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Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About The Only Begotten Son And The Word Of God

Early Christians usually taught that Jesus is the Word of God and the only begotten Son, and they linked that belief to John 1 and related passages. Writers like Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Gregory Thaumaturgus, and Alexander of Alexandria speak this way across the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Some of them stress that the Son is distinct from the Father, while others use the same texts to say the Word is God and was with God from the beginning.

A few witnesses explain the Son’s generation in careful language, and several reject the idea that he was made like a creature or came from nothing. The overall pattern is broad and strong, though a few passages are only Bible quotations or later repetitions of the same teaching.

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Early Christian Beliefs About The Only Begotten Son And The Word Of God

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1 John 1:1 2 John 1:14 3 John 1:18 4 Hebrews 1:5 5 John 3:16 6 John 1:2 7 John 1:10 8 John 1:3 9 1 John 1:1 10 John 3:35

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23 references

Foundation Texts

John 1:1 primary

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Primary passage for the Word's preexistence and deity.

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Primary passage for the only begotten Son and incarnation.

John 1:18

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Primary passage for the only begotten Son in the Father's bosom.

Hebrews 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?

passage for sonship and begetting from Psalmic and Hebrews language.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Primary passage for God giving his only begotten Son.

Supporting Passages

John 1:2

The same was in the beginning with God.

John 1:2 continuation of the same passage.

John 1:10

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

John 1:3

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Supports the claim that all things were made through the Word.

1 John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

John 3:35

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Hebrews 1:2

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Supports creation through the Son.

1 John 4:9

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Affirms God sent his only begotten Son.

Matthew 11:27

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Direct Matthean passage about the Son and the Father.

1 John 4:14

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Supports the Father's sending of the Son as Savior.

1 John 4:15

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

Supports confession that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 2:23

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Supports the Son/Father relation in Johannine teaching.

John 6:46

Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

Supports exclusive access to the Father through the Son.

1 John 3:1

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Genesis 1:2

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Genesis 1:3

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Psalms 2:7

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Begotten Son passage used for sonship language.

1 John 5:1

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Supports begotten language for the Son.

James 1:18

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.