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NASB | John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:1 Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin) among the Jews, |
Subject: Was Jesus Christ, Son of God from start? |
Bible Note: Dear Andrew (Sibling of David) Williamson, Welcome to the forum! One of the difficulties in navigating the forum is noting the date on a post. The user vkey posted this question in 2001, and does not seem to have posted again since New Years Eve of the same year. Consequently, you may not receive a reply. :-) I think what you may mean is that the Son was not eternally Christ the Lord (Acts 2:36). The begetting of the Son is eternal. A lot of error arises when we think of begetting as a human function; i.e., as humans beget sons. God is not a creature, therefore, He begets according with His own uncreated, eternal nature. The begetting of the Son is just as eternal as the existence of God Himself. In other words, the Son has been eternally begotten, and is being eternally begotten, and shall be eternally begotten. You can see this doctrine expressed quite well in the Athanasian Creed. "The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten from anyone. The Son was neither made nor created; He was begotten from the Father alone. The Holy Spirit was neither made nor created nor begotten; He proceeds from the Father and the Son." These words are reflected in my own confession, the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, chapter 2 (Of God and the Holy Trinity) paragraph 3: "In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14), of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided (Exodus 3:14; John 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6), the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father (John 1:14, 18); the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son (John 15:26; Galatians 4:6); all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence upon Him." In Him, Doc |