The most well-known verse from all the Bible might be John 3:16. It also looks like it’s probably not been translated as well as it could have been over the years. For the majority of the history of the western church, the phrase “only begotten” was how most bible readers read John 3:16 in English due to Jerome’s Latin Vulgate. The King James Version also continued the use of the phrase in the 17th century.

It seems today that many scholars agree that the Greek text emphasizes the unique or one-of-a-kind nature of Jesus and so most modern translations have dropped the language of “begotten” and simply say something like “only son.”

Although I suppose even that still has the potential to be a little confusing, due to references to other “sons of God” (Genesis 6:1-4, Job 1:6, Job 2:1) which aren’t referring to Jesus but rather other heavenly beings.

Nevertheless, Jesus himself gives insight into his unique nature and status when he describes himself as one who gives life and has authority to execute judgment (John 5). He refers to the glory he had with the Father before the world began (John 17:5) and says that no one knows the Father except the Son. (Matthew 11:27)