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.