Posted: 7/2/2016 9:37:49 PM EDT
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is "god gave his only begotten son" supposed to suggest a some sacrifice?
an entity can create everything known, but can have only one son? |
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Quoted:
is "god gave his only begotten son" supposed to suggest a some sacrifice? an entity can create everything known, but can have only one son? A man can have more than one son, but some chose to have only one. Could god not have chosen to invest in only one son? For the purpose of sending a messiah who would die on the cross, thus winning over billions of souls for that god? |
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you say:
is "god gave his only begotten son" supposed to suggest a some sacrifice?
please help this old gray head. are you asking if this phrase suggests: was it "...some sacrifice?" or, are you asking: "...a(re) some sacrifice(d)?" just askin... gotta understand your question in order to contemplate and answer it. 
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Quoted:
is "god gave his only begotten son" supposed to suggest a some sacrifice? an entity can create everything known, but can have only one son? You answered your own question with your question. Of course he could of had a million sons but he chose to have one and that one son died for our sins. That's the the importance of this, that he only had one son yet he still allowed his death so that we could be saved. Have you ever met someone with one child? Protective is a word that comes to mind. |
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I'll take a different swing at it...
Given that Jesus is part of the Holy Trinity - he is not entirely separate from God, but in a sense an aspect or manifestation of Him. So Jesus would not be part of God's power to create - unless His powers include the ability to duplicate Himself (of which no mention is made). Hence the significance of His sacrifice. |
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In regards to "only begotten Son", as in John 3:16: "Only begotten" is a term also used in Hebrews 11:17 in reference to Abraham putting his "only begotten son" on the altar - yet we know that Isaac wasn't Abraham's only son, even at the time (Ishmael was the other), but Isaac was unique in that he was the chosen vessel of God's will. This is further reinforced by the word "son" in Greek (huios, which isn't originally in Heb. 11:17, the word "son" is often added by translators), which refers to position as a heir or posterity, and not in the sense of genetic/blood origin. So "only begotten Son" is a reference to Christ's position and purpose in the Godhead, and not as a phase revealing His origin. The same goes for "the Son of God". These are not titles that imply Christ is a created being, which John 1 puts to rest. |
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Quoted:
is "god gave his only begotten son" supposed to suggest a some sacrifice? an entity can create everything known, but can have only one son? Yes it was a sacrifice. Who said He could only have one? He chose to reveal Himself that way and redeem His elect that way. I really don't think God was concerned about procreating. It was a means for salvation. |