Why are Priests called father? I thought G-d was the Father?

Answer 1

I have no idea, but the whole "He must increase, but I must decrease"-John 3:30 should be a humbling scripture.

To the person above me, Abraham was their father, they are descendents of him.

Answer 2

It goes way back in the old testament where the father was the head of his tribe or house and that was passed on to his first Son who were priests. To make a long story short
Jesus being the first and only Son of God share in that distinction. The head of the family ( Father), Priest are head of the sheep in their fold thus designating them as father. It is by no means disrespectful to our heavenly Father but rather glorifying Him

Answer 3

For those who quote Matthew, the same passage says call no man teacher and call no man leader.

But those object to the term father used for priests are perfectly fine using the term pastor, which means leader, or teacher.

Paul too calls himself the spiritual father of those he wrote to.

1 Corinthians 4
15 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.

From Romans 4
So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

17As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations."[c] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

From Romans 9
10Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac.

From Galatians 1
14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

From Philippians 2
22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

From 1 Thessalonians 2
11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

From 1 Timothy 5
1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father.

I could find more. But I think you get the picture.

Answer 4

Not sure, but the Bible says, "Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father who is in Heaven". Matthew 23:9 By the way, those are the words of Jesus...

Answer 5

They are just playing the part with the figure head. There are so many children born out of wedlock and to lust that they have to have someone to go to. they also want to be a father but often they give that up at least the part we see of them and besides. Bill told them to do it that way.

Answer 6

I was raised Catholic, and I always thought it was because priests are representatives of God or God's authority on earth. This is what one priest says about it: http://www.stpaulsirvine.org/html/father.htm

Answer 7

simple answer, IIRC, they're called Father because they are believed to be closer to God than any other person, almost like a link through to God in a sense.

Problem is that it says in the Bible not to refer to anyone on earth as father for their is one true father in heaven, so why we should call them father is beyond me. More become etiquette I guess these days

Toodles

Answer 8

"Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?" John 8:53

the Jews (G0d's chosen people) called abraham their father.

Answer 9

Right on, Quantril.....,
I'm sure you've read Matthew 23:9
"Moreover, do not call anyone YOUR father on earth, for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly One. "

Answer 10

The title is used in different contexts for the two.