The aeon Monogenes

 ### **Monogenes (Only-begotten)**  

#### **Greek Meaning**  

The term **μονογενής (monogenes)** is derived from two Greek words: **μόνος (monos)** meaning "only" or "unique" and **γένος (genos)** meaning "kind" or "offspring." It is often used to describe an only child, as seen in **Judges 11:34** and **Luke 7:12**, where it refers to someone's only son or daughter.  

In theological contexts, **monogenes** refers to Jesus Christ as the "only begotten Son of God," highlighting His unique origin and relationship with God. According to subordinationism, Jesus, as **monogenes**, emanated from the very being of God before the creation of the world, subordinate to the Father yet uniquely divine.  

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#### **Valentinian Understanding**  

In Valentinian thought, **Monogenes** represents an aeon that emanates from the Father, embodying the unique and singular nature of divine wisdom and being. Aeons, as divine attributes or aspects, flow from the Father and the Son, with **Monogenes** signifying the indivisible unity and singularity of the divine source.  

Valentinians often interpreted Jesus' teachings in a mystical sense, such as in the **Gospel of Philip**:  

*"The Lord said, 'Blessed is he who is before he came into being. For he who is, has been and shall be.'”*  

This emphasizes the eternal nature of Christ as the **Monogenes**, existing before all creation and embodying the timeless divine essence.  

The **Gospel of Thomas** further explores this concept:  

**Saying 18**:  

*"The disciples said to Jesus, 'Tell us, how will our end come?'  

Jesus said, 'Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death.'"*  

**Saying 19**:  

*"Jesus said, 'Congratulations to the one who came into being before coming into being. If you become my disciples and pay attention to my sayings, these stones will serve you. For there are five trees in Paradise for you; they do not change, summer or winter, and their leaves do not fall. Whoever knows them will not taste death.'"*  

These sayings highlight the eternal, unchanging nature of the **Monogenes** and its role in revealing the unity of beginning and end. In Valentinian thought, the **Monogenes** represents the divine principle of timeless existence, a central concept in understanding the spiritual journey of believers.  

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#### **Role in the Mind of a Believer**  

The concept of the **Monogenes** has profound implications for a believer’s mind. It represents the perfect and complete idea of humanity as conceived by God. Jesus, as the "Son of Man," embodies this ideal in expression, while Christ, the "Son of God," represents this idea in its absolute, eternal form.  

In this context, Jesus and Christ are two aspects of the same reality:  

- **Jesus as the "Son of Man"**: The expression of God’s idea in the physical realm, subject to the limitations of human existence.  

- **Christ as the "Son of God"**: The divine, perfect-idea man that transcends these limitations.  

As believers grow in spiritual understanding, they come to realize their relationship with God and their potential to embody this divine ideal. Jesus articulated this realization in **John 7:29**:  

*"I know him; because I am from him, and he sent me."*  

The believer’s journey involves recognizing their own identity as a child of God and striving to align with the divine nature represented by the **Monogenes**. This involves transcending limitations and embracing the universal, timeless essence of God’s perfect idea.  

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#### **Conclusion**  

The **Monogenes**, as the only begotten, embodies the eternal unity and singularity of divine essence. In Valentinian thought, it is both an aeon and a principle that reveals the eternal nature of Christ and the divine origin of humanity. Through teachings such as those found in the **Gospel of Philip** and the **Gospel of Thomas**, believers are invited to contemplate their own spiritual journey and align with the divine nature. By embracing the mind of the **Monogenes**, they move toward a deeper understanding of their relationship with God and the timeless truth of their being.