So yes, it has been a long time. For those who didn't know, which I assume is most of you, I just got a job as a theological writer for the Moody Bible Institute. My job is to answer questions that people write in with. I have to answer it from a Moody standpoint, which means that some of my convictions I have to step over and answer from strictly Moody's. Anyways, I think I'll post some of my answers here, and then add a little response from me.

Dear Diane,
Thank you for submitting your question during the 2010 Founder’s Week conference! We appreciate your dedication to the Scriptures and your attention to detail while listening to the Founder’s Week sessions.

In the Greek New Testament, “to beget” someone is to become their father. Like in Matthew 1:2, “Abraham begat (or “was the father of,” depending on translation) Isaac.” When it is used concerning Jesus, it is describing the relationship between Jesus the Son and God the Father.

The word became a very technical term in the Nicene Creed (one of the earliest statements about what a Christian must believe). The Creed says, “[We believe in] one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten from the Father before all the ages, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made…” This term is talking about Jesus’ relationship as the Son to the Father. “Begotten” is not referring to a single point in time when Jesus was conceived or made, but that, for all eternity, Jesus has been the Son of God.

“Begotten” also has the implication that the Son “comes from” the Father. Like Isaac “comes from” Abraham, or you “come from” your father, the Son “comes from” the Father. However, in Jesus’ relationship with the Father, there is no beginning to the relationship. Maybe an analogy will help you understand. Think of a star. A star is always generating light. As long as the star exists, light is proceeding from it. The same thing is true with the Son and the Father. The Son is always “coming from” the Father. The Father has eternally begotten the Son.

This term does not have to refer to physical birth. To help you understand the relationship implied in “begotten,” look at Philemon 1:10. The ESV reads, “I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.” The same Greek word for begotten is used here when Paul says, “whose father I became.” It’s obvious that this is not talking about Paul’s physical child. Instead, he’s talking about a relationship. It’s a relationship where the father has authority and the son submits to his will. This is the same relationship that Jesus has with God the Father. The Father has authority and the Son submits to His will.

We want to make it very clear that this relationship between the Father and the Son is eternal. Jesus has always existed as the Son of God. The eternal nature of Jesus is a hill upon which many Christians have died, and you are right in defending it. We urge you to continue in your study of theology, and we pray that God, “may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know the hope to which he has called you” (Ephesians 1:17-18).


JEREMY'S THOUGHTS
I had forgotten how confusing this might be for people, but this is truly a hill that Christians die upon. The "begetting" of Jesus Christ is what sets Christians apart from Jehovah's Witnesses, it's the battle that was fought in the early church with Arius. Jesus is the eternal Son of God, not referring to a physical birth, like God had relations with a woman, but strictly relational. The Father is the head of the Son, and the Son submits to the Father's authority. It's a beautiful thing, and one that shows us the value of submission. Jesus Christ submitted to the Father, it's not a menial or belittling task. We think of submission as being weak, but it's actually being like Jesus.