John 1:18 μονογενὴς
Posted: November 27th, 2018, 12:16 am
μονογενὴς Θεὸς Means "Only Begotten God" or "one of a kind God"?
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I wonder why no translator (I'm aware of) renders the verse that way? Some have "only", but that isn't exactly the same as "unique" or "one of a kind".Barry Hofstetter wrote: ↑November 27th, 2018, 11:32 pm If you search the B-Greek archives, you'll find that this has been discussed a number of times, such as:
http://www.ibiblio.org/bgreek/forum/vie ... tten#p6141
In the meantime, the answer is "unique, one of a kind."
NIV renders "one and only."Sean Kasabuske wrote: ↑November 28th, 2018, 7:45 amI wonder why no translator (I'm aware of) renders the verse that way? Some have "only", but that isn't exactly the same as "unique" or "one of a kind".Barry Hofstetter wrote: ↑November 27th, 2018, 11:32 pm If you search the B-Greek archives, you'll find that this has been discussed a number of times, such as:
http://www.ibiblio.org/bgreek/forum/vie ... tten#p6141
In the meantime, the answer is "unique, one of a kind."
Barry Hofstetter wrote: ↑November 27th, 2018, 11:32 pm In the meantime, the answer is "unique, one of a kind."
B.P. Harris, Studies in the Usage of the Greek Word Μονογενής As Found in the Gospel of John, the Epistle to Hebrews, First Clement and Other Sources Variously Translated as Only-Begotten, One of a Kind, and One and Only.Athanasius
Athanasius (A.D. 298-373) whose mother tongue was Greek, the great defender of the Faith up to, during, and after the Council of Nicaea says this:The first line above begins, “If then He is Only-begotten, as indeed He is, ‘First-born’ needs some explanation; but if He be really first-born, then He is not Only-begotten for the same cannot be both Only-Begotten and first-born…”“If then He is Only-begotten, as indeed He is, ‘First-born’ needs some explanation; but if He be really First-born, then He is not Only-begotten for the same cannot be both Only-begotten and First-born, except in different relations;—that is, Only-begotten, because of His generation from the Father, as has been said; and First-born, because of His condescension to the creation and His making the many His brethren.”229
In the Greek it reads:Now let me quote something he had said a few lines before this quote (with the appropriate Greek text), that will clearly show forth his understanding of monogenes.“Εί μὲν ουν μονογενής ἐστιν, ὥσπερ ουν καὶ ἕστιν, ἑρμηνευέσθω τὸ προτότοκος. εἰ δὲ προτότοκος ἐστι, μὴ ἔστω μονογενής πγ.”230And then let me quote one other statement he makes later,“ Ὁ γάρ τοι μονογενὴς, οὐκ ὄντων ἄλλων δελφῶν, μονογενὴς ἐστιν. ὁ δὲ πρωτότοκος διὰ τοὺς ἄλλοθς δελφοὺς πρωτότοκος λέγεται.”231
“For the term ‘Only-Begotten’ is used where there are not brethren, but ‘First–born’ because of brethren.”232What could be more succinct? Clearly, Athanasius understood monogenes to mean only-begotten. It could not mean “one of a kind,” or “unique,” “only,” “only member of a kin,” or “one and only.”“…who also is therefore the Only-begotten, since no other was begotten from Him.”233
“…ὁ διἂ τοῦτο καὶ μονογενὴς ὢν, ἐπειδὴ οὐκ ἄλλος τις ἐξ αὐτοῦ ὲγεννήθη.”234
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229 Philip Schaff, Henry Wace, ed., Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. IV (T&T Clark, Edinburgh; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI 1991) pg. 382 (Against the Arians, II, 58)
230 Athanasius, William Bright, St. Athanasius Orations Against the Arians (At the Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1884) pg. 132
231 Ibid., pg. 132
232 Schaff, op. cit., pg. 382
233 Philip Schaff, Henry Wace, ed., Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. IV (T&T Clark, Edinburgh; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI 1991) pg.434 (Against the Arians, IV, 4)
234 Athanasius, William Bright, St. Athanasius Orations Against the Arians (At the Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1884) pg. 225
He then goes on to say:For μονογενής designates in common usage, not ‘the one coming from a sole entity,’ but ‘the sole entity that is begotten.’
2.20 Μονογενὴς γὰρ οὐχ ὁ παρὰ μόνου γενόμενος, ἀλλ’ ὁ μόνος γεννηθεὶς, ἐν τῇ κοινῇ χρήσει προσαγορεύεται.
Basil treats the term as having a standard meaning, the lack of siblings, which argues against Eunomius' attempt to define the term as simply 'soleness of origin'.Not even Sarah was a mother of a μονογενής child, in that she alone did not produce him, but with Abraham. And if your opinions prevailed, the whole world would have to re-learn, that this name is indicative not of a solitariness in relation to siblings, but an absence of co-procreators.
2.21 Οὐδὲ ἡ Σάρα μήτηρ μονογενοῦς ἦν παιδὸς, διότι οὐχὶ μόνη αὐτὸν, ἀλλὰ μετὰ τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ ἐτεκνώσατο. Καὶ ἐάν γε κρατῇ τὰ ὑμέτερα, ἀνάγκη ὅλον τὸν βίον μεταμαθεῖν, μὴ μονώσεως ἀδελφῶν, ἀλλ’ ἐρημίας τῶν συντικτόντων δηλωτικὸν εἶναι τοὔνομα.
Yes, translating the Hebrew יָחִיד, yachīd, which also may refer to not having siblings. Maybe the Psalmist is upset because he has no brothers and sisters?