Question:
Dr. Hank, I know that in Matthew 23:9 it tells us to call no man your Father upon this earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Why then does Paul call himself “father” of the Corinthians and Timothy his “child”??? I Love your show! Thanks for caring! I just like to check out everything I read and all that people tell me against the word of God!
Answer:
1. God wants us to honor our parents (father) as shown in the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:12), as well as Matt. 15:4 and Eph. 6:1-3. Calling our dad “father” is good thing, not a bad thing… it is a sign of respect. 2. The word does however have a wrong application. It is a wrong application when used with anyone except God as it means authority, eminence, superiority, a right to command, and a claim to particular respect. Only God deserves such respect, and therefore should not be used as such. 3. The highest Christian office ever afforded man was that of “Apostle.” This office is no longer available; however, even the apostles were not afforded this title, nor did they accept it. 4. Paul referred to himself as a “spiritual father” because he had begotten people through the Gospel (1 Cor. 4:15). But he did not ask them to use that term when addressing him.