catholics say it's alright to call your earthly father, father (dad is the same thing as father.) Even though Jesus said call NO MAN father literally that would mean not even your earthly-father, if this was true why would Paul call abraham our father
Romans 4:12 And might be the father of circumcision; not to them only, that are of the circumcision, but to them also that follow the steps of the faithful, that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.
Romans 4:16 Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
and he also calls himself father
1 Cor. 4:15 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.
and note:
Matthew 23:10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
2007-03-15 07:02:56 · 8 answers · asked by Borinke 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
But a teacher is still called a teacher by everyone, right?... it seems the people who quote this verse are just trying to find ways to contradict catholics.
2007-03-15 07:05:33 · update #1
Preach on Brother!
2007-03-15 07:06:46 · answer #1 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to look at the context. The scribes and Pharisees wanted special titles. They like to be called Rabbi...Read Matthew 23:1-12.
So, Jesus said call NO man your Father. This does not include your earthly father. He means call no one your SPIRITUAL FATHER, only God.
Matthew 23:9 Moreover, DO NOT call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly one.
Abba Father is for God.
Eph 6:4 Fathers do not be irritating your children.
There are many places father is used in the Bible with regard to families.
Once again, Jesus means no one is The Teacher except Jesus. All his disciples do teach, but should only teach what the original teacher, Jesus taught. We should not look to any other man as a source of information about God. We should only repeat the teachings of the Christ.
Paul did not ask to be called father, but realized he had played a fatherly role, teaching children about Christ Jesus.
So, today, we should not give or received titles, as we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
2007-03-15 14:29:50 · answer #2 · answered by tina 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you really are after the truth, and not looking for a loophole in Matt. 23:9, here it is. Look at the context of Matt. 23:9. Jesus is telling his followers about the bad things the Pharisees do, including accepting flattering titles for themselves, like Rabbi and Father. Jesus told his disciples not to do that. He was not saying that it was wrong for a child to call his male parent father. The context of any Bible verse must be considered if we are to understand the true meaning of a scripture.
2007-03-15 14:11:14 · answer #3 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eh? I call the Priest "Father" all the time, so does everyone else. And i'm Catholic...I went to a Catholic school, and we were never told not to call the Priest "Father". You totally misread that.
"Teacher" isn't the same as "Father", and I think this is just one of the things we just ignore because it really doesn't have a point. Most Catholics do it because of habit, it'd be too difficult to stop.
2007-03-15 14:13:26 · answer #4 · answered by Stephanie C 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Matthew 23:6-9 reads, "They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven."
Are we also not to call anyone "teacher" or "doctor" which is how "rabbi' would translate?
This is call for humility for those in leadership roles. Not to be taken literally.
We are not to deny our male parent and cut the Commandment to honor our father and mother in half.
Some leaders in any church may fall into the same folly as the pharisees of Jesus' day.
With love in Christ.
2007-03-16 00:13:14 · answer #5 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Amen!!
Calling our priest father is not what Jesus was referring to.
2007-03-15 14:32:18 · answer #6 · answered by SpiritRoaming 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do you care what a bunch of spliters think?
2007-03-15 14:09:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should post more if you have time.
2007-03-15 18:30:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋