Monogenes

[arapahoepark]

Lately, I have been hearing that Monogenes, the Greek word, does not mean begotten. What's the controversy surrounding this and what does this mean for verses like John 3:16 and Trinitarian theology? Quite an open ended qiestion I know.

 

[Romans922]

The controversy surrounds how the ESV has wrongly chosen to use "only" instead of "only begotten" in John 3:16.

 

[MW]

The following might be of assistance:

http://www.bible-researcher.com/only-begotten.html
http://www.bible-researcher.com/monogenes.html
http://www.bible-researcher.com/eternal-generation.html

 

[Bill The Baptist]

Perhaps "only begotten" is not the most precise translation, but it is certainly better than "only" or "one and only." Anyone who can use a Greek dictionary can figure this out.

 

[mgkortus]

Another excellent (modern) resource - this one from Charles Lee Irons:

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/lets-go-back-to-only-begotten

He advocates the translation of "only begotten."

 

[mgkortus]

Also, R. Scott Clark briefly commented on the matter in this post.

In short, sometimes translators create problems by doing too much to make the Bible accessible to the reader. The translator should accept the limitations inherent to the job. Sometimes translators become deeply convinced of the correctness of a theological explanation of the verse and it unduly influences the translation. That may be the case with the ESV’s revision of Genesis 3:16b and it certainly seems to be the case in the choice to render “only begotten” (μονογενοῦς) in John 1:14 and 1:18 (μονογενὴς) as “one and only” (NIV) or “only” (ESV). There are good linguistic reasons for following Tyndale (1525) the Geneva Bible (1559) by using “only begotten.” In the years since the NIV’s decision to revise “only begotten” to “one and only” that choice now seems faddish.

 

[MW]

Those who are open to many different versions effectively teaching different doctrines will be inclined to tone down criticism on this point. But the fact is, it is inexcusable. These types of errors were the result of a conscious departure from the translations of the reformation and from the stated principles of the reformation.

 

[MW]

From the Westminster Larger Catechism, answer 112. "The third commandment requires, That ... the Word ... be holily and reverently used in thought, meditation, word, and writing; by an holy profession, and answerable conversation, to the glory of God, and the good of ourselves, and others."

From answer 113. "The sins forbidden in the third commandment are ... misinterpreting, misapplying, or any way perverting the Word, or any part of it; to profane jests, curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or the maintaining of false doctrines."