Jesus is said to be God's “only begotten.” Some seek to translate this as only “unique” son of God. Though this may be true, there are reasons to see this as a reference to Jesus being the heir. Jesus will be the heir of the nations and the new creation.
Psalm 2 makes a connection between the Son as God's “anointed” (he shall be “king” in “Zion”) being “begotten,” and the nations being his “inheritance.”
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." 7 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'" Psalms 2:1-9
Jesus being the “begotten” one is referenced in Acts and twice in Hebrews, quoting Psalm 2. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.' Acts 13:32-33 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? Hebrews 1:5 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You." Hebrews 5:5
There is a question as to when the “today” should apply. When did God beget his son? It could be 2 stages. In the resurrection, Jesus has all authority, and that authority at this time is in *giving eternal life. But the full manifestation of that authority will be when the **kingdom comes, and all nations will be under his authority as the second Psalm says.
If the begetting is about Jesus being the heir, then the “today” would speak of when his inheritance and attendant authority is received. It begins in the resurrection, but its full manifestation is the coming kingdom of God.
*1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. John 17:1-2
**13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14
No comments:
Post a Comment