perfect love anchors us

How can a child remain strong in the face of criticism, persecution, bullying or adverse circumstances? In the same way you and I can weather the storms of life - by anchoring into God. In this same way, a child can weather the criticism or rejection of their peers when they know they are loved and cherished by their parents.

¹This strength is not based on circumstances or conditions being perfect -- having perfect friends, resources, abilities or perfect appearance, etc. -- but on godly love given to them by loving godly parents. This love sustains them in the face of adversity.

Knowing within we are loved inoculates us from the insults, emotional attacks, and blows of life without.

This is what also makes great ²leaders. It is not just their skills and abilities, or commitment to principle - though both of these are certainly significant and beneficial - but a clear sense of their own value due to being rooted and grounded in love i.e. being valued by someone significant.

When we have a strong sense of value - initially due to being valued by those closest and most valuable to us, such as our parents, and ultimately God Himself - we are impervious to outside ³assaults. The greater our awareness of our value to God the more impervious we become to attacks and insults. 

What others think, does not carry as much weight because we know we are accepted, embraced and loved by those we value most and are closest to us; those who see and know us best (warts and all) yet still love us most. 

When we know there is someone who knows us best - with all our flaws as well as strengths - and still loves us, we are less impacted when others point out those flaws. The more grounded we are in love the more oblivious we are to the criticism of others and the less influence their opinion has on us. 

The only parent that loves perfectly is our heavenly Father.

However human parents soundly grounded in God's love are the first and primary means of conveying God's love for and to their child. The better they convey this love as the child matures, the easier it is for a child to transfer their trust in their earthly parents - a community of two - to their heavenly parent - a community of Father, Son, and Spirit - when they launch out on their own.

If a child grows up knowing that God is the source of life, love, and all things, by how their parents spoke and lived, the parents have done their job well.

What about those of us who grew up with less than perfect parents or possibly no parents at all?

We are told in Psalm 27:10 

Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

The most perfect parents are those who've learned to draw their sense of value from the perfect love of God and by that love are empowered to love their child with God's love in a way all of us are designed to experience. If our parents did not live this way because they never received and knew God's love themselves, we can go directly to God for love because He is the Source.

For a discussion on whether loving ourselves comes into play above click here. ______________________________________________________________

¹To draw strength from God simply means we have a strong sense/awareness/ recognition of our value, worth, significance, importance etc. because God recognizes and acknowledges these about us i.e. we feel this way about ourselves because we know this is how God sees and feels about us. 

Whose opinion can be more significant?! If God is for us, who can be against us? Answer? No one! Nobody is greater or more important than God!

²Because of this, all followers and lovers of Jesus can be leaders i.e. they can be fearless in the face of opposition. The more grounded they are in God's love the stronger and more impervious they are to any criticism, attacks, or mistreatment. Leadership is not just a personality trait or a certain skill set but also a character quality i.e. a deeply rooted sense of their worth because they know they are valued by their Creator. 

Though we all have different skills and personalities - some greater and stronger than others - character can be developed within all personality types, for strength of character comes from God not us. All who are in Christ have complete access to God, the source of our strength and all things needed to flourish. 

³A strong sense of our worth in and through God is also the foundation for courage -- along with all other positive character qualities. When we truly and deeply know God is for us, we also know no one or nothing can ultimately (eternally) be against us. For we know our current troubles are "...preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison..."

Are we actually rebels toward God?

Do you love God with all your ¹heart, soul, mind, and strength and your neighbor as yourself? If we are honest I think we can agree, none of us do this consistently, much less perfectly, and maybe only rarely; most not at all. 

Why does this matter?

If God is the all-loving, all-wise, all-powerful Giver and Sustainer of life, love, and all things - as demonstrated in sending Christ - should we not love and honor Him with all we are and have i.e. according to who He is? Would this not be central and vital to the reality of who we are as well as who God is? 

To love God is not only the most important thing we can do - along with the 2nd greatest commandment - it is who we are designed to be, i.e. it fits who we are (and who God is, in whose image we are made) and how we are designed to operate at our highest level and capacity. And because it fits, we can never be complete and flourish as God intends, without aligning our lives accordingly. In short, to not love God with all we have and are, and our neighbors as ourself violates our design.

So it's important we love God not only because He tells us to, but also because it fits ³who we are and how we were created to be. 

If so, why do we not love God with all we have and are?

Because we don't know him; or what he's really like. Our understanding of Him is distorted because of our distrust (the core part of "unrighteous"). If we truly believed He was who He demonstrates himself to be - perfect honor and love for Him would be the organic response.

Why don't we know him?

Rom 1:19-20 tells us..."For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been ²clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

The creation -- which includes us (with our insatiable desire and need for infinite love) as well as all the rest of creation -- ³tells us something very significant about our Creator. Through what we see in creation (internally in how we are wired and externally in how things operate), we are given more than enough information about God to know he is infinitely powerful and divine as the above passage says. So no one can say they know nothing significant about God. 

This passage tells us we know enough that we should honor and pursue him; surely more than enough to spur us to seek Him out to find out more about Him so we can know him better. This is why the passage says we are without excuse.

So what's the real problem?

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who ⁴suppress the truth in unrighteousness...

Something called "unrighteousness" causes us to tenaciously ²push down and ignore the truth within and all around us about who God is as well as who we are; be that truth about why we are the way we are e.g. why we long for love, meaning, purpose, etc. As bearers of God's image, this is an internal witness, if you will, to what God is like. 

And why the world displays amazing beauty and design even amidst all the brokenness, evil, pain, destruction, death, and decay - i.e. life persists even in the midst of constant death. This is an external witness to what God is like. 

When we stop to consider these things we recognize we truly are without excuse.

Since we are told unrighteousness is our primary problem it behooves us to understand it. What is the nature of it so we might address it? How do we display it?

Rom 1:21  For although they knew God, they ⁵did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22  Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

·        We did not, and still do not respect (honor) God as God i.e. we did not (and do not) recognize him for who he truly is -- the Creator and Sustainer of life and all things, worthy of a complete love, honor, and trust. 

 

·       We did not - and still do not - give Him thanks as the Giver of life and all things. Our lack of gratitude for all the good gifts of life is the greatest indicator of our rebellious distrust i.e. unbelief.

·       We value the things God gives more than Him who is the giver of those things.

What is at the heart of these denials and misdirections?

We don't believe God is who he claims to be; the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things who offers us infinite life and love. In a word, we are calling God a liar by seeking from created things only what God can give.

And what is at the heart of unbelief?

Rebellion. We choose not to believe God is who He claims to be and has clearly demonstrated himself to be and therefore we refuse to trust Him. He's revealed himself via the creation first but most importantly, in sending Christ. Christ said "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father" - i.e. God himself. That is no small claim but one that deserves serious study. We refuse to recognize who God has already revealed himself to be through creation and His Son. We willfully suppress what has been clearly revealed. 

We are saying two things when we do not respond appropriately to the truth that we are given - no matter how little or much truth that is. We are saying God is a liar and we know more - and better - than he does. 

If God is infinite, loving, all-wise, and all-powerful - as He claims and demonstrated in Christ - and we are finite, we are denying a very important reality about us and him. Yes, we are rebels. Unbelief is at the heart of our rebellion. 

For a further discussion on the solution to our rebellion click here. 

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¹what does it mean to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength?

• heart -- the core of our being, our central motive for action
• soul -- our feelings/emotions
• mind -- our reasoning and what we believe i.e. commitment/trust/faith in that belief
• strength -- our actions, efforts, exertion 

²clearly perceived - καθοράω  kathoraō

Thayer Definition:

1) to look down, see from above, view from on high

2) to see thoroughly, perceive clearly, understand

Strong's Definition:

From G2596 and G3708; to behold fully, that is, (figuratively) distinctly apprehend: - clearly see.

³Our insatiable need for infinite love tells us we were designed for infinite love - i.e. Our Creator - because he is infinite love.

⁴suppress - κατέχω - katechō - kat-ekh'-o

From G2596 and G2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): - have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.

⁵For a further discussion on the basis of morality click here.

in this world, you will have tribulation

Christ said, "...in this world, you will have tribulation..." Struggle and pain are inevitable in a broken world made up of broken people - which includes you and I. 

To say it another way, we should not be surprised by struggle or think God has abandoned us when struggles happen. If we do not understand this we will be inclined to have a pity party or even fall into despair when things go wrong, thinking something's ¹uniquely wrong with us and God has painted a target on our back or worse yet, that God is not good or doesn't exist at all. 

We will also be tempted to position our lives so that avoidance of pain is our primary focus i.e. we will seek comfort and make ²pleasure our greatest pursuit. 

This of course, would be a mistake since struggle is not without a ³good purpose.

Is life only tribulation, struggle, suffering? No. We can legitimately enjoy and be genuinely grateful for the good gifts God provides, and are called to be. But, obtaining and enjoying His gifts is not our focus; God’s glory is. And not simply because glorifying God is asked of us but it is also desired by us. 

The irony and surprise is when we experience God's glory we also find ⁴our greatest joy and pleasure. This is our experience now when we trust Him and will be our uninterrupted state once we enter into eternity.

Once we understand that struggle is inevitable, the question then becomes whether we engage tribulation passively or actively; willingly or unwillingly.

There is active and passive suffering. Though they both ⁵can result in our conformity to Christ they're not the same in how we engage them.

Passive suffering occurs when we experience loss through circumstances we do not choose i.e. outside our control e.g. someone unjustly mistreating us, sickness -- our own or loved ones -- loss of some gift, job or material possession, or even a loved one etc. If we live any length of time we all will encounter these challenges.

Active suffering is to willingly -- actively -- become a living sacrifice. It is choosing daily to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Christ.

If we do not willfully (actively) participate in suffering, we will still experience passive suffering simply because the world is broken but most importantly because God ⁶is always working to make us like his Son no matter how much we intentionally or unintentionally, willfully or unwillingly participate.

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¹And of course something is wrong with us. I'm referring to something being uniquely wrong, when in fact we all experience the same plight i.e. that verse is not just for us alone. The “you” referred to is a universal you.

²And in fact many within the church do exactly that. The result is what is sometimes called the "prosperity" gospel or the "health and wealth" gospel.

³For a fuller discussion of that good purpose click here.

⁴For a fuller discussion of Gods glory being our greatest joy click here.

⁵In both active and passive suffering, trust is central. We must trust God is working for our good -- i.e. to make us Christlike -- if we are to fully gain the benefit He intends from struggles. In active suffering we step our in faith knowing we honor God in our obedience. In passage suffering we look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. - Heb 12:2

⁶"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6

Fully loved, completely broken

We are fully loved and completely broken at the same time. How do we function when these both exist within the same person - i.e. us? 

This can only happen if we are in Christ and recognize:

• God fully knows us as we are, warts and all -- there are no secrets or surprises for him about us even if and when there are for us. 
• Because of Christ, He completely receives and embraces us with full knowledge of all our brokenness. 
• Our brokenness always produces broken actions and outcomes. 
• God ¹usually does not spare us from the consequences of our broken choices but uses them to humble, instruct and advance us i.e. make us more like Jesus.
• He always hurts when we are hurting i.e. ²he feels pain when we go through pain from our broken choices, he does not condemn us for them. 
• God redeems and uses everything for his glory; both the actions and the consequences.
• God always sees and focuses on us as his image bearers, with the potential he has created us for, not on our weaknesses and failures. He addresses our shortcomings only in so far as they hinder our potential to better glorify him and enjoy him forever.
• He is always sad for us -- vs mad at us -- when we fail and always rejoices when we succeed. 

God always loves us, is always with us, always applauds our successes, always offers comfort in our failures and always uses all things --  good, bad and ugly -- to advance us so we might bring him greater honor and enjoy him more fully.

How can all these be true when we are such a mess? God's ³love, wisdom, power, and commitment to our advancement are not based on what we do but on who we are as His image bearers and who he is as demonstrated in what he already did in and through Christ. Now He simply works with us to increase our capacity to experience, enjoy, honor and display Him more fully. We are 

For a discussion on suffering at the hands of others choices click here.

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¹In God's mercy, he sometimes spares us from suffering the full consequences of our poor choices because he, in his infinite and perfect wisdom knows (not us) what will best advance our relationship with him.  Most of the time that means we will suffer the full consequences, but not always or automatically. Unlike our imperfect earthly fathers, God is our perfect heavenly father and always knows and does best when it comes to our discipline. 

²When it was appropriate for me to receive a spanking -- outdated and frowned upon today though not from ancient wisdom -- my dad would occasionally say, "this is going to hurt me more than it is you..." At the time I always use to think "sure it is Dad, sure..."  If you are a father you will understand the mixed emotions of disciplining your child. The difference with our heavenly father is there is never any uncertainty on the best way  to correct us.  He knows perfectly what we need most.

³I'm referring only to God's attitude of love and commitment to us not our experience of that love. Our experience of his love has everything to do with us. For further discussion on this click here. 

using your desires constructively

Where do our desires come from? We all have similar desires. We ¹all desire love, happiness, tranquility, meaning, purpose, pleasure and so on. What do we do with these desires? Are they imaginary? Are they legitimate? Do we ignore them and pretend they don't exist? 

Having desire also raises a different question. If we are simply the result of time plus chance, with no source of origin, why do we desire these things to begin with? To desire meaning suggest we exist for a purpose, not merely by chance. 

In reality every desire is ultimately a desire for God. They are there because He is the source of love, joy, peace, happiness, delight, beauty and infinite worth - i.e. all the things we desire - and because we were created for Him - i.e. designed to find satisfaction of all of these things ²in Him. 

We have, however, sought to fulfill these desires elsewhere instead, where they can never be truly and fully satisfied. If we try to meet them in and through others and things other than God, we will never find ³lasting satisfaction. The finite (created things) can never satisfy a void meant to be filled by the infinite God.

Whenever we experience a desire for something other than God we should let it remind us that ultimately our desires can only be satisfied in and through him. Instead of avoiding or suppressing our desires or acting on them by seeking some short-term satisfaction, we should let them drive us into a stronger pursuit of God where our desires were intended to be met i.e. We should enter into those desires as fully as possible -- not numb them with some temporary pleasure of creation. We should let them stir our hearts to press harder into God for satisfaction. It is only in him they were designed to be fulfilled and can be satisfied. 

For a further discussion on whether desires are good or bad click here 

For a further discussion on where desires come from click here 

For a further discussion on why God is desirable click here 

______________________________________________Footnotes:

¹since these qualities are common to us all, this says something very significant about humanity and how we relate to each other. This also says something significant about the common origin and purpose for our existence. We are all created equally in our desire to find meaning and significance because we are all in His image and created to know God, who is the ultimate source of all things.

²Psalm 16:11 English Standard Version (ESV)

11 You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

 Psalm 63 

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
    beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
    in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
    and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help, 
    and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

³And the joy we find in Him now is only a taste of the feast that is to come.  Overflowing, uninterrupted fullness does not occur until we see Him face to face. And once we do we will be so complete we will like Christ Himself.

All you can do is all you should do

New believers often wonder, "What is God's will for my life?" In asking, they are usually thinking of what career path or job they should take, where they should live, whether they should or shouldn't marry, and if so, who, and so on. However, though certainly important, these aren't the most important questions. Knowing God's will is simpler and more basic than this. 

Stated simply, God's will for us is to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. 

The question then becomes how do we individually best live out this most basic, foundational commandment, i.e., what does this look like for us practically? This depends on the unique way God has gifted us. Stated simply, we love others and honor God best through diligent use of our unique gifts, abilities, resources, and life experiences. 

What we are all called to do is love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (our greatest effort)... This is the same for all of us, but it will look different for each of us depending on our circumstances, experiences, abilities, gifts, and tasks before us. 

Once we know ¹our gifts, we are to use them for the tasks at hand. Knowing and exercising our gifts for His honor is our most important focus. God's will for us is no more than this, but certainly not less. 

For example, though the world needs saving, if God hasn't given us the ability and/or resources to save the world, then we should not try to save it. It's not our responsibility nor should it be ²our burden. But if he's given us the ability to teach or serve or encourage etc, we are to do so by His Spirit and with all the energy/power He works in us -- i.e., moved by his love for us and ours for Him in all that we do. It is God who works in us to will and do of His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

If you are a musician, play music well; if an artist, create well; if a teacher, teach well; if a parent, parent well; if a business owner, run your business well; if an employee, serve your employer and customers well; if a helper, serve well; if a writer, write well, etc. We should constantly be honing in, using, developing -- fanning into flame -- our gifts, no matter how simple or elaborate they are, or how widely they are or are not applied or acknowledged, to the greatest possible extent, for the glory of God. 

While at the same time not overly concerning ourselves with those things we are not gifted at. For example, we are all commanded to make disciples but that looks different for each of us. Those who have the gift of evangelism will have a unique ability to share the gospel with clarity, effectiveness, and energy/passion that we won't. However, we all can live out the gospel not only with our words but our actions through the gifts we have, resulting in others coming to faith. 

Whatever our gifts are, they should be used diligently, with all our might i.e. with excellence, for the glory of God. 

For a further discussion on excellence, click here. 

For a further discussion on knowing God's will, click here 

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Footnotes: 

¹What are your gifts? Two things that will help you find out. Ask yourself what you are good at. That's a good start. Then ask others, who know you best, what you are good at. When you have the answer, you have a very good idea of where to focus your energy and efforts. 

²God, however, may lay on someone's heart such a burden/passion for a particular challenge that a person will seek God for the needed resources to take on a task. They will not stop praying and pursuing it until God provides what is needed. A great example of this would be the George Mueller story. He built several orphanages and ran his entire operation solely by faith in God and dependence on Him for donations. He never asked anyone directly for funds, only God.

The only begotten Son

Have you ever wondered about the curious description of Christ as the "only begotten Son?" For years this puzzled me. As a result I just brushed over this, not truly considering or understanding the significance of this description. I vaguely assumed this only meant Christ was born as a man and nothing more. Maybe you felt the same way. 

Is there more? What does the Bible mean when it says Christ is begotten... as well as the only one who was? 

Begotten

Normally in the Bible, begotten means "to bear young or bring forth by birth..." In light of this, it would appear at first that the use of begetting for Christ is a mistake. He is the ¹eternal Son of God after all, with no beginning or end. But in a very specific and narrow sense, he too issues forth from his Father. He is even called "the firstborn of all creation..." suggesting he may be a part of ²creation vs being eternal.

Only Begotten

However, we are told that Christ is not just begotten but is the only begotten Son. What is the significance of "only?" In the ultimate sense, everyone is begotten (brought forth) by God, so "only" in this instance can't mean he's the only one that ever came forth. 

It means Christ not only issues forth from the Father, but is the same substance as the Father, and the ²exact likeness  (image) of the Father and therefore equal to him (John 1:1 "...the Word was God..."), while distinct at the same time (John 1:1 "...the Word was with God...").

Eternally Begotten

However, unlike us who also bear God's image - and are called sons and daughters of God if we are in Christ - Christ has always issued forth from the Father. He is the only begotten Son, not merely just another son. There has never been a point in time that he did not issue forth. This is true only of Christ. The Son has ¹always been -- i.e., He is eternally begotten, not merely begotten at His physical birth. He was begotten from eternity past and will always be the only begotten of the Father i.e. the Son is God and the only begotten being who is, making him unique to all other beings or things that come from -- are begotten of -- the Father. This is such a unique concept the NASB calls him the only begotten God.

Since this is an eternal begetting, the Son has always been and is equal to the Father, not equal to created beings, but distinct from them. He is not equal to created things because he is the Creator.

Not created yet begotten

Though Christ is not created... He is begotten - i.e. as the creation issues forth from God, Christ also issues forth - but without a beginning. The creation issues forth from the Father at a point in time, and also issues forth only through the Son. Christ has always issued forth from the Father from all eternity past. There has never been a time he did not.

Paul brings out this subtle yet distinct difference in the following passage.

"...yet for us there is 

one God, 

the Father, 

from whom are all things and 

for whom we exist, and 

one Lord, 

Jesus Christ, 

through whom are all things and through whom we exist. - 1 Cor 8:6 

Note, Paul is suggesting both are equally deity - God the Father and Jesus the Lord - yet have distinct roles in creation. All things are from God and through Christ. 

Christ is not only begotten but is the Creator and Sustainer of everything.

What significance does all this have for you and me?

As Christ is a Son, we too are sons and daughters of God, but unlike Christ - who is the image of God unlike us who are in His image - we have a beginning but no end. Christ has no beginning or end. 

He is the "I AM" (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58). He is co-eternal -- he has always been -- and is co-equal with God the Father; we are not. Christ is the perfect image of Father, and we are in His image.  

Nevertheless, since we both bear the Father's image, he understands and can relate to us in a unique and personal way. His stepping into and taking part in this broken world as a man makes this even more so.

Both begotten and eternal -- the God/man

Christ is begotten and eternal at the same time. This is significant since begetting implies a beginning. There is no beginning with Christ as God -- however there is as a man. He existed before his incarnation and has always been. 

This is why he is the only begotten Son. He is one of a kind. He is the God/man and the connection between God and man. God and man unite in Him, by Him, and through Him. For these reasons -- and others -- the Father delights in His Son.

From all these unique aspects of Christ, we can see why it took over 300 years after Christ's resurrection before the church hammered out a formal statement of who Christ is known as the Nicene Creed. 

The following creed was the first formal summary of who Christ is made by the council of the church held in Nicaea in 325AD. 

That council consisted of men recognized by the church at large as being the most Godly and wise among them. More Godly and wise than you or I, I would suggest. 

Note how they carefully acknowledge both the Deity and humanity of Christ. 

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the

Virgin Mary, and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under

 Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge

the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the

 Lord, the giver of Life,

who proceeds from the Father and

the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is

worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

How is "only begotten" handled by different translations? 

You can also see this concept of "only begotten" is so unique the various translations below convey it somewhat differently. It apparently was difficult for translators to capture the full meaning in a single phrase. 

Begotten:

John 1:18 

(NASB)  No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has explained him.

(KJV)  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

(CEV)  No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like.

(ERV)  No one has ever seen God. The only Son is the one who has shown us what God is like. He is himself God and is very close to the Father.

(ESV)  No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

²Other passages adressing Christ's likeness/image:

²Col 1:15  [Now] He (Christ) is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation.

Col 1:16  For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.

Col 1:17  And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). (AMP) [see also Pro 8:22-31]. 

Hebrews 1:3

(CEV)  God's Son has all the brightness of God's own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together. After the Son had washed away our sins, he sat down at the right side of the glorious God in heaven.

(ERV)  The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God's nature, and he holds everything together by his powerful command. The Son made people clean from their sins. Then he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven.

(ESV)  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

(MSG)  This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God's nature. He holds everything together by what he says—powerful words! After he finished the sacrifice for sins, the Son took his honored place high in the heavens right alongside God,

(NASB+)  And He is the radiance ^G541 of His glory ^G1391 and the exact ^G5481 representation ^G5481 of His nature, ^G5287 and upholds ^G5342 all ^G3956 things ^G3956 by the word ^G4487 of His power. ^G1411 When He had made ^G4160 purification ^G2512 of sins, ^G266 He sat ^G2523 down ^G2523 at the right ^G1188 hand ^G1188 of the Majesty ^G3172 on high, ^G5308

(KJV)  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high...

For a further discussion on why the Father and Son love each other, click here. 

For a further discussion on how we are like God, click here. 
__________________________________

Foornotes:

¹where else in the Bible do we see the opening phrase of the Gospel of John, "in the beginning...?" There are only two places. Here and in 

Genesis 1:1 

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." 

Is this an accident or maybe coincidence?

When both places are addressing creation - which occurred in the beginning -  And John goes on to say... 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

it is clear John was pointing back to Genesis to establish that whatever the phase "in the beginning..." meant it applied to both God and His Word (Christ) i.e. Christ was not created. Both existed before anything else. And they created together ( John 1:3; Col 1:15-17; Heb 1:1-3 ).

How can this be? Is the Word eluded to in Genesis. Yes when it says "and God said..." He is speaking the creation into existence by His Word. 

²And he is part of creation in the sense that he was fully man; but unlike other creatures, he existed prior to becoming a man. Not only so, he is the Creator through whom all things were created.

³the following are several translations handling some key verses regarding the deity of Christ. 

Why do I list all these translations? 

All translators must be scholars in the language they translate. This is the primarily reason they are chosen. Each translation (i.e. KJV, NASB, ESV, etc.) has a team of translators. After looking at the original text the experts were in full agreement with what they said.

This is not always the case with other passages. However with the passages below it was. 

◄ 1 John 5:20 ►

New International Version

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

New Living Translation

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. 

English Standard Version

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

Berean Standard Bible

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

Berean Literal Bible

Now we know that the Son of God is come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

King James Bible

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 

New King James Version

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 

New American Standard Bible

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 

NASB 1995

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 

NASB 1977

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 

Legacy Standard Bible

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 

Amplified Bible

And we [have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God has [actually] come [to this world], and has given us understanding and insight so that we may [progressively and personally] know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 

Christian Standard Bible

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

Holman Christian Standard Bible

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One—that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

American Standard Version

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 

Contemporary English Version

We know that Jesus Christ the Son of God has come and has shown us the true God. And because of Jesus, we now belong to the true God who gives eternal life. 

English Revised Version

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 

GOD'S WORD® Translation

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we know the real God. We are in the one who is real, his Son Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is the real God and eternal life. 

Good News Translation

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we know the true God. We live in union with the true God--in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life. 

International Standard Version

We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true God. We are in union with the one who is true, his Son Jesus the Messiah, who is the true God and eternal life. 

NET Bible

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life. 

New Heart English Bible

We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

Webster's Bible Translation

And we know that the Son of God hath come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 

Weymouth New Testament

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we know the true One, and are in union with the true One--that is, we are in union with His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and the Life of the Ages. 

Majority Text Translations 

Majority Standard Bible

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

World English Bible

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 

Literal Translations 

Literal Standard Version

but we have known that the Son of God has come, and has given us a mind that we may know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ; this One is the true God and the continuous Life! 

Berean Literal Bible

Now we know that the Son of God is come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

Young's Literal Translation

and we have known that the Son of God is come, and hath given us a mind, that we may know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ; this one is the true God and the life age-during! 

Smith's Literal Translation

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, and we know him true, and we are in him true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 

Catholic Translations 

Douay-Rheims Bible

And we know that the Son of God is come: and he hath given us understanding that we may know the true God, and may be in his true Son. This is the true God and life eternal. 

Catholic Public Domain Version

And we know that the Son of God has arrived, and that he has given us understanding, so that we may know the true God, and so that we may remain in his true Son. This is the true God, and this is Eternal Life. 

New American Bible

We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. And we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

New Revised Standard Version

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

Translations from Aramaic 

Lamsa Bible

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true, and we are in him who is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 

Aramaic Bible in Plain English

And we know that The Son of God has come and he has given us a mind to know The True One and to be in The True One- in his Son, Yeshua The Messiah. This One is The True God and The Life Eternal. 

NT Translations 

Anderson New Testament

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, that we may know him that is true: and we are in him that is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and life eternal. 

Godbey New Testament

But we know that the Son of God has come and has given unto us intelligence, that we know the truth. And we are in the true one, in his Son Jesus Christ; he is the true God, and eternal life. 

Haweis New Testament

But we know that the Son of God hath come, and hath given to us understanding, that we might know the true God; and we are in him that is true, in his Son Jesus the Messiah. HE is the true God, and the life eternal. 

Mace New Testament

We know that the son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true: and we are with him that is true, by his son Jesus Christ. "he is the true God, who is the author of eternal life." 

Weymouth New Testament

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we know the true One, and are in union with the true One--that is, we are in union with His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and the Life of the Ages. 

Worrell New Testament

And we know that the Son of God hath come, and hath given us understanding, that we may know the True One: and we are in the True One?in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God, and eternal life. 

Worsley New Testament

But we know that the son of God is come, and hath given us understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, and in his son Jesus Christ: He is the true God, and eternal life. 

Additional Translations ... 

…19We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true— in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the TRUE God and eternal life. 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.…

Berean Standard Bible 

Cross References 

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. 

Colossians 2:2-3

that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, / in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Hebrews 1:2-3

But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. / The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 

1 John 1:1-3

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; … 

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. 

Romans 9:5

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen. 

Titus 2:13

as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

Philippians 2:6

Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

1 John 5:1

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 

1 John 4:2,14

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: … 

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

John 17:3

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

Greek

And

δὲ (de)

Conjunction

Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. 

we know

οἴδαμεν (oidamen)

Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural

Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate. 

that

ὅτι (hoti)

Conjunction

Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. 

the

ὁ (ho)

Article - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. 

Son

Υἱὸς (Huios)

Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship. 

of God

Θεοῦ (Theou)

Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. 

has come

ἥκει (hēkei)

Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

Strong's 2240: To have come, be present, have arrived. A primary verb; to arrive, i.e. Be present. 

and

καὶ (kai)

Conjunction

Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. 

has given

δέδωκεν (dedōken)

Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give. 

us

ἡμῖν (hēmin)

Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural

Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. 

understanding,

διάνοιαν (dianoian)

Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

Strong's 1271: From dia and nous; deep thought, properly, the faculty, by implication, its exercise. 

so that

ἵνα (hina)

Conjunction

Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that. 

we may know

γινώσκωμεν (ginōskōmen)

Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural

Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications. 

Him who [is]

τὸν (ton)

Article - Accusative Masculine Singular

Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. 

true;

ἀληθινόν (alēthinon)

Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular

Strong's 228: True (lit: made of truth), real, genuine. From alethes; truthful. 

and

καὶ (kai)

Conjunction

Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. 

we are

ἐσμὲν (esmen)

Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural

Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. 

in

ἐν (en)

Preposition

Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. 

Him who [is]

τῷ (tō)

Article - Dative Masculine Singular

Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. 

true—

ἀληθινῷ (alēthinō)

Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular

Strong's 228: True (lit: made of truth), real, genuine. From alethes; truthful. 

in

ἐν (en)

Preposition

Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. 

His

αὐτοῦ (autou)

Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular

Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. 

Son

Υἱῷ (Huiō)

Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship. 

Jesus

Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)

Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. 

Christ.

Χριστῷ (Christō)

Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus. 

He

οὗτός (houtos)

Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it. 

is

ἐστιν (estin)

Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. 

the

ὁ (ho)

Article - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. 

TRUE

ἀληθινὸς (alēthinos)

Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 228: True (lit: made of truth), real, genuine. From alethes; truthful. 

God

Θεὸς (Theos)

Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. 

and

καὶ (kai)

Conjunction

Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. 

eternal

αἰώνιος (aiōnios)

Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular

Strong's 166: From aion; perpetual. 

life.

ζωὴ (zōē)

Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular

Strong's 2222: Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life. 

___________________________ 

◄ John 1:18 ►

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. 

New Living Translation

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. 

English Standard Version

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. 

Berean Standard Bible

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. 

Berean Literal Bible

No one has ever yet seen God. The only begotten God, the One being in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known. 

King James Bible

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 

New King James Version

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. 

New American Standard Bible

No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him. 

NASB 1995

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. 

NASB 1977

No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. 

Legacy Standard Bible

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. 

Amplified Bible

No one has seen God [His essence, His divine nature] at any time; the [One and] only begotten God [that is, the unique Son] who is in the intimate presence of the Father, He has explained Him [and interpreted and revealed the awesome wonder of the Father]. 

Christian Standard Bible

No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side —he has revealed him. 

Holman Christian Standard Bible

No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son— the One who is at the Father’s side— He has revealed Him. 

American Standard Version

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 

Contemporary English Version

No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like. 

English Revised Version

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 

GOD'S WORD® Translation

No one has ever seen God. God's only Son, the one who is closest to the Father's heart, has made him known. 

Good News Translation

No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father's side, he has made him known. 

International Standard Version

No one has ever seen God. The unique God, who is close to the Father's side, has revealed him. 

NET Bible

No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known. 

New Heart English Bible

No one has seen God at any time. The only Son, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. 

Webster's Bible Translation

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 

Weymouth New Testament

No human eye has ever seen God: the only Son, who is in the Father's bosom--He has made Him known. 

Majority Text Translations 

Majority Standard Bible

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. 

World English Bible

No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him. 

Literal Translations 

Literal Standard Version

No one has ever seen God; the only begotten God who is on the bosom of the Father—He has expounded [Him]. 

Berean Literal Bible

No one has ever yet seen God. The only begotten God, the One being in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known. 

Young's Literal Translation

God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten Son, who is on the bosom of the Father -- he did declare. 

Smith's Literal Translation

None has seen God at any time; the only born Son, he being in the bosom of the Father, he has declared. 

Catholic Translations 

Douay-Rheims Bible

No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 

Catholic Public Domain Version

No one ever saw God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he himself has described him. 

New American Bible

No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him. 

New Revised Standard Version

No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. 

Translations from Aramaic 

Lamsa Bible

No man has ever seen God; but the firstborn of God, who is in the bosom of his Father, he has declared him. 

Aramaic Bible in Plain English

No man has seen God at any time; The Only Begotten God Who is in the bosom of The Father, he has declared him.” 

NT Translations 

Anderson New Testament

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has revealed him. 

Godbey New Testament

No one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, the one being in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared him. 

Haweis New Testament

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath thoroughly described him. 

Mace New Testament

no man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten son, who is intimate with the father, hath made him known. 

Weymouth New Testament

No human eye has ever seen God: the only Son, who is in the Father's bosom--He has made Him known. 

Worrell New Testament

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He declared Him. 

Worsley New Testament

and though no one hath ever seen God, or can see Him: yet the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, hath made Him known.

The Word Became Flesh 

…17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. 19And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”...Berean Standard Bible 

Cross References 

Colossians 1:15

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 

Hebrews 1:3

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 

John 14:9

Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 

1 John 5:20

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

1 John 4:9

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 

John 14:9

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

Greek

No one

οὐδεὶς (oudeis)

Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing. 

has ever seen

ἑώρακεν (heōraken)

Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. 

God,

Θεὸν (Theon)

Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular

Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. 

[but the] one and only Son,

μονογενὴς (monogenēs)

Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 3439: Only, only-begotten; unique. From monos and ginomai; only-born, i.e. Sole. 

[who is Himself] God

Θεὸς (Theos)

Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. 

[and]

ὁ (ho)

Article - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. 

is

ὢν (ōn)

Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular

Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. 

at

εἰς (eis)

Preposition

Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. 

the

τὸν (ton)

Article - Accusative Masculine Singular

Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. 

Father’s

Πατρὸς (Patros)

Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. 

side,

κόλπον (kolpon)

Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular

Strong's 2859: Apparently a primary word; the bosom; by analogy, a bay. 

has made [Him] known.

ἐξηγήσατο (exēgēsato)

Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular

Strong's 1834: To lead, show the way; met: I unfold, narrate, declare. From ek and hegeomai; to consider out, i.e. Rehearse, unfold.