Monogenes

Captured by the term 'ONLY BEGOTTEN' in the first verses of the first chapter of the gospel written by John. It was buzzing around my mind last Wednesday as I tried to peer into the depths of what this term means. It is the greek word μονογενης (monogenes) and it is used only of Jesus as a Son of God. You see in one sense we are the 'sons of God' maybe in an even more dynamic way if we are 'born-again' but Christ alone is the μονογενης.

This may seem irrelevant to those who still dare to look into the entries posted here, but I will try ground it with this reflection.

A few of us travelled to Canterbury University on Sunday evening where Matt Hosier did a brief presentation for about 60 students on Christian Ethics in contrast to the ethics brought about by alternate secular viewpoints. After the presentation there was a question time and it was in this brief period that it became abundantly clear that this μονογενης attribute of Christ- the fact that He stands alone as the eternally begotten Son of the Eternal Father, equal with God and unique in every way- is exceedingly unacceptable in a pluralistic society. There was no putting down of our desire to be known as Christians who wanted to live out a Christian Ethic most perfectly displayed by Christ; it was when we said that Christ claimed a uniqueness which in turn demanded His being seen as God incarnate and the sole example of how to live life that people got upset.

Pluralism allows us to wallow in this place where all views are acceptable we are all 'sons of God' like Christ trying to make our way in this world. This term- μονογενης- does not. Christ as He is portrayed biblically will not tolerate pluralism. He is not like other religious leaders. He cannot be, He is the 'only begotten Son of God' the only person (really) that the adjective unique can be applied.