Jesus existence

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anjoh66

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Hi

What does this phrase exactly means?

begotten of the Father before all worlds (æons)

Does it imply that there was a time before all time when only the father existed?

But wasnt that one of the heresies of the arians?

What do we christians acctually mean when we say that Jesus was begotten and not made?
 
“There was never a time when the Word was not” was the famous anti-Arian clarion call in the ancient Church. Our Lord is eternally begotten from the Father, so no, there is not a “time” at which He is begotten and no “time” at which only the Father existed.
 
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That is what we believe that he always existed, but I am not sure exactly to what we mean when we say he was begotten by the father?

It would be polyteism to say that he was created at some time, then should mean that there are more than one God i guess.
 
It is an eternal begettance. It explains, as best we can in human terms, the relationship between the two divine persons (the persons of the Trinity are distinguished by their relationship to one another).

Think about how creation works: God “speaks” of something and it comes into existence. For example, He said, “let there be light” and light was made.

But what is God’s though, or word concerning Himself (the Divine Logos)–that is the Son, the Word, the image of the Father who for all time is begotten from the Father, yet is the same substance of the Father.
 
anjoh66 said:
Hi

What does this phrase exactly means?

begotten of the Father before all worlds (æons)

Does it imply that there was a time before all time when only the father existed?

But wasnt that one of the heresies of the arians?

What do we christians acctually mean when we say that Jesus was begotten and not made?
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I think this is one of those instances in which you can’t take one reference to Jesus and use it to define everything there is to know about him.
The word ‘beget’ often means ‘to sire’. Saying that Christ was begotten of God, not made, illuminates a unique relationship between the Father and Christ, as opposed to our relationship with the Father. All things were created by God, were made, but Christ was not made; rather, he is of God. You also hear the term in the phrase “Only begotten”, which again sheds light on the unique relationship between them. Christ is the only true son of God. We are all sons and daughters of God, but in comparison to Christ, we are all adopted, while Christ is of God. Does that make sense?
When I say you can’t take just this one reference to Christ and use it to define all of him, well, the term begotten does not do justice to the reality that while Christ is Son of the Father, they are both the same God. That’s why the Credo stresses “God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,” and goes on to say “one in Being with the Father”.
The Catholic Faith is so developed, and so immense, that it’s very dangerous to draw out one phrase and question its validity without looking at what it truly means, where it comes from, why it’s used where it’s used, and how it amplifies the context from whcih it came.

I hope that all helps.
 
Time is part of Creation. Thus, the “I AM” dialogues.

You can’t discuss the nature of God in terms of time.
 
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