How do you explain the term “only begotten”?

The term “only begotten” is a theologically damaging translation of the term monogenes. Early translators thought the term derived from two terms, mono (only one) and gennao (to be born). But, as we have seen, God was never born Bethlehem. Instead it is nearly certain that the term comes from mono (only one) and genos (species or kind). Thus Jesus, as the monogenes God is the “one and only God” (niv), unique, the only one of his kind.