The Son of God.    (Notes from Louis Berkhof pp43-44)

The Doctrine of God: God the Son.

The Eternal Generation of the Son.

Introduction.

Questions for Research and Review.

1. In what sense can we speak of the general Fatherhood of God? Look at these Scriptures! : 1 Cor 8:6; Ephesians 3:14-15; Hebrews 12:9; James 1:17 and also Numbers 18:22
2. Can you prove the Deity of the Incarnate Son? John 1:1; 20:28; Philippians 2:6; Titus 2:13; Jerm. 23:5-6; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:3; Rev 1:8; Colossians 1:17; John 14:1;                2 Cor.13:14.
3. How do the following passages prove the Personality of the Holy Spirit?;Gen: 1:2; 6:3; Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:8; Acts 8 :29; 13:2; Romans 8:11; 1:Cor.2:10-11.
4. What works are ascribed to the Spirit in Ps.33: 6; 104:30; Ex 28:3; 2 Peter 1 :21; 1 Cor 3:16; 12:4???

The Second Person of the Trinity is called “The Son” or “the Son of God”. He bears this Name, however, not only as the only Begotten of the Father, ( see Scriptures below)

Joh 1:14  And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.

We beheld his glory - This is a new proof of what he was affirming - “that the word of God became man.” The first was, that they had seen him as a man. He now adds that they had seen him in his proper glory “as God and man united in one person,” constituting him the unequalled Son of the Father. There is no doubt that there is reference here to the transfiguration on the holy mount. See Mat_17:1-9. To this same evidence Peter also appeals, 2Pe_1:16-18. John was one of the witnesses of that scene, and hence he says, “we beheld his glory,” Mar_9:2. The word “glory” here means majesty, dignity, splendor. Barnes Notes

The glory as of the only-begotten of the Father - The dignity which was appropriate to the only-begotten Son of God; such glory or splendor as could belong to no other. and as properly expressed His Rank and Character. This glory was seen eminently on the mount of transfiguration. It was also seen in His miracles, his doctrine, his resurrection, his ascension; all of which were such as to illustrate the perfections, and manifest the glory that belongs only to the Son of God.

Only-begotten - This term is never applied by John to any but Jesus Christ. It is applied by him five times to the Saviour, Joh_1:14, Joh_1:18; Joh_3:16, Joh_3:18; 1Jo_4:9. It means literally an only child.(the One and Only Son) Then, as an only child is especially dear to a parent, it means one that is especially beloved. Compare Gen_22:2, Gen_22:12, Gen_22:16; Jer_6:26; Zec_12:10. On both these accounts it is bestowed on the Saviour.

1.As he was eminently the Son of God, sustaining a special relation to Him in His divine nature, exalted above all human beings and angels, and thus worthy to be called, by way of eminence, His only Son. Saints are called His “sons” or children, because they are born of His Spirit, or are like Him; but the Lord Jesus is exalted far above all, and deserves eminently to be called His only-begotten Son.

2. He was especially dear to God, and therefore this appellation, implying tender affection, is bestowed upon him.A,Clark

Joh 1:18  No one has seen God at any time; the Only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Only Begotten : G3439 μονογενής monogenēs Thayer Definition:

1) single of its kind, only

1a) used of only sons or daughters (viewed in relation to their parents)

1b) used of Christ, denotes the only begotten son of God

Part of Speech: adjective

Only Begotten ISBE

ōn´li bḗ-got-´'n (μονογενής, monogenḗs): Although the English words are found only 6 times in the New Testament, the Greek word appears 9 times, and often in the Septuagint. It is used literally of an only child: “the only son of his mother” (Luk_7:12); “an only daughter” (Luk_8:42); “mine only child” (Luk_9:38); “Isaac ... his only begotten” (Heb_11:17). In all other places in the New Testament it refers to Jesus Christ as “the only begotten Son of God” (Joh_1:14, Joh_1:18; Joh_3:16, Joh_3:18; 1Jo_4:9). In these passages, too, it might be translated as “the only son of God”; for the emphasis seems to be on His uniqueness, rather than on His sonship, though both ideas are certainly present. He is the son of God in a sense in which no others are. “Monogenēs describes the absolutely unique relation of the Son to the Father in His divine nature; prōtótokos describes the relation of the Risen Christ in His glorified humanity to man” (Westcott on Heb_1:6).

Christ's uniqueness as it appears in the above passages consists of two things:

(a) He reveals the Father: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (Joh_1:18). Men therefore behold His glory, “glory as of the only begotten from the Father” (Dan_1:14).

(b) He is the mediator of salvation: “God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him” (1Jo_4:9; Joh_3:16); “He that believeth not (on him) hath been judged already” (Joh_3:18).

(c) Other elements in His uniqueness may be gathered from other passages, as His sinlessness, His authority to forgive sins, His unbroken communion with the Father, and His unique knowledge of Him. To say that it is a uniqueness of nature or essence carries thought no farther, for these terms still need definition, and they can be defined only in terms of His moral consciousness, of His revelation of God, and especially of His intimate union as Son with the Father.  

See also John 33:16,18 Galatians 4:4

Messiah is the Chosen of God.

Mat 8:29  They cried aloud, "What hast Thou to do with us, Thou Son of God? Hast Thou come here to torment us before the time?"

Mat 26:63  Jesus however remained silent. Again the High Priest addressed Him. "In the name of the ever-living God," he said, "I now put you on your oath. Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

Mat 26:64  "I am He," replied Jesus. "But I tell you that, later on, you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND of Omnipotence, AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY."

Joh 1:48  "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. "Before Philip called you," said Jesus, "when you were under the fig-tree I saw you."

Joh 1:49  "Rabbi," cried Nathanael, "you are the Son of God, you are Israel's King!"

Joh 11:27  "Yes, Master," she replied; "I thoroughly believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

He is the One and Only Son of God also by virtue of of His Special birth through the Operation of the Holy Spirit.

Luk 1:32  He will be great and He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;

Luk 1:35  The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the Son of God.'

His Special Characteristic as the Second Person of the Trinity is that He is eternally begotten of the Father.

Psa 2:7  I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.

Act 13:33  that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he raised up Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Heb 1:5  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son?

By means of Eternal Generation the father is the cause of the Personal Existence of the Son within the Divine Being.

The Works More Particularly ascribed to Him are works of Mediation.

1. He mediated the Work of Creation. John 1:3;10; Hebrews 1:2,3;
2. He mediates the Work of Redemption. Ephesians 1:3-14.