The Bible speaks of Jesus as God’s Son in begotten language, and there are two ways that the New Testament speaks of Christ as begotten of God. The first is in relation to his incarnation. In this context, Jesus is said to be God’s only begotten Son.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:14

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. ~ John 1:18

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. ~ John 3:16

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. ~ 1 John 4:9

As God’s only begotten Son, Jesus is God’s representative to us. He is the one by whom God reveals himself. The title only begotten Son of God is a testimony of his deity. Thus Jesus stands alone, in a class all by himself as God’s divine Son who was with God in eternities past, and was manifested in the flesh to be the Savior of the World.

The second way in which the New Testament speaks of Jesus as begotten of God has to do with his resurrection, in which he is said to be the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18) and the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29), and the first begotten from the dead (Revelation 1:5).

Consider Paul’s words from Acts 13 which speaks of Jesus as begotten of God at the time of his resurrection.

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. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. ~ Acts 13:33-35 

Notice that Paul applies the words from Psalms 2, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, to the resurrection and not the incarnation. The writer of Hebrews also draws on this same text when he says the following:

… when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. ~ Hebrews 1: 3b-6

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. ~ Hebrews 5:5-6

Now, consider Paul’s words from Romans 1 which ties these two truths together.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 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 … ~ Romans 1:1-4

God’s Son was made of the seed of David. The writer of Hebrews says he did not take on the nature of angels but he took on the seed of Abraham (2:16). Jesus, the Son of God, is the Son of Man (the Man who came down from above) to die and rise again on behalf of all the sons of men, to deliver us from the power of darkness and to bring us near to God. 

Being the firstborn from the dead does not mean that Jesus is a born again man as some erroneously teach. It means that in his flesh, i.e., in his humanity, he triumphed over sin and death through his resurrection and has become our great High Priest representing us in the sight of a Holy God. In Jesus, God and man meet and thus we have redemption, reconciliation, and the remission of our sins in him.

In his incarnation he is the only begotten of the Father, in his resurrection he has become the firstborn among many brethren. He is both God with us and the one who brings us to God. He is God in our midst, and the one who leads us in praise to God! Hallelujah!

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. ~ Hebrews 2:9-18