"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
John 3:16 and John 1:18 each
have the word monogenes in Greek. This word ordinarily means "of
a single kind". As a result, "unique" is a good translation. The reason
you sometimes find a translation that renders the word as "only begotten"
has to do with an ancient heresy within the church. In response to the
Arian claim that Jesus was made but not begotten, Jerome (4th century)
translated the Greek term monogenes into Latin as unigenitus
("only begotten").
(Paul B. Duff, 22
April, 1992)
Professor Duff's response was based upon Anchor Bible, volume 29, page 13-14. The Greek term for "begotten" is gennao as found in (Mathew 1:2), which John did not use.
God said to David, "You are my son today I have begotten you" (Psalm 2:7)
The word 'one' does not have to mean "co-equal" in status. If one wishes to argue that the word one supports their claim for Jesus being "co-equal" in status with his Father, consider the following:
Jesus said: ' I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.' (John 14:28).
Jesus said: ' Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.' (John 13:16).
During his ministry, Jesus repeatedly said he was sent by his Father.
Jesus said to Mary:
'...go
to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father...'
(John 20:17).
This verse demonstrates that the usage of term 'Father' was purely metaphorical. As for Jesus being a "unique son", he, unlike us, was created without a physical Father.
'...Thy holy Servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint,...' (Acts 4:27 - New American Standard Bible).
This leaves no room for doubt
that Jesus was a 'Servant of God' and anointed by Him. There are other
verses which declare Jesus as God's Servant.
Apostle Mark records in (10:17-18)
'And
as he (Jesus) was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to him and knelt
before him and began asking him, 'Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit
the eternal life?"
And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except
God alone. " '
It sounds inharmonious and inconsistent that a person who even refuses to be called "good" could have allowed any one to worship him. Since, no one is good except "God alone", should not Christians be worshipping directly to that solitary God to whom Jesus himself prayed more than a dozen times, according to the Gospels?
When Jews were doubtful about
the identity of a particular blind beggar who had been healed by Jesus,
the blind beggar - who was no more blind, kept saying; "I am he"
(John 9:9, K.J.V.). Further more, the beggar when questioned about Jesus
who had healed him, replied to Jews:
"And
he said, "He is a prophet." (John 9:17).
In the Garden of Gethsemane,
Jesus
"fell
on his face and prayed, saying:
'My
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me." (Mathew 26:39).
All the prophets, including
Jesus used to "fall on their faces" like we Muslims do, while praying.
See; Abraham (Genesis 17:3); Job (Job 1:20); Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:22);
Jesus (Mathew 26:39).