Les Feldick teaches that the title 'only begotten Son of God' refers to Christ's resurrection, not to His birth at Bethlehem.
In Acts 13, Paul connects God raising Jesus with Psalm 2:7, 'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.' Les says the word 'begotten' in that verse points to the resurrection, not the Nativity. He also points to Romans 1:4, where Jesus is 'declared to be the Son of God with power... by the resurrection from the dead.'
Acts 13:33 — Paul applies Psalm 2:7 to Jesus being raised from the dead, directly linking the 'begotten' language to resurrection.
Psalm 2:7 — This is the verse Les repeatedly quotes: 'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.'
Romans 1:3-4 — This passage says Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.
The Bible uses the phrase 'only begotten Son' in John 3:16: 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' In Acts 13:32-33, Paul says, 'And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.' The quotation comes from Psalm 2:7, which reads, 'I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.' Romans 1:3-4 also states that Jesus Christ 'was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.'
Les Feldick is emphatic: the phrase 'only begotten Son of God' does not point to Bethlehem. He says the terminology is a reference to His resurrection. In Psalm 2:7, God declares, 'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee,' and Les says 'the word begotten does not refer to Christ's birth at Bethlehem. It refers to His resurrection.' He points out that Acts 13 and Romans 1 both link the 'only begotten Son' language to the resurrection. He even says, 'That's when He became the truly, only begotten Son of God. It was the power of resurrection.' Les also applies this to John 3:16 by tying 'the only begotten Son' to Isaiah 9:6, 'Unto us a son is given' — God gave His Son as the promised Messiah. He warns that if we cannot accept the resurrection, 'we have nothing; we are totally lost,' because the resurrection is 'the very basis of His power.'
Acts 13:33 quotes Psalm 2:7 in connection with God raising Jesus. Romans 1:4 says Jesus was 'declared to be the Son of God with power... by the resurrection from the dead.' Les Feldick says this is why the terminology is not a reference to Bethlehem: 'it's a reference to His resurrection. That's when He became the truly, only begotten Son of God.'
Les says he has struggled to explain the phrase in John 3:16. He finds help in Isaiah 9:6, where 'unto us a son is given.' God gave His Son as the Messiah through covenant promises, not something Israel earned. Les ties this to John 3:16 and says the two are 'in perfect accord.'
Les tells of people who can believe Christ died but doubt the resurrection. He responds, 'if we can't accept the fact that He was raised from the dead, we have nothing. We are totally lost.' The resurrection is 'the very basis of His power.'
What Does "Only Begotten Son of God" Really Mean?
Maybe we will again next one, but let's just jump right in where we left off in our last program, and that was in Acts 13, and Paul now and Barnabas have left Antioch. I put a makeshift map on the board. It's not according to scale, and I hope that someone can at least read some of my writing, but of course here's the land of Israel that I have on the board so often, the Sea of Galilee and so fort…
Resurrection, Not Bethlehem
Les directly defines the 'only begotten Son of God' as referring to the resurrection, not to Bethlehem, and says this is when Jesus became truly the only begotten Son of God.
Psalm 2:7 'Begotten' Explained
Les reads Psalm 2:7 and tells his class that the word 'begotten' refers to Christ's resurrection, not His birth at Bethlehem.
Why Christ Had to Be Virgin Born — Romans 9 & Genesis 3:15
Oh, it was in veiled language, but it was back there. Now as we have an understanding, we can go back and we can see it, that in Psalms 22 and various other places, there is graphic language of His death, burial, and resurrection. Isaiah 53, as well as others. All right, now verse 3. Concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David.
John 3:16 and Isaiah 9:6
Les connects the 'only begotten Son' of John 3:16 with Isaiah 9:6, showing that God gave His Son as the promised Messiah.
Acts and Romans Witness
Les points listeners to Acts and Romans 1, where the 'only begotten Son' is connected to the resurrection, then goes back to Psalm 2:8 for the worldwide kingdom.
Why the Resurrection Happens in Order — 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
My, the Romans could have cared less who came from Abraham, but to the Jews it meant everything that they were the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So he says, "...the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob hath glorified his son Jesus," and again Peter reminds them, what did they do? They killed Him. You delivered Him up in the presence of Pilate. Verse 15, "...
Did the Disciples Understand the Cross? Luke 18 Explained
In other words, you have to know what you believe. You can't just hope that God thinks that you know, but you are supposed to know. And then he says, I delivered unto you, first of all, that which I also received. Now, we're going to go back to Galatians in just a moment, and where does he receive this? From the ascended, glorified Christ.
Acts 13:33: God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
This is the verse Les uses to show that the 'begotten' language is tied to the resurrection.
Psalm 2:7: I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
God's declaration that the Son is begotten; Les says this 'begotten' points to resurrection.
Romans 1:3-4: Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Shows the Son of God is connected with power and the resurrection.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The most famous use of 'only begotten Son'; Les ties this to Isaiah 9:6's 'a son is given.'
No. Les Feldick says the terminology is not a reference to Bethlehem. It is a reference to His resurrection. He says the word 'begotten' in Psalm 2:7 refers to Christ's resurrection.
He points to Acts 13, where Paul quotes Psalm 2:7 after God raises Jesus, and to Romans 1:4, where Jesus is declared to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead.
Les ties it to Isaiah 9:6, 'Unto us a son is given.' He says God gave His Son as the Messiah according to covenant promises, and that Israel didn't work for or deserve it.
Les says if we cannot accept that Christ rose from the dead, we have nothing and are totally lost, because the resurrection is the very basis of His power.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Only Begotten Son of God" Really Mean?