Begotten
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9.6
Since the dawn of Creation there have been attacks on both the deity of Christ Jesus and the humanity of God in the flesh. An even greater attack has been against the right and the authority of God to rule in our lives. That attack began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were approached by the Serpent.
The responsibility for the Fall rests squarely upon the shoulders of Adam; however, it seems that most preachers would rather place it upon Eve with Adam becoming a doting lover who simply could not stand the thought of living the rest of his life without her. The Genesis 3.6 account more than suggests that Adam was with Eve when she ate of the fruit – it requires that he ate it along with her. When Paul explains this to Timothy, he says plainly that Adam was not deceived; however, Eve was in the deception and thereby was responsible in the transgression (“a willful stepping over set boundaries”). This was more than merely eating a piece of forbidden fruit – it was side-stepping the authority of God. This was an affront to the acceptance of the deity and sovereignty of God.
Possibly unwittingly, some sound believers have become partially culpable in such an attack. The Gospel of John primarily presents Jesus, the Word, as God in the flesh. From the beginning where he records that “the Word was made {“personally became”*} flesh,” he emphasizes the fact that the pre-incarnate God took on the form of a man and lived among us human beings. Jesus was the only “begotten” of the Father. (See Hebrews 10.5) Luke (Luke 1.35) further supports this when he writes under the inspiration of God’s Spirit what the angel said to Mary: “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born {“gennao” –“to be begotten, fathered”} of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
Jesus was more than “special” or “unique.” He was more than “one of a kind” – although He was all of that, He was and is much more. This was a union between God and His creation, Mary, whereby “that holy thing” would be called the Son of God – personally and physically born from out of God.
This is the essence of Isaiah’s prophecy. Isaiah says that a “child is born” speaking of the incarnation; furthermore, he says “a son is given” speaking of the bestowing of God Himself. He further explains who this Son will be:
1. Wonderful – “A masculine noun meaning a wonder, a miracle, a marvel. This word is used to represent something unusual or extraordinary.”**
2. Counselor – “A verb meaning to advise, to consult, to counsel, to be advised, to deliberate, to conspire, to take counsel.”** (Here it is an active participle indicating “someone counseling.”)
3. The Mighty God – this is a title given to the Son. He, Jesus, is the Mighty God.
4. The Everlasting Father – again, this is a title given to the Son. Jesus is co-existent with and co-equal to what is the God-head.
5. The Prince of Peace – the Son is the Ruler of completeness and soundness.
To trust Jesus is to trust God. No one comes to God except through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. (Acts 4.12) For in Jesus “…dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2.9)
The Babe in the manger was none other than God incarnate – the only begotten Son of God.
Trust Him! And Him alone!
* second aorist, middle deponent, indicative – The middle deponent personalizes the verb. This requires that the Word being made flesh did so personally, not figuratively or allegorically. The Word, Jesus, personally became flesh. ** The Complete Word Study Dictionary
© 1992 By AMG International, Inc.
Chattanooga, TN 37422, U.S.A.
Revised edition, 1993 Copyright © 2025 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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