, being right things; truth, agreeably to the word of God, plain and easy to be understood, and of more worth than gold, silver, and precious stones, Proverbs 8:6.
"And then Wisdom, or Christ, is commended and recommended by his consummate prudence and knowledge, by his hatred of evil, and by his influence on the political affairs of kings and princes, Proverbs 8:12;
"and the advantages of those that are early seekers of him are pointed out; their enjoyment of his favour, of his riches, honour and righteousness; and their being led by him in right paths now, and inheriting eternal glory hereafter, Proverbs 8:17.
"And next follows an account of his existence from eternity as a divine Person, illustrated by a variety of phrases, Proverbs 8:22;
22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
In these verses we see Jesus being with the Father; and now of God the Father's great affection for Jesus, and complacency in Him, from Eternity Past, also, in Proverbs 8:30;
"Then I was by him", [as] "one brought up" [with him],.... He was then, and from all eternity, "by him," or "with him"; which denotes his co-existence with God, and his relation to him as his Father; his nearness to him, his equality with him, and his distinction from him:
"he was by him when the names of God's elect were put down in the book of life;
"he was by him and with him in the council and covenant of grace and peace;
"and so in the creation of all things, and has been ever since;
And, in no sense is Jesus ever to be thought of as "subordinate", to God the Father, because Jesus was with Him,
"not as a onlooker, but as a party concerned; and not as subordinate and inferior to his Father, but equal with him...Christ was set up in his mediatorial office, he was strengthened in it by his Father; and was in his view, council, and covenant, the man of his right hand, made strong for himself: the Targum renders it "faithful," so the Tigurine version; as Christ was to him that appointed him, faithful to all he promised and was entrusted with.
"Many translate it an "artificer" or "workman", as Nma in Song of Solomon 7:1; and so Christ was a co-worker, a worker with God in the making of all things, the heavens, earth, and sea, and all in there; not as an instrument, but as a co-efficient cause of them; which is a proof of his proper deity, and equality with God.
"But others think the word has the sense of nursing, or being nursed, educated, or brought up. Some take it actively, as in Ruth 4:16, Esther 2:7; and interpret it of Christ's nursing the creation, or cherishing, supporting, and preserving all creatures in their being when made; particularly of his nourishing and cherishing the church and people of God committed to his care.
"Others passively, of his being "brought up," as our version; and so the Latin interpreter of the Targum renders it "nursed up at his side"; which expresses the tender regard of his Father to him, as his begotten Son; in whose bosom he lay and was bore, as a nursing father bears his son in his bosom, Numbers 11:12; and by whom, as Mediator, he was trained up in the performance of his office";
All are suitable or proper in the circumstances of viewing Jesus' Eternal Generation, with God the Father.
"and I was daily his delight"; or "delights"; exceeding delightful to him.
"The Father loved the Son from all eternity, with a love of complacency and delight, John 17:24; this delight was founded in relation to him, in sonship; and in likeness, he being the express image of his person; in sameness of nature, he being of the same nature and perfections with his Father:
"and he delighted in him as a workman, in the works which he did, being the same he saw him do; and in him as Mediator, in his constitution as such, and in engaging as a surety, to obey and suffer in the stead of his people, Isaiah 42:1;
"he not only delighted in him day by day, throughout the six days of the creation, when he was by him as a workman, but before, and even from the days of eternity; from the date of his commencement as Mediator; in the foreviews of his human nature, obeying and suffering in it; and of the salvation of the elect by him, and of his own glory in it;
"rejoicing always before him"; being always in his presence, and acceptable to him; rejoicing in having the same nature and perfections with him, and in the relation he stood in to him;
"and also in the view of the works of creation and redemption he would be jointly concerned in with him; which joy always did and ever will continue.
"There is a mutual pleasure and delight which the Father and Son have in each other, and in all that they are concerned; and especially in what respects the salvation of the chosen people.
"The allusion in the word used in this clause is to children's playing in the presence of their parents; which is a diversion to the one, and a pleasure to the other."
The Eternal Generation of Jesus in One Word from the Scriptures.
How long was Jesus Eternally Generated and a Delight to God the Father?
"Always".
Then, we see Christ's wonderful delight and pleasure in the sons of men, Proverbs 8:30.
"And the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to them to hearken to his instructions; setting forth the happiness of those that wait on him in public ordinances, and find him; and the misery of those that hate and reject him."
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