Muslims might say that Jesus cannot be the eternal Son of God because the concept of sonship implies a beginning.

The historical position of the Church emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, a belief that has been upheld since the early creeds. The Nicene Creed articulates that Jesus is 'eternally begotten of the Father,' indicating that His sonship is not a result of creation but rather an intrinsic aspect of His divine nature. This is further supported by the Athanasian Creed, which clarifies that the Son is 'of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten.' Thus, the relationship between the Father and the Son is one of eternal generation, not a temporal event. Moreover, the Scriptures affirm this understanding. For instance, John 1:1 states, 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.' This verse highlights that Jesus (the Word) existed with God from the very beginning, reinforcing the concept of His eternal nature. Additionally, Hebrews 1:5 asks, 'For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you”?', indicating that this unique sonship belongs solely to Jesus, setting Him apart from all creation. In light of these theological foundations, the Christian belief in the eternal sonship of Christ is not merely a doctrinal stance but is deeply rooted in Scripture and the historical teachings of the Church. The eternal nature of Christ as the Son of God is essential for understanding His divinity and the salvation He offers, which is central to Christian faith.