Call No Man Father

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Summary

A defense against Protestant accusations that Catholics are forbidden from calling priests 'father'

Protestants often use one verse to accuse Catholics of disobeying a commandment of Jesus Christ: "Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven." (Matt. 23:9)

In actuality, the verse is embedded among other commandments:

"But you are not to be called 'rabbi,' for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called 'masters,' for you have one master, the Christ" (Matt. 23:8–10).

Apostles as infractors

The worst infractors of the Protestant understanding of Jesus' commandment against calling no man father are the Apostles themselves.

The quotes listed below from the apostles are hyperbole where they do not have any problems with the father/son spiritual relationship. When Peter calls Mark his son, for example, would it be right to assume that he is his biological father, because he can't mean spiritual father according to Protestant understanding? Following this logic, Mark can't be his spiritual son because we are all only sons of God, we can't be sons of anyone else.

There are two expressions for the fatherhood Pater, what we call God, ancestor, or biological or step-father, and egennêsa meaning 'to physically give birth' or 'begetting' in geneologies, both with multiple meanings of context. Because Protestants insist on literality for this point, egennêsa means 'to give birth'. So either the Apostles are actually women or it has multiple meanings.

1 Cor. 4:14-17 (Saint Paul)

1 Cor 4:14 ouk entrepôn umas graphô tauta all ôs tekna mou agapêta nouthetôn

Interpretation: Not regarding you I write these but as children of me loved warning

• Why would Paul call them his beloved children?

1 Cor 4:15 ean gar {FOR IF} muriouV {TEN THOUSAND} paidagwgouV {TUTORS} echte {YE SHOULD HAVE} en {IN} cristw {CHRIST,} all {YET} ou {NOT} pollouV {MANY} pateraV {FATHERS;} en gar {FOR IN} cristw {CHRIST} ihsou {JESUS} dia {THROUGH} tou {THE} euaggeliou {GLAD TIDINGS} egw {I} umaV {YOU} egennhsa {GIVE BIRTH.}

Interpretation: If for ten thousand tutors you might have in Christ but not many fathers in for Christ Jesus through the good message I you gave birth. Additionally, Paul calls Timothy his beloved son in the lord, thereby making Paul Timothy's beloved father in the Lord.

1 Cor 4:16 (Greek/English Interlinear (tr) NT) 1 Corinthians 4:16 parakalw <3870> (5719) {I EXHORT} oun <3767> {THEREFORE} umaV <5209> {YOU,} mimhtai <3402> {IMITATORS} mou <3450> {OF ME} ginesqe <1096> (5737) {BECOME.}

1 Corinthians 4:17 dia <1223> {ON ACCOUNT OF} touto <5124> {THIS} epemya <3992> (5656) {I SENT} umin <5213> {TO YOU} timoqeon <5095> {TIMOTHY,} oV <3739> {WHO} estin <2076> (5748) {IS} teknon <5043> {CHILD} mou <3450> {MY} agaphton <27> {BELOVED} kai <2532> {AND} piston <4103> {FAITHFUL} en <1722> {IN THE} kuriw <2962> {LORD,} oV <3739> {WHO} umaV <5209> {YOU} anamnhsei <363> (5692) {WILL REMIND OF} taV <3588> odouV <3598> mou <3450> {MY WAYS} taV <3588> {THAT ARE} en <1722> {IN} cristw <5547> {CHRIST,} kaqwV <2531> {ACCORDING AS} pantacou <3837> {EVERYWHERE} en <1722> {IN} pash <3956> {EVERY} ekklhsia <1577> {ASSEMBLY} didaskw <1321> (5719) {I TEACH.}

Philomen 1:10 (Saint Paul)

Philomen 1:10 parakalô se peri tou emou teknou on egennêsa en tois desmois onêsimus

Interpration: I encourage you about the of me child whom I gave birth in the chains Onesimus

Philippians 2:22 (Saint Paul)

tên de dokimên autou ginôskete oti ôs patri teknon sun emoi edouleusen eis to euaggelion (2:22)

Interpretation: The but approval of him you know that as father child with me he slaved for the good message

• Paul doesn't use the typical word for son here, he says patri teknon (father child). Care to share with everyone the typical usage for the word "son"? I guess we could look in 1 Peter 5:13. So of course Mark MUST be Peters biological son.

1 Peter 5:13 (Saint Peter)

aspazetai <782> (5736) {SALUTES} umaV <5209> {YOU} h <3588> {SHE} en <1722> {IN} babulwni <897> {BABYLON} suneklekth <4899> {ELECTED WITH YOU,} kai <2532> {AND} markoV <3138> {MARK} o <3588> uioV <5207> mou <3450> {MY SON.}

• Paul is not a biological father of Onesimus nor Timothy. He is utilizing spiritual rebirth: i.e. spiritual fatherhood.

1 John 2:1 (Saint John)

teknia <5040> {LITTLE CHILDREN} mou <3450> {MY,} tauta <5023> {THESE THINGS} grafw <1125> (5719) {I WRITE} umin <5213> {TO YOU,} ina <2443> {THAT} mh <3361> amarthte <264> (5632) {YE MAY NOT SIN;} kai <2532> {AND} ean <1437> {IF} tiV <5100> {ANYONE} amarth <264> (5632) {SHOULD SIN,} paraklhton <3875> {A PARACLETE} ecomen <2192> (5719) {WE HAVE} proV <4314> {WITH} ton <3588> {THE} patera <3962> {FATHER,} ihsoun <2424> {JESUS} criston <5547> {CHRIST} dikaion <1342> {THE RIGHTEOUS;}

• John calls them his little children as a spiritual father. Later he tells them they know the Father in heaven. John differentiates between the two.

Gal 4:19 (Saint Paul)

tekna mou ous palin ôdinô mechris ou morphôthê christos en umin

Interpretation: Children of me whom again I have birth pains until that might be formed christ in you

2 Tim 2:1 (Saint Paul)

su oun teknon mou endunamou en tê chariti tê en christô iêsou

Interpretation: You then child of me be empowered in the favor the in Christ Jesus

2 Tim 1:2 (Saint Paul)

timotheô agapêtô teknô charis eleos eirênê apo theou patros kai christou iêsou tou kuriou êmôn

Interpretation: Timothy beloved (or loved one) child favor mercy peace from God father and Christ Jesus the master (or Lord) of us

• Tim 2:1 above shores up the meaning from 1:2.

Tit 1:4 (Saint Paul)

titô gnêsiô teknô kata koinên pistin charis kai eirênê apo theou patros kai christou iêsou tou sôtêros êmôn

Interpretation: Titus legitimate child by common trust favor and peace from God father and Christ Jesus the deliverer of us

More

Regarding calling anyone "your father", there are so many references in the NT that it's ridiculous to think Christ was outlawing the use of the term, either in a literal or symbolic sense.

Acts 3:13 - The God of Abraham, (the God) of Isaac, and (the God) of Jacob, the God of our ancestors (NB: same Greek word as Father in Matthew 23), has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presence, when he had decided to release him.

Acts 3:25 - You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors [again, same Greek word as Mat 23] when he said to Abraham, 'In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'

Acts 5:30 - The God of our ancestors NB Same word raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.

Acts 7:2 - And he replied, "My brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia,before he had settled in Haran,

Acts 7:4 - So he went forth from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, he made him migrate to this land where you now dwell.

Acts 7:8 - Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so he became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, as Isaac did Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.

Acts 7:14 - Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob, inviting him and his whole clan, seventy-five persons;

Acts 7:20 - At this time Moses was born, and he was extremely beautiful. For three months he was nursed in his father's house;

Acts 7:29 - Moses fled when he heard this and settled as an alien in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

Acts 7:39 - "Our ancestors NB Same Greek as Matt 23 were unwilling to obey him; instead, they pushed him aside and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,

See also vv 44-45, 51-52 for even more Steven comments on the Greek word pater.

Acts 22:1 - My brothers and fathers, listen to what I am about to say to you in my defense.

Acts 22:14 - Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors Same Greek designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice;

Acts 26:6 - But now I am standing trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors. Same Greek

Acts 28:25 - Without reaching any agreement among themselves they began to leave; then Paul made one final statement. "Well did the holy Spirit speak to your ancestors Same Greek through the prophet Isaiah, saying:

Romans 4:1 - What then can we say that Abraham found, our ancestor according to the flesh? Same Greek

Romans 4:11-12 - And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal on the righteousness received through faith while he was uncircumcised. Thus he was to be the father of all the uncircumcised who believe, so that to them (also) righteousness might be credited, as well as the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but also follow the path of faith that our father Abraham walked while still uncircumcised.

Romans 4:16-18 - For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, "I have made you father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "Thus shall your descendants be."

Romans 9:5 - theirs the patriarchs Same Greek, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen.

Romans 9:10 - And not only that, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one husband, our father Isaac...

Romans 15:8 - For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, Same Greek

1 Cor 4:14-15 - 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.

Eph 6:2 - "Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise,

Eph 6:4 - Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.

Phil 2:22 - But you know his worth, how as a child with a father he served along with me in the cause of the gospel.

Col 3:21 - Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.

1 Th 2:11 - As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children,

1 Tim 5:1 - Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father. Treat younger men as brothers,

Philemon 10 - I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment,

Hebrews 1:1 - In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors Same Greek through the prophets;

Hebrews 7:10 - for he was still in his father's loins when Melchizedek met him.

2 Peter 3:4 - and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? From the time when our ancestors Same Greek fell asleep, everything has remained as it was from the beginning of creation."

1 Jn 2:13-14 - I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one.

Regarding calling no one teacher:

1 Cor 12:28 - Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues.

Eph 4:11 - And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers

1 Tim 2:7 - For this I was appointed preacher and apostle (I am speaking the truth, I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

2 Tim 1:11 - ...for which I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher.

Resources

• Call No Man Father? (Catholic.com)

Discussion

• Why don't non-Catholics call their leaders Father?
• Excuse me Father.......
• Call NO MAN Father?
• Problem with call no man father argument