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Gennao the verb translated `to beget' is used of the mother also, and is then translated
`to conceive', `be delivered of', `bear', `be born', `be made' and `to bring forth'. For
example:
"Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus Who is called
Christ" (Matt. 1: 16).
The word translated `only-begotten' is monogenes, and refers to the birth of the
Saviour in the fullness of time `made of a woman' (Gal. 4: 4). Another comfortable title
is found in Heb. 1: 6 `First-begotten' which in the original is prototokos.
"And again, when He bringeth in the First-begotten into the world He saith, And let all
the angels of God worship Him."
Translators are divided regarding the intention of the Apostle here. The A.V. `and
again' makes verse 6 another link in the chain of references quoted by the Apostle. The
R.V. "And when He again" makes the word `again' refer to the future.
We observe that the word translated `world' in this verse is the Greek oikoumene `the
habitable world', and that this word occurs once more in Hebrews, namely in chapter 2:,
where we read:
"For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come whereof we
speak" (Heb. 2: 5).
By reading these two references together, it appears that the world to come will be
subjected to Christ as the Firstborn, and not to the angels, and that moreover, the angels
will at that great investiture `worship Him'. He is `the Firstborn of all creation', `the
Firstborn from the dead', `the Firstborn among many brethren'. Pre-eminence as the
`first' is uppermost in the word prototokos.
Further comparisons are made in Heb. 1: between Christ as the Son and angels.
Angels are spirits who minister, but the Son is addressed by the title "God", and has a
`throne' and `sceptre'. Not only so He occupies a unique position at the right hand of
God, a position never occupied by an angel `at any time'. In our next article we shall
pursue this theme further.