The ‘Only begotten God’ (john 1:18) — a copyist error or a confession of faith?

Abstract

The article is devoted to the famous alternative readings in the Gospel text ― the Only Begotten Son/Only Begotten God (John 1:18), which has a rich history in ancient theology. In the history of biblical studies, this verse is an interesting case of interaction between various types of Scripture ― Alexandrian and Byzantine. The reading under consideration ― the Only Begotten God ― refers to the ancient Alexandrian text, which has high characteristics and deservedly enjoys great confidence in biblical studies. A review and analysis of manuscript evidence based on the most recent and authoritative critical editions of the text of the New Testament Scripture, involving the latest special scientific literature. The internal expressive features of the New Testament theology and the theological language of St. John the Theologian, supporting the argument in favor of evidence of the unity of the Son and the Father. Opinions and conclusions are drawn regarding the considered phrase between the most outstanding and contemporary bibleists, including native scientists. Finally, an extensive patristic tradition of using the term Only Begotten God is attracted, which is localized in Alexandrian theology and in the adjacent individual theologians and calls for an extensive period of time of a quarter millennium from Clement to Cyril of Alexandria. On the example of this phrase, an assumption is put forward about the relationship between the Alexandrian type of the text of the New Testament and the Alexandrian theological school and tradition. The oldest cases of the use of the expression Only Begotten God in patristics also reveal another feature, possibly related to his appearance, namely, his primary circulation in the Gnostic script of Alexandrian origin (Valentine, Ptolemy, Heraclion), where, however, this name was endowed with very peculiar meanings. The most intensive period of use of the expression falls on the time of Trinitarian disputes of the fourth century, moreover, for all three conditional periods ― Arian, Omiousian and Eunomian. Relevant historical evidence is attracted and considered and a certain dynamics of use in heterodox theology is traced. Finally, the most important Orthodox theologian who widely used the name Only Begotten God turns out to be St. Gregory of Nyssa, who significantly enriched his initially Trinitarian sound by identifying Christological shades in it. For the theological interpretation of the material, the latest development of the Orthodox patristic scholar and theologian father John Behr ― the distinction of "high Christology" and "low Christology"