Return to Answer

What does 'begotten' mean in the context of John 3:16 and 4:9? According to the dictionary we have only two meanings:

• A. Procreate or generate offspring.
• B. Cause to be produced.

We have a logical issue in relation to Jesus' eternal nature. If A, then he is not eternally existing, and did not exist before bring born to Mary. If B, he is a caused entity and therefore did not exist before being caused to exist, and hence not eternally existing again.

Better minds may have an answer to this conundrum. We have the same logical issue if we take the Greek text of John 3:16 and 4:9 (as others have shown above) to mean 'only Child' or 'only Son' and look at the definitions of Child or Son.

What does 'begotten' mean in the context of John 3:16 and 4:9? According to the dictionary we have only two meanings:

• A. Procreate or generate offspring.
• B. Cause to be produced.

We have a logical issue in relation to Jesus' eternal nature. If A, then he is not eternally existing, and did not exist before bring born to Mary and God. If B, he is a caused entity and therefore did not exist before being caused to exist by God, and hence not eternally existing again.

Better minds may have an answer to this conundrum. We have the same logical issue if we take the Greek text of John 3:16 and 4:9 (as others have shown above) to mean 'only Child' or 'only Son' and look at the definitions of Child or Son.

Of course we could avoid the question by saying our languages are incapable of explaining Jesus' nature, but it seems such a crucial matter of faith ought to be explainable in words and not be so semantically and logically difficult.

What does 'begotten' mean in the context of John 3:16 and 4:9? According to the dictionary we have only two meanings:

• A. Procreate or generate offspring.
• B. Cause to be produced.

We have a logical issue in relation to Jesus' eternal nature. If A, then he is not eternal, and did not exist before bring born to Mary. If B, he is a caused entity and therefore did not exist before being caused to exist, and hence not eternal again.

Better minds may have an answer to this conundrum.

What does 'begotten' mean in the context of John 3:16 and 4:9? According to the dictionary we have only two meanings:

• A. Procreate or generate offspring.
• B. Cause to be produced.

We have a logical issue in relation to Jesus' eternal nature. If A, then he is not eternally existing, and did not exist before bring born to Mary. If B, he is a caused entity and therefore did not exist before being caused to exist, and hence not eternally existing again.

Better minds may have an answer to this conundrum. We have the same logical issue if we take the Greek text of John 3:16 and 4:9 (as others have shown above) to mean 'only Child' or 'only Son' and look at the definitions of Child or Son.

What does 'begotten' mean in the context of John 3:16 and 4:9? According to the dictionary we have only two meanings:

• A. Procreate or generate offspring.
• B. Cause to be produced.

I have a problem with both in relation to Jesus' eternal nature. If A, then he is not eternal, and did not exist before bring born to Mary. If B, he is a caused entity and therefore did not exist before being caused to exist, and hence not eternal again.

Better minds may have an answer to this conundrum.

What does 'begotten' mean in the context of John 3:16 and 4:9? According to the dictionary we have only two meanings:

• A. Procreate or generate offspring.
• B. Cause to be produced.

We have a logical issue in relation to Jesus' eternal nature. If A, then he is not eternal, and did not exist before bring born to Mary. If B, he is a caused entity and therefore did not exist before being caused to exist, and hence not eternal again.

Better minds may have an answer to this conundrum.