Thrice Begotten: A Profound Revelation of Sonship
The Bible repeatedly affirms that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, yet there has been widespread disagreement about the exact nature of this sonship. Titles such as “only begotten Son,” “firstborn,” and “first begotten” have generated diverse interpretations, particularly within the framework of Trinitarian theology. This article seeks to explore what Scripture truly teaches about Jesus' identity as the Son of God by tracing three distinct instances where He was begotten.
Misconceptions About Sonship
Many Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God only in a metaphorical or functional sense. Trinitarian doctrine teaches that Jesus is co-equal, co-eternal, and the same age as the Father, thus denying any literal begetting. This leads to the assertion that Jesus never received life from the Father, but has always existed independently. However, such a view diverges from the natural understanding of what it means to be a “son.”
A son, by definition, originates from the life of the parent. The very term “begotten” implies that the life of the Father was imparted to the Son, bringing Him into existence. In nature, a son is of the same kind as his father and often equal in ability and value, yet not in age or origin. This principle holds the key to understanding Christ’s true identity.
The Trinitarian Redefinitions
To reconcile their views, Trinitarians offer various theories:
- Jesus became the Son of God when conceived in Mary’s womb.
- He became the Son of God at the resurrection.
- The title “Son of God” is merely symbolic or honorary.
- In classical Trinitarianism, Jesus is eternally begotten—a concept never clearly defined but regarded as an ongoing, timeless process.
Each of these views reinterprets sonship, removing its literal and familial essence.
Biblical Testimony: Three Begotten States
1. Begotten in Eternity: The Only Begotten Son
Jesus is described as the “only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14; 3:16). This refers to a unique event before creation when Jesus was brought forth from the very being of God. Paul affirms in Colossians 1:15–17 that Christ is “the firstborn of every creature,” a truth underscored by the statement, “by him were all things created.” This means His existence preceded all created things—because He was begotten before anything came into being.
This eternal begetting qualifies Jesus to be called the “only begotten” in the truest and most literal sense. His origin is divine, not created, but begotten—born of God’s own substance and nature.
Proverbs 8 provides a poetic and prophetic witness to this truth. Though personified as Wisdom, the passage clearly points to Christ, “who of God is made unto us wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Proverbs 8:22–25 says:
“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way… I was set up from everlasting… before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.”
“Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight” (v.30).
This shows that Christ, as divine Wisdom, was brought forth before creation—before the earth, before the deep, before the hills. He was not a created being, but begotten—a living expression of God’s own being. His eternal relationship with the Father is the foundation of His divine Sonship.
2. Begotten as a Man: The Second Adam
Luke 1:35 clearly states that the child to be born would be called the Son of God because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Unlike every other human, Jesus had no earthly father. His life as a man originated directly from God, making Him the second Adam. Yet in this form, He was not the only son born of God—Adam too had divine origin. Therefore, Jesus in His humanity is not the only begotten, but uniquely the last Adam.
3. Begotten from the Dead: The Firstborn of the New Creation
Hebrews 1:5 asks, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?” This verse quotes Psalm 2:7, which says, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”
The apostle Paul clarifies the timing and meaning of this verse in Acts 13:32-33: “And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”
This confirms that the statement refers specifically to Christ's resurrection from the dead. Paul echoes the same thought in Romans 1:4, stating that Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power... by the resurrection from the dead.”
Thus, Jesus was begotten from the dead—this was the third time He was called the Son of God. In this act, God gave Him new life from the grave, and Christ became the firstborn of a new, glorified humanity.
The Unique Sonship of Christ
Only the first begetting—from the Father’s own divine substance—qualifies Jesus as the “only begotten.” The other two begettings, though critical to salvation, are not exclusive to Him. Others will be begotten from the dead, and Adam also received life directly from God. Yet only Jesus proceeded from the Father in eternity, making Him unique.
This original Sonship:
- Establishes Christ as the perfect image of God (Hebrews 1:3).
- Qualifies Him to fully reveal the Father (John 1:18).
- Makes His self-sacrifice of infinite worth (Philippians 2:6-11).
Eternal Implications of His Sacrifice
The greatest question surrounding the sacrifice at Calvary is not simply the pain of the cross, but the extent of what God gave when He gave His Son. The traditional explanations—temporary suffering or loss of fellowship—do not convey the full magnitude.
When Jesus became a man, He did not merely wear a disguise. According to Philippians 2:5-9, He emptied Himself entirely and took on the form of a servant. He relinquished not only divine power but His original identity as the only begotten Son.
He entered humanity like any other person—unaware of His past, learning through faith and revelation. His divine character remained, but His divine memory and form were laid aside. This was not a temporary exchange. The Son of God became a man forever.
This act is unparalleled. God did not loan His Son. He gave Him. Forever. A divine being was transformed into a human—and though glorified after the resurrection, Jesus was not restored to His former identity as the pre-incarnate only begotten Son. He was exalted not as the Son of God by nature, but as the victorious Son of Man.
The True Cost of Love
This permanent identity shift is the eternal sacrifice. The loss was not only Jesus’ to bear, but also the Father’s. Their shared history—ages of perfect union—was surrendered so that the Son could become man, grow in faith, and conquer sin as one of us.
In doing this, Christ demonstrated a love and humility beyond comprehension. The Father yielded His only begotten. The Son relinquished divine memory and status. And together they opened the door for fallen humanity to become children of God.
What humanity sees as a momentary death was, in truth, the gift of eternal loss—a complete surrender of divine identity for the sake of human redemption. The Son was begotten once in eternity, again in the womb of Mary, and finally from the tomb—but only once was He the only begotten, and that identity He gave up forever.
Conclusion
The concept of Christ being “thrice begotten” reveals the depth of God’s plan. Each begetting was not merely theological theory, but a real, essential step for human salvation:
- First: The divine birth, establishing Jesus as the perfect Son.
- Second: The human birth, placing Him within the fallen race.
- Third: The resurrection, inaugurating a new, immortal humanity.
Only through understanding these phases can the sacrifice and love of God be fully appreciated. This is not mere doctrine—it is the heart of the gospel. Let every heart behold the Lamb of God, who was given in the most profound way heaven could offer.
“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...” (John 3:16)
Given—not loaned. Forever.