Article X
The Eternal Sonship of Christ
The confession establishes that Jesus Christ is the eternally begotten Son of God, coeternal and consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things were created.
We believe that Jesus Christ, in his divine nature, is the only Son of God, eternally begotten, not made or created—for then he would be a creature—but of one essence with the Father and coeternal with him, the exact imprint of the Father's person and the radiance of his glory, like him in every way. He has been the Son of God not merely since he took on our human nature, but from all eternity, as these testimonies teach us when read together. Moses says that God created the world; Saint John says that all things were created through the Word, whom he calls God. The Apostle says that God made the ages through his Son.1 Saint Paul also says that God created all things through Jesus Christ. Therefore, the one who is called God, the Word, the Son, and Jesus Christ must have already existed when all things were created through him.
The Testimony of Eternity
Scriptural witnesses confirm Christ's existence without beginning or end, leading to the conclusion that He is the Almighty God worthy of our worship.
That is why the prophet Micah says, “His origin is from the days of eternity.”2 And the Apostle says, “He has neither beginning of days nor end of life.” Therefore, he is the true and eternal God, the Almighty, whom we call upon, worship, and serve.
Read the original Latin
Nous croyons que Jésus-Christ, quant à sa nature divine, est Fils unique de Dieu, éternellement engendré, n'étant ni fait ni créé (car il serait créature), d'une essence avec le Père, coéternel, la marque engravée de la personne du Père, et la splendeur de sa gloire, étant en tout semblable à Lui; lequel est Fils de Dieu non point seulement depuis qu'il a pris notre nature, mais de toute éternité; comme ces témoignages nous enseignent, étant rapportés l'un à l'autre. Moïse dit que Dieu a créé le monde; Saint-Jean dit que toutes choses ont été créées par la Parole, laquelle il appelle Dieu. L'Apôtre dit que Dieu a fait les siècles par son Fils. Saint-Paul dit encore que Dieu a créé toutes choses par Jésus-Christ. Il faut donc que celui qui est nommé Dieu, Parole, Fils, et Jésus-Christ, ait déjà été lorsque toutes choses ont été créées par lui. C'est pourquoi le prophète Michée dit: Son issue est dès les jours d'éternité. Et l'Apôtre: Il est sans commencement de jours, sans fin de vie. Il est donc le vrai Dieu éternel, le Tout-Puissant, lequel nous invoquons, adorons et servons.
Notes
The Belgic Confession companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit