Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 10/2/2006

Question
Was Christ begottng of the Father in heaven or was he only begotting on the earth? Was he without beginning, explain what Rev. 1:8 means.
Your fellow servant in Christ -- Ernie
Thanks for the time you give to our god.

Answer
Hi Ernest,
 

Thanks for this great question.  The term "only Begotten" is from the greek term  "monogenase"  which means of a unique orgin.  It does not mean born or concieved like a normal begetting.   Yes... Jesus is God and he has always existed.

Revelation 1:18
18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Jesus always existed... notice how God, and Jesus both refer to themselves:

Exodus 3:13-14
13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

John 8:56-59
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Micah 5:2
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

THis is a verse about the coming messiah, Jesus...he is from everlasting!

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don