Evangelical/LDS Dialogue Part 2 Jesus the Only Begotten

2. Biblically, Jesus is not the “first” of a long-line of spirit-children.

“If Christians everywhere only knew and believed that Christ was the Firstborn Son of a personal God in a pre-existent eternity,…” (What the MORMONS think of CHRIST, L.D.S. booklet, pg 36)

The Bible clearly teaches us that Jesus was from the beginning God.

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 -Rocky Hulse, Mormon Outreach

The New Testament does indeed identify Jesus as God the Father’s “only begotten Son.” While attempting to understand exactly what this phrase meant, however, it is important to note that the title was not always intended to be taken literally in antiquity. We know this by considering Paul’s statement regarding Isaac’s relationship to his father Abraham. In Hebrews 11:17 Isaac is titled as Abraham’s “only begotten son,” despite the fact that Abraham also had a son named Ishmael.

Additionally, the great first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, used this same terminology when describing the son of Monobazus (the king of Adiabene). Josephus recorded, “[Monobazus] had other sons by other wives besides [Helena]. Yet did he openly place all his affections on this his only begotten son Izates.”
So, what does “only begotten” mean when speaking of sonship in this kind of context? The Greek term mon-og-en-ace’ (commonly translated as “only begotten”) was intended to denote that a son was unique, special, and of particular endearment—which would set him apart from other sons.

Given these facts, we can ask the question, “Could this meaning also apply to Jesus’ relationship to God the Father, being unique, special, and of particular endearment, thereby allowing a belief which includes Jesus having siblings?” Certainly.