The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-T, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 22."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1982. All Rights Reserved.

Question

How did Christ, who was the second person of the trinity, with no beginning, also be begotten of God?

Answer

The answer to the question, I think, is found in Hebrews, chapter 1. The question is: How can Christ be the eternal God and still be begotten of God? I think, that basically there is a two-fold emphasis there, but you will note that it says in Hebrews 1, “God at sundry times and diverse manner spake in time past unto the Father by the prophets has these last days spoken unto us by His son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world,” and so forth. So, God has spoken by His son. In verse four, it says of the son, “He was made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (vs. 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 ”?  And again, (vs. 6) "...when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith,” and it goes on.

I think, the concept of Christ being begotten is not that Christ as a person was begotten, but that Christ as the incarnate one was begotten. In other words, He always existed as the second member of the trinity. From eternity to eternity He always existed. But, He was begotten in the sense that He was born into the world, that He took on a human form, and there was a begetting of an actual human being, the God-Man, the Lord, Jesus Christ. So, it is there in verse six "when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world." And, that has to do with the incarnation of Christ. And, that, I think, is the point of His begetting or being begotten, as it were, as a Son in the human sense.

Now, let me take you to step number two on that thought. I also believe that Christ is called the begotten, not only because of His incarnation, but because of His resurrection, He is called the first begotten from the dead. So, that He went into the grave and came out of the grave. He is the first begotten of the dead, not first in chronology, but first in primacy. Of all those that have been raised from the dead, He is the primary one. So, He is begotten in the sense of His incarnation. He is begotten again from the dead in the sense of His resurrection. And, that is not, in any way, to say that He did not eternally exist. For in John 17, He says to the Father, “I have finished the work you have gave me to do, now restore me to the glory I had with you before the world began.” And, there, He affirms His eternal nature.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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