The Son and Word of God

Doctrine Concept

The Son is eternally begotten of the Father, shares the Father's one divine nature, and became human as Jesus Christ for our salvation.

Key points

Begotten does not mean made or created.
The incarnate Son is one person, not a second human person joined to the Word.

Scripture

John 1:1-14 — The Word was with God, was God, and became flesh.
Hebrews 1:1-4 — The Son is distinguished from creatures and bears the imprint of God's being.

Primary sources

The Nicene creed calls the Son:

Nicaea's creed confesses the Son as sharing the Father's one substance rather than belonging to creation.

being of one substance (ὁμοούσιον, consubstantialem) with the Father
— First Council of Nicaea, Nicene Creed (Creed), trans. Henry Percival, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 14

Passage context and translation

The council uses the term homoousios to confess the Son's full divinity against Arian claims that the Son is a creature.

Before the excerpt

very God of very God, begotten (γεννηθέντα), not made,

After the excerpt

By whom all things were made, both which be in heaven and in earth.

Percival translation in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 14; the excerpt retains the Greek and Latin gloss printed in the linked edition.

Athanasius writes:

Athanasius connects the Word's Incarnation to humanity's participation in divine life.

For He was made man that we might be made God.
— St. Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation of the Word (Chapter 54, Section 3), trans. Archibald Robertson

Passage context and translation

Athanasius explains the Incarnation as the divine Word's healing and elevation of human nature. His language of becoming God concerns created humanity's share in divine life, while the Word remains God by nature.

Before the excerpt

by the Word becoming man, the universal Providence has been known, and its Giver and Artificer the very Word of God.

After the excerpt

and He manifested Himself by a body that we might receive the idea of the unseen Father

Robertson translation in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 4; section 54.3 is read with the surrounding account of the Word's incarnation and the promise of immortality.

Sources and further reading

On the Incarnation (Book; modern translation)
OCA: The Three Divine Persons (Orthodox doctrinal overview)

Related records

The burning bush (Christophanies)
The visitors at Mamre (Christophanies)
Manoah's family and the wonderful name (Christophanies)
The angel who bears God's name (Christophanies)
Wisdom beside God before creation (Christophanies)
The Father (Doctrine Concept)
Eternal begetting (Doctrine Concept)
Jesus Christ (New Testament Witness)
First Council of Nicaea (Council)
Council of Chalcedon (Council)
The Holy Spirit (Doctrine Concept)
Creation (Doctrine Concept)
The incarnation across New Testament witnesses (Scripture Study)
Colossians (Biblical Writing)

All records