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Pathway2
Guest
I am asking about calling members of the church Fathers where Christ stated only God is your Father, please explain?
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Gorgias
Guest
Please re-read the Scripture you’re quoting in context. (After all, Jesus also said that he was the gate – you don’t believe he was being literal, do you? 
)
In context, Jesus is railing against the Pharisees, who revel in lofty titles and special treatment. Jesus addresses the crowd… but He’s really speaking to the Pharisees.
The gist of the message here is that Jesus is upbraiding those who live for such honors, and is telling us that this desire for adulation is what’s wrong.
Moreover, we see in Scripture (even after this supposed ban, in Acts and in Paul’s letters) that Christians are calling others ‘father’ or putting themselves in the role of spiritual father.
There’s a webpage here on Catholic Answers that discusses it at length…
)In context, Jesus is railing against the Pharisees, who revel in lofty titles and special treatment. Jesus addresses the crowd… but He’s really speaking to the Pharisees.
The gist of the message here is that Jesus is upbraiding those who live for such honors, and is telling us that this desire for adulation is what’s wrong.
Moreover, we see in Scripture (even after this supposed ban, in Acts and in Paul’s letters) that Christians are calling others ‘father’ or putting themselves in the role of spiritual father.
There’s a webpage here on Catholic Answers that discusses it at length…
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Pathway2
Guest
thank you so much, this really helps me grow in the faith.
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greenrangerx
Guest
1 Corinthians 4:14-16: “I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you, be imitators of me.”
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Francis
Guest
Hi, @Pathway2
Most protestants use it out of context ,it doesn’t mean we should not use the word Father,while Jesus was mentioning,you should not idolize someone,other than the Father.otherwise the word will not be mentioned in many verses below as an example in the New Testament
Acts 7:2 – St. Stephen calls Jewish leaders “fathers”
Acts 21:40, 22:1 – St. Paul calls Jerusalem Jews “fathers”
Rom 4:16-17 – Abraham called the father of us all”
1Cor 4:14-15 – I became your father in Christ through gospel
1Tim 1:2 – my true child in our common faith
Heb 12:7-9 – we have earthly fathers to discipline us
Lk 14:26 – if anyone comes to me without hating his father…
1Thess 2:11 – we treated you as a father treats his children
Philem 10 – whose father I became in my imprisonment
1Jn 2:13, 14 – I write to you, fathers, because you know him
Most protestants use it out of context ,it doesn’t mean we should not use the word Father,while Jesus was mentioning,you should not idolize someone,other than the Father.otherwise the word will not be mentioned in many verses below as an example in the New Testament
Acts 7:2 – St. Stephen calls Jewish leaders “fathers”
Acts 21:40, 22:1 – St. Paul calls Jerusalem Jews “fathers”
Rom 4:16-17 – Abraham called the father of us all”
1Cor 4:14-15 – I became your father in Christ through gospel
1Tim 1:2 – my true child in our common faith
Heb 12:7-9 – we have earthly fathers to discipline us
Lk 14:26 – if anyone comes to me without hating his father…
1Thess 2:11 – we treated you as a father treats his children
Philem 10 – whose father I became in my imprisonment
1Jn 2:13, 14 – I write to you, fathers, because you know him
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rcwitness
Guest
This is actually one of the practices of Catholicism i have trouble defending.
Why do we call priests Father, when Jesus instructs us not to!
I can only surmise that they are not “thee Father” but Fathers who represent the one Father in heaven.
Here is a scripture which seems to support calling the Bishop of Rome “Pope”:
Isaiah 22
“In that day I will call my servant Eli′akim the son of Hilki′ah, 21 and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”
Why do we call priests Father, when Jesus instructs us not to!
I can only surmise that they are not “thee Father” but Fathers who represent the one Father in heaven.
Here is a scripture which seems to support calling the Bishop of Rome “Pope”:
Isaiah 22
“In that day I will call my servant Eli′akim the son of Hilki′ah, 21 and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”
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Spyridon
Guest
I will answer your question if you can tell me: why do you call your dad Father if Christ stated only God is your Father?
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rcwitness
Guest
Our earthly father is according to the flesh.
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Thom18
Guest
Jesus also said to call no man rabbi, because we have one teacher- yet He commanded His apostles to teach all nations.
He was using hyperbole to make a point about people seeking earthly glory, or “salutations in the marketplace, being called “rabbi”, the first seat in the synagogues”, etc.
He was using hyperbole to make a point about people seeking earthly glory, or “salutations in the marketplace, being called “rabbi”, the first seat in the synagogues”, etc.
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Gorgias
Guest
(Psst… read the link I cited. It’ll help.
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Mary888
Guest
Because He the Father is present there in the discussions with the priests. We call Him be present there. They are but meek workers then.
1 Corinthians 4:14-15
I am writing all this not to make you ashamed but simply to remind you, as my dear children; for even though you might have ten thousand slaves to look after you in Christ, you still have no more than one father, and it was I who fathered you in Christ Jesus, by the gospel.
I am writing all this not to make you ashamed but simply to remind you, as my dear children; for even though you might have ten thousand slaves to look after you in Christ, you still have no more than one father, and it was I who fathered you in Christ Jesus, by the gospel.
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