The Protestants' Interpretation of "Call No Man Father"

[Wesley7]

I have a legitimate question ~ when reading the Gospels I come across this passage ~

(Matthew 23.9) And call no one father on earth, for one is your Father, the One in Heaven.

How do Orthodox or Catholics properly explain the apparent contradiction when priests are called father???

 

[ecedmondson]

davidmacd.com/catholic/priests_forgive_sins_call_no_man_father.htm

I think that sufficiently explains it.

 

[bpbasilphx]

And did you read the next verse?

In the KJV it forbids us to call anyone “master.” That means we can’t use “Mr.” and “Mrs.”, either, as they are merely variants of the word “master”.

Did you read in Acts where both St. Stephen and St. Paul addressed gatherings in synagogues as “men, brethren, and FATHERS”?

Did you read in the 1 John where the apostle said, “I write this to you, FATHERS…”?

OTOH, one of the things Jesus had to endure was always hearing, “We have Abraham for our father…”

 

[Wesley7]

And did you read the next verse?

Yes, the whole passage.

What do Protestants say about it?

 

[ecedmondson]

Protestants say that Catholics/Orthodox/Episcopalians/whoever else are throwing the Bible out the window (I get accused of that alot) and that we’re disobeying the scriptures. I live in a largely Protestant area and I’ve been told many times that I am sinning by calling the Priest “father”.

 

[lil_flower_luv]

davidmacd.com/catholic/priests_forgive_sins_call_no_man_father.htm

I think that sufficiently explains it.

 

[rev_kevin]

I don’t see anything wrong with it. I have looked a the website that was provided and at other sources and I come to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with calling a priest Father. I also looked at the rest of the passages and researched that as well and I come up with the same conclusion, there is nothing wrong with it. We need to look at the context of what is being said. We need to look at a few verses before and a few verses after to get the whole picture of what that one passage means.

 

[JonNC]

I have a legitimate question ~ when reading the Gospels I come across this passage ~

(Matthew 23.9) And call no one father on earth, for one is your Father, the One in Heaven.

How do Orthodox or Catholics properly explain the apparent contradiction when priests are called father???

ISTM we are to call no one on earth Father, as in God. To extend that to mean one shouldn’t call his/her pastor “Father”, or his/her dad “Father” isn’t credible.

Jon

 

[AmericanJosiah]

ISTM we are to call no one on earth Father, as in God. To extend that to mean one shouldn’t call his/her pastor “Father”, or his/her dad “Father” isn’t credible.

Jon

I agree.

I suspect the opening poster MEANT to post, “SOME Protestants’ position is…”

IMHO, this point (which I’ve only heard from Catholics, I’ve actually never heard any Protestant make this point - not saying none do, just none known to ME personally) is simply missing the important distinction you bring out of the context.

Of course, in Europe, some Protestants (including often Lutherans) refer to the minister as “Father.” I actually rather like that. It stresses a RELATIONSHIP, one that is caring, nurturing, providing. In my Catholic years, I called the priest “Father” and I did so with endearment and respect. In many ways, it is like our popular American (and increasingly international) term of “pastor.” BTW, “pope” as that kind of implication, too. What I hate is “reverand” (a term used often in my father’s denomination - he is a pastor) - I understand what is meant, but it sounds pompous. My dad (father!) always prefers “pastor” to “reverand.”

Thanks!

Pax

• Josiah

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[JonNC]

I agree.

I suspect the opening poster MEANT to post, “SOME Protestants’ position is…”

IMHO, this point (which I’ve only heard from Catholics, I’ve actually never heard any Protestant make this point - not saying none do, just none known to ME personally) is simply missing the important distinction you bring out of the context.

Of course, in Europe, some Protestants (including often Lutherans) refer to the minister as “Father.” I actually rather like that. It stresses a RELATIONSHIP, one that is caring, nurturing, providing. In my Catholic years, I called the priest “Father” and I did so with endearment and respect. In many ways, it is like our popular American (and increasingly international) term of “pastor.” BTW, “pope” as that kind of implication, too. What I hate is “reverand” (a term used often in my father’s denomination - he is a pastor) - I understand what is meant, but it sounds pompous. My dad (father!) always prefers “pastor” to “reverand.”

Thanks!

Pax

• Josiah

.

This is consistent with my experience. My dad’s title was “The Reverend Doctor…” He preferred to be addressed as “Pastor…”. In a town of many Catholics and Lutherans, he was often called “Father” on the street, which he didn’t mind. It was usually Protestants of other communions that called him Reverend, and he didn’t care for it.

Jon

 

[SingleMomMonica]

I have a legitimate question ~ when reading the Gospels I come across this passage ~

(Matthew 23.9) And call no one father on earth, for one is your Father, the One in Heaven.

How do Orthodox or Catholics properly explain the apparent contradiction when priests are called father???

I never saw any contradiction since St. Paul was always referring to himself as Father as did Moses, I think.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

If you took Christ’s injunction literally, you couldn’t even call your own natural father, “Father”.

It was said in a certain context, namely against the arrogant presumptiousness of the Pharisees, and should be understood as such. But as usual there are some Protestants who take it literally. I bet they call their own natural fathers, “Father”, though.

 

[Reuben_J]

Maybe wait a little bit longer, there are Protestants who are vehemently against calling priests Father.

I have taken part in argument over this subject and it is not quite pleasant. Thanks God a good many Protestants such as you here who do not stop reading after finding the offensive verse. Of course, it is always about context, context and context.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Maybe wait a little bit longer, there are Protestants who are vehemently against calling priests Father.

I have taken part in argument over this subject and it is not quite pleasant. Thanks God a good many Protestants such as you here who do not stop reading after finding the offensive verse. Of course, it is always about context, context and context.

I have to tell you what my Pastor told me, he is retired now. I had a discussion with him about this issue. Father James informed me that some JW’s came to his office, who were past Roman Catholics, and wanted their names removed from the record book of baptised Catholics. But before they continued, they told Father James that they are offended to address him as Father James? and asked him how should they address him? Father James told them “well if you don’t want to address me as Father, then call me Daddy”. He informed them that he did not have the power to remove their baptism, because what God has joined together, no man can seperate.

 

[Melkite_Sword]

I have a legitimate question ~ when reading the Gospels I come across this passage ~

(Matthew 23.9) And call no one father on earth, for one is your Father, the One in Heaven.

How do Orthodox or Catholics properly explain the apparent contradiction when priests are called father???

Orthodox and Catholics look at this scripture verse in its context, and harmonising it with the rest of scripture. Not to the contradiction of other verses.

Matthew 23:7-10

"7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’

8"But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ."

What Jesus is saying is simply don’t give any worldly leader the status of God or honour they do not deserve that should be given to God alone. Infact Christ himself tells us ‘honour your father and mother’(Matt 15:4, 19:19) he called Abraham, ‘father Abraham’(John 8:56). The argument is made by many Protestants when presented with these verses that Christ, in Matthew 23:9 is refering only to spiritual leaders, not physical fathers (I have encountered this arguement), ofcourse Abraham was more than a physical father, he was also a spiritual father (Romans 4:12). Finally St Paul tells the Corinthians
“Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” (1Corinthians 4:15), infact this is precisely why we call priests father. By calling priests ‘father’ we aren’t robbing God of his honour and Fatherhood.

Peace and blessings