... I see the significance of an eternal Father/Son relationship. If you are willing to concur that that is the kind of relationship the Father and The Word had throughout, then I fail to see your hang up with calling it a Father/Son relationship.
My hang-up is primarily on Psalm 2:7 saying, "this day have I begotten thee," but also with the fact that the many references in Scripture pointing to Jesus as the son of God all point to his existence in the flesh as the son of man. Luke 1:35 also adds weight to my reluctance in that the angel speaks in future tense that Yeshua would be called the son of God because of the work of the Holy Spirit in creating the child within Mary. I realize that this might seem pedantic to some, but I do think having the proper terminology and perspective that lines up with the entire Word of God is helpful for keeping us pure in our understanding of things divine.
If it is true that the testimony of Scripture is that Yeshua became a son at his birth from Mary, then it does open up the consideration of a different level of relationship with the father in the past. It may be that his becoming son was a very significant event, more than what might be understood if the eternal sonship doctrine is held.
Bill Taylor wrote:
... the word "begotten" means in part "not made."
Are you aware that this same word "monogenes" translated as "only begotten" in passages like John 1:14, 1:18, 3:16, and 3:18 is also used to talk about Abraham's son Isaac in Heb. 11:17?
Adam Clarke is a theologian who takes Judy's position in this. He is pretty insistent that Jesus was not ever begotten except in the sense of his birth to Mary. Can you explain how "begotten" means in part "not made"? Is this concept something well established in the language, or is this some further tweaking of the words in order to make the text fit the viewpoint of eternal sonship? (Sincerely asking, guys. Please don't try and read between the lines what you think I might be trying to say.).
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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