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The Catechism of the New Apostolic Church
- Contents
- 3.4.1 The only begotten Son of God
- 3.4.2 The incarnate Word
- 3.4.3 Jesus Christ, true Man and true God
- 3.4.4 References to Jesus Christ in the Old Testament
- 3.4.5 Jesus Christ–the Redeemer
- 3.4.6 Majestic titles of Jesus
- 3.4.7 The ministries of Christ–King, Priest, and Prophet
- 3.4.8 New Testament references to the person and activity of Jesus Christ
- 3.4.9 Jesus' passion and sacrificial death
- 3.4.10 Jesus Christ's activity in the realm of the dead
- 3.4.11 The resurrection of Jesus Christ
- 3.4.12 The ascension of Jesus Christ
- 3.4.13 Jesus Christ as the head of the church
- 3.4.14 Jesus Christ as the head of the creation
- 3.4.15 The promise of Jesus Christ's return
3.4.1 The only begotten Son of God
The statement that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father (John 1: 14) is also expressed in the Second Article of Faith: "I believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God." This signifies that Jesus Christ is God's Son in incomparable and unique fashion. In this context, the term "only begotten" means that He has been begotten, not created, by the Father. "He is ... the firstborn over all creation" (Colossians 1: 15).
In John 3: 16, Jesus is described as the "only begotten Son [of God]". He is the one who can authentically bear witness to the Father. In John 1: 18 this is expressed as follows: "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."
The Son of God is not created, like human beings, nor can He be likened to the angels, whose existence also began at a certain point in time. He is without beginning or end, identical in essence to the Father, and therefore "begotten" from eternity. In reference to Psalm 2: 7, the author of the epistle to the Hebrews employs the term "begotten" in order to express the unique relationship between Father and Son (Hebrews 1: 5).