To beget is an action based on the idea of race or offspring and refers to the male role in procreation; the father begets whereas the mother bears. The word ‘beget’ is the one most commonly used in genealogies to show the relationship between father and son, and it is also applied to indicate a person’s position and the result of certain kinds of behavior.
In Matthew 1:2, it is stated that Abraham begot Isaac, who then begot Jacob. The word ‘begot’ shows the line of descent from father to son. The fact that the genealogy of Christ refers to Mary, not Joseph, as the one who begot Christ is significant, since ‘begot’ is the term mainly used to describe the biological relationship between a man and his children. In Matthew 1:16, the genealogy changes from referring to the father to referring to Mary when it comes to Jesus. This change indicates the way in which Mary became pregnant. Even though she was a virgin, God caused a child to develop in her womb (Luke 1:30–31). The holy thing that she was to bear would provide a body for God the Son (Luke 1:35).
When quoting Psalm 2:7 in Acts 13:33 and announcing to the Jews in Antioch in Pisidia the gospel of the resurrected Christ, Paul aimed to show that God had carried out His promise; the idea of being begotten as a Son refers to Jesus’ position in his human nature before the Father. Paul makes the same quotation in Hebrews 1:5 and 5:5, in order to state that Jesus did not come from the angels but is the second Person of the Godhead (Hebrews 1:8). The term ‘begotten’ in this context does not mean birth but refers to the beginning of a position; Christ is the unique Son, whom the Father has placed as a son (John 1:18).
In John chapter three, Jesus states that a man must be born from above if he is to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). This birth takes place by means of water even the Spirit (John 3:5; cf. John 7:38). A new birth is necessary if a man is to enter the kingdom. While Christ was carrying out his ministry on earth, he spoke about the coming of a new birth and gave those who received him the authority to become children of God (John 1:12). The Christian, since he is under the new covenant, has this new birth (Titus 3:5). It is therefore true that all who are in Christ are legitimate children of God (1 John 3:9). Since the Christian has been born again from above and is thus begotten by water even the Spirit, he is able to manifest righteousness (1 John 2:29) and has overcome the world (1 John 5:4). Even Satan himself cannot affect a Christian because of his new birth (1 John 5:18).
The origin of disputes may also be described by the term beget. The Christian is told to get rid of strong desires which are characteristic of youth, and to strive after righteousness, love, faith, peace and a clean heart. He should avoid foolish and uneducated investigations since such inquiries lead to conflicts (2 Timothy 2:22–23). The kind of inquiry referred to here comes from people who are not genuine learners. They argue about matters of purification, fables and genealogies, all of which are connected with the law and do not result in godliness (1 Timothy 1:4). A person who teaches in opposition to the sound teachings of the Lord and to the instruction concerning godliness is proud and knows nothing; this sort of person is obsessed with investigations and disputes about words. Envy, strife, blasphemy, and malicious evil suspicion arise among those who follow this way (1 Timothy 6:3–4).
