John 1:18
From Textus Receptus
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
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Monogenes
Many modern Greek dictionaries falsely define the Greek monogenes as "unique" or "one of a kind" or "only".
It is not only supporters of the Textus Receptus on King James Version that believe "only begotten God" is a scribal error. There is also division between modern textual critics as to whether μονογενὴς θεός should be the correct reading.
Dr. Allen Wilkgren who served on the UBS-4 committee wrote: "It is doubtful that the author (i.e., John) would have written monogenes theos, which may be a primitive, transcriptional error in the Alexandrian tradition." Professor Bart Ehrman, recognized scholar in the field of Biblical textual criticism, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has stated that the original reading is monogenes heios and not monogenes theos.
The majority of orthodox church fathers support the reading monogenes heios, as do the majority of existing Greek cursive manuscripts. The reading contained in the majority of uncials (such as A, C3, K, W, Q, Y, D, P, X, and 063), Old Latin, Latin Vulgate, and the Old Syrian also support the reading monogenes heios. [1]
Only Beggoten God?
The Codex Vaticanus has μονογενὴς θεός (only begotten God) here in John 1:18. P66 and P75 both read θεός. In the Alexandrian tradition, scibes used the abbreviations (Υς/Θς). Υς for son and Θς for God.
The NASB translated this into English: No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (NASB)
James White who is a critical consultant for the Lockman Foundation's New American Standard Bible[2] believes that monogenes theos is the correct reading as ha says in his article "Purpose and Meaning of "Ego Eimi" in the Gospel of John In Reference to the Deity of Christ"[3] that "John describes Jesus as the unique God (monogenes theos) in John 1:18." Also "The only "Him" in the context is Jesus; hence, for John, Isaiah, when he saw Yahweh on His throne, was in reality seeing the Lord Jesus. John 1:18 says as much as well."
References
- 1. John 1:18 - "only begotten Son"
- 2. "Lockman Contributor Page". The Lockman Foundation. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
- 3. Ego Eimi Purpose and Meaning of Ego Eimi in the Gospel of John In Reference to the Deity of Christ by James White
