John 1:18

only-begotten-kind Theos.

The Greek adjective μονογενής (μονογενὴς in its nominative singular form) is a compound formed from:

• μόνος (“only, sole, single”)

• γένος (“kind, race, offspring, birth”)

Together, μονογενής literally means “only-born” or “only of its kind.”

Adjective + nominative noun. Meaning God/Theos himself is described as an only-begotten.

A much scholarly debated phrase for obvious reasons. The earlier authoritative manuscripts have it, but later copies changed the word to "son." What's going on here?

ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 1:18 Greek NT: Nestle 1904
Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς Θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ Πατρὸς, ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 1:18 Greek NT: Westcott and Hort 1881
θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 1:18 Greek NT: Westcott and Hort / [NA27 and UBS4 variants]
θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 1:18 Greek NT: RP Byzantine Majority Text 2005
Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· ὁ μονογενὴς υἱός, ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρός, ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 1:18 Greek NT: Greek Orthodox Church
Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· ὁ μονογενὴς υἱὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 1:18 Greek NT: Tischendorf 8th Edition
θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· ὁ μονογενὴς υἱὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρός, ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 1:18 Greek NT: Scrivener's Textus Receptus 1894
Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακε πώποτε· ὁ μονογενὴς υἱός, ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρός ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 1:18 Greek NT: Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550
θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· ὁ μονογενὴς υἱός, ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο