Today I Have Begotten You

Acts 13:13-25, today’s New Testament lesson from the Daily Office Lectionary, has the verse “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.” 

http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/bcp/?date=2011-07-16 (if it opens on Jul 15, go forward a day to Jul 16. Depending on your computer settings you may be able to listen to it as well as reading it)

Luke, the author of Acts, is quoting from Psalm 2. The verse is quoted again by the author of Hebrews (5:5) in presenting Jesus as high priest, a “priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Furthermore, the ancient manuscript Codex Bezae has the verse at Luke 3:22. The scene is the Baptism of Jesus, in which the heavens are opened, the Spirit descends upon Jesus as a dove, "And a voice came from heaven, You are my son, Today I have begotten you." This is a variant from the customary reading, “You are my beloved son, with you I am well pleased.”

It presents interesting doctrinal and theological questions. When did Jesus become the Son of God? Or even, When did Jesus become God the Son? which is not the same theologically. It also surfaces interesting questions for Bible study: What did Luke originally say? What did Luke intend it to mean? Were there early doctrinal, theological issues about the Bezae variant? Why was the Bezae not the finally accepted version? Does my study Bible make reference to the Bezae version, and if not, why not? 

Further, in that there’s a difference among the synoptic gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke), what did the voice actually proclaim? 

The hysterics may not like it, may not even be willing to face it, but among the four gospels, the questions, “When did Jesus become the Son of God?” And more powerfully, “When did Jesus become God the Son?” -- those questions find different answers in the various gospels. In Mark, the first gospel, the answer seems to be “at his baptism.” In Matthew and Luke with their Nativity narratives, the answer seems to be “at his conception in the Blessed Virgin Mary.” In John, the answer is clearly “from eternity” -- which is the theology asserted in the Nicene Creed.

The Daily Office Lectionary for today, wandering off the path and down the trail to Codex Bezae, stirred this morning’s blog post. Codex Bezae could support a theology that God adopted Jesus at his baptism. What's the truth?

This is an example of why Bible study in a group is so intriguing. 

My Fall 2011 Bible Study gathers at 9:45 on Tuesday morning, September 6, 2011, in my office at the parish house and office building of Holy Nativity Episcopal Church. 1011 E. Third Street, across from the church. All are invited and welcome.

Tom W+ in +Time