consistent in translating the Luke passages (Luke 7:12, 8:42 and 9:38): the children in Luke were definitely not of one being with their fathers! But why then do the KJV and NKJV translators use “only begotten” in Hebrews 11:17? Isaac was no more of the same substance of Abraham as were the children in Luke with their fathers. Nor can it be said of Isaac that he was Abraham’s only son – Ishmael and the sons of Keturah were also begotten of Abraham. The problem has a simple translation solution: translate monogenes (the word sometimes translated “only begotten” in the Kings’ Bible and the NKJV) in terms of relationship. The children in Luke each have a special relationship with their fathers. That is what makes their cases so pathetic and pressing: it is not that the fathers have only one child each, but that the filial love has only one focus. Clearly it is the unique nature of relationship that makes Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac so full of pathos. And in the same way John’s use of monogenes highlights the special relationship of Christ to the Father. It is a unique relationship: no other man has this relationship; and it is pathetic, for both Father and Son are committed to Calvary in spite of this relationship. “The thrust of its meaning has to do with Christ’s utter uniqueness. Literally, it may be rendered ‘one of a kind’ – and yet it also clearly signifies that He is of the very same essence as the Father.”170 Even if “only begotten” is used in John 3:16, the Christology of John 3:16 is obscure because the meaning of “only begotten” is obscure. “Only begotten” does not enhance or preserve the Christology. But John’s Christology is so clearly expressed in John 1:1 it cannot be obscured 15 verses later by replacing “only 170
John MacArthur, Re-examining the Eternal Sonship of Christ Grace To You – The Old Curiosity Shop, November 1999 (web-page statement at http://www.gty.org/)
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