According to the Bible, is it OK to use "father" as a religious title?

Question

Jesus appears to say No at Matthew 23:7-10. Note that he associates this with the religious title "rabbi."

But Paul appears to indicate otherwise at 1 Corinthians 4:14, 15.

Does Paul contradict Jesus? Is there any indication in the Scriptures or in church history that the earliest Christians used "father" as a religious title?

Answer 1

Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 also likens his relationship to the congregation to that of a nursing mother. Did he mean them to call him "mother"?

Answer 2

In the Old Testament, Joseph tells his brothers of a special fatherly relationship God had given him with the king of Egypt: "So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 45:8).

Job indicates he played a fatherly role with the less fortunate: "I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know" (Job 29:16). And God himself declares that he will give a fatherly role to Eliakim, the steward of the house of David: "In that day I will call my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah . . . and I will clothe him with [a] robe, and will bind [a] girdle on him, and will commit . . . authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah" (Is. 22:20–21).

This type of fatherhood not only applies to those who are wise counselors (like Joseph) or benefactors (like Job) or both (like Eliakim), it also applies to those who have a fatherly spiritual relationship with one. For example, Elisha cries, "My father, my father!" to Elijah as the latter is carried up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kgs. 2:12). Later, Elisha himself is called a father by the king of Israel (2 Kgs. 6:21).

Catholics know that as members of a parish, they have been committed to a priest’s spiritual care, thus they have great filial affection for priests and call them "father." Priests, in turn, follow the apostles’ biblical example by referring to members of their flock as "my son" or "my child" (cf. Gal. 4:19; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:1; Philem. 10; 1 Pet. 5:13; 1 John 2:1; 3 John 4).  Paul does not contradict Jesus.

Answer 3

There is a stark difference between what Jesus rebuked (men titling and lifting themselves up above others to become self-proclaimed authorities and subvert the authority of God) and what Paul did... an affectionate referrence to himself as a father (earthly spiritual dad).  This was not a title but a relationship.

There is a difference between a title and a relationship.

I have some men I would consider like a father spiritually, but I don't call them "Father" in the sense that Jesus was clearly speaking.

The main issue with Jesus wasn't just the title it was the person replacing Christ as authority or God as Father.  This was a big issue in Judaism at the time.  Men had come in and added so much stuff to the Bible that they just quoted Rabbis instead of searching the scriptures themselves.

Answer 4

I guess it depends on whether you follow Christ or you follow Paul. Christ said not to call any man on earth "father", as our Father is in heaven.

edit- so, yes Paul contradicts Christ.

"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. Therefore I urge you to imitate me".

This sounds a great deal like an open invitation to refer to religious leaders as "father". Paul calls himself "your father" through the gospel. Yet, Christ said not to do that. He said "your Father is in heaven". How much more precise could he have been?

Answer 5

No not at all

Answer 6

rabbi means teacher and not father

no man is to call another father on earth for there is one father...our Heavenly Father

This is referring to religious leaders and not to fleshly fathers.

Answer 7

Paul wasn't contridicting jesus.

Jesus was talking about titles that people like to carry that exalts that person above others. He said you should all be brothers/brethren. This is why most christians call each other simply brother and sister so and so.

Paul was talking about his relationship in a metaphorical sense wit those he taught the gospel and mentored in the faith. Paul wasn't saying, from now on call me Father Paul. Mainly, because he knew and understood Christ's teaachings.

Paul had said earlier in 1 Cor 1:14, that he had heard the division that was starting because some were saying I am of Paul and I am of Cephas, and he was trying to tell them that we should all keep our focus on Christ and not man.

James touched on this topic a little bit;

James 2:9- But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Job also agreed wth this point:

Job 32:21 - Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.  

Solomon wrote that a man will do you wrong over nothing

Prov 28:21 - To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

I hope this helps your understanding of these scriptures.....

Answer 8

no, you are to call no one father except you father in heaven,(the bible)

Answer 9

No.  Only one is our Father, Jehovah.

Jesus Christ himself ruled out the use of the religious title “Father” when he said: “Do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One.” (Matthew 23:9) The use of the term “Father” to designate any religious figure is unchristian and unscriptural. The written Word of God was completed about 98 C.E. with the writings of the apostle John. Thus, true Christians do not need to look to any human as the source of inspired revelation. They are careful not to ‘make the word of God invalid’ because of human tradition. Letting human tradition take the place of God’s Word is spiritually lethal. Jesus warned: “If . . . a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”—Matthew 15:6, 14.

Answer 10

According to the Bible, no it is not ok....

Answer 11

Actually, I don't believe the title "rabbi" existed for another hundred years or more.

Nor do I think the title "father" is in the Bible.  Such things BOTH came after the end of the first century CE.

Answer 12

There is no contradiction.

The Hebrew word ’av, translated “father,” is a mimetic (imitative) word taken from the first and simplest sounds of infant lips. The Hebrew ’av and the Greek pa·ter′ are both used in various senses: as begetter, or progenitor, of an individual (Pr 23:22; Zec 13:3; Lu 1:67), the head of a household or ancestral family (Ge 24:40; Ex 6:14), an ancestor (Ge 28:13; Joh 8:53), a founder of a nation (Mt 3:9), a founder of a class or profession (Ge 4:20, 21), a protector (Job 29:16; Ps 68:5), the source of something (Job 38:28), and a term of respect (2Ki 5:13; Ac 7:2).

Jehovah God as Creator is called Father. (Isa 64:8; compare Ac 17:28, 29.) He is also the Father of spirit-begotten Christians, the Aramaic term ’Ab·ba’′ being used as an expression of respect and of close filial relationship. (Ro 8:15; see ABBA.) All who express faith with a hope of everlasting life can address God as Father. (Mt 6:9) Jesus Christ, the Messiah, because of being God’s Chief Agent of life, was prophetically called Eternal Father. (Isa 9:6) Also, anyone who has imitators and followers, or those who exhibit his qualities, is regarded as a father to them. (Mt 5:44, 45; Ro 4:11, 12) In this sense the Devil is spoken of as a father.—Joh 8:44; compare Ge 3:15.

Applying “father” to men as a formalistic or religious title was forbidden by Jesus. (Mt 23:9) Because of Paul’s bringing the good news to certain Christians and nourishing them spiritually he was like a father to them, but in no scripture is “father” applied to him as a religious title. (1Co 4:14, 15) Paul likened himself to both a father and a mother in his relation to the Thessalonian Christians. (1Th 2:7, 11) Whereas reference is made at Luke 16:24, 30 to “father Abraham,” this is basically in the sense of fleshly ancestry.

Answer 13

imo no..

Answer 14

God's Word tells us to call no man "Reverend/Father."  That isn't speaking about our dad, it means heads of churches.  

And no, Paul doesn't contradict Jesus.

As for scriptures speaking of "church history," you won't find it because the true "church" is Yeshua and His followers.  Not a building.

D1

Answer 15

According to the Bible;

No, it is Not o.k. to use the term / word father as a religious title.

I say "earthly father", when referring to the man whom laid with my mother.

Paul never contradicted Jesus' words, ever.

There are No,

contradictions within the Holy Word of God Almighty.

Answer 16

The same word is used in both places:

Greek for G3962 πατήρ

but the application is different. In Matthew 23 Jesus is using the definition of:

3) God is called the Father

a) of the stars, the heavenly luminaries, because he is their creator, upholder, ruler

In 1 Corinthians 4 Paul is using the definition of:

2) metaph.

b) one who stands in a father's place and looks after another in a paternal way

Look at the context of what is being talked about and you will see this.

Answer 17

Paul was not suggesting people call him father, only that he had begotten them in the Word of God.

1Cr 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn [you].

1Cr 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Matthew 23:7-10  7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Answer 18

Jesus called God His Father all the time, that's the only name Jesus used when referring to God. Before some jump on me, when Jesus, while on the cross said, 'My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me'. He was quoting the 22nd psalm where David had said "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me. Jesus was PREACHING while he was dying on the cross. David had told this prophecy 1000 years prior that Jesus would be on that cross and say that very thing. There is but ONE Father, and He is in heaven. NO MAN should be referred to as 'father', God don't like that at all. They should call them brother because that's what they really are, a brother of ours in life, not a 'father'.