If it says in the bible not to call anyone father then why do Catholics call priests father?

Question

My bad, I didn't quote the scripture. I'm a new Christian.

Answer 1

Good question -- I have often wondered this myself. It seems very clear in the New Testament that we are not to give the name Father to anyone except God and our earthly fathers.

I think the heart of what Jesus said has to do with realizing that our only true Father is our Heavenly Father, who created us and who loves us unconditionally. That is why Jesus also said, "He who does not hate his Father, Mother, brother, sister is not worthy of me." It is not to outright reject the fathers God gave us, but to keep our hearts in a posture of loving God the Father above ALL earthly fathers, even our own blood relatives. It is a spiritual and literary tool, I believe, that Jesus used when He made extreme statements to prove a point. He does not literally want us to "hate" our fathers on earth, but he used the word to emphasize rather the Love we are to have for our God, in contradistinction to the earthly love for our fathers.

Answer 2

Good question, I've often asked myself that same question. Calling your earthly dad a father isn't the same as calling a priest father. That is almost like taking God's name in vain, someone actually thinking they can represent God.
And yes it does say that in the Bible.

Answer 3

Because the Bible is secondary to RC doctrine and traditions.P.S.The goons that made the parent analogy are morons.The context is spiritual,and we are not to elevate men above our Heavenly Father!Don't let fools deter you from intelligent questions.There are no "priests" in Christianity.

Answer 4

In St. Paul's Epistle to Philemon, St. Paul calls Onesimus "his son."

Was St. Paul going against Christ's Teachings?

The whole point of what Christ Was Doing in St. Matthew chapter 23, was Preaching against personal pride.

His Admonishing His disciples "to call no man 'Father,'" was to teach people that if they are to truly show piety, they must not regard themselves as being morally superior to others.

Answer 5

For the same reason that the Apostles, the first priests of Christ's Church, called themselves "father".

"For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I BECAME YOUR FATHER through the gospel. (1 Cor 4:15)

"She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does MY SON, Mark." (1 Pet 5:13)

You see, Paul, Peter, and other priests of the early Catholic Church recognized that their pastoral ministry included representing the fatherhood of God to God's children, so they referred to themselves as "father", and members of the Church likewise referred to them as "father", and addressed them that way. And so it has been ever since.

Incidentally, did you notice that the very next verse after the one you quoted says "call no man your teacher"? Do you have any teachers in your church?

Answer 6

For the same reason people don't cut off their arms, or pluck out their eyes, or tie millstones around their necks, and jump in the lake.

Jesus was using a figure of speech. He wasn't issuing a new commandment.

Answer 7

I was born and raised catholic i had many questions when i got older none of them were answered by my catholic brothers. I left the church and even went as far as to write a letter to have me removed from there list as a member of the church.

Jesus said dont refer to anyone as father. he was speaking to the religous leaders when he said this, so obviously he meant you shouldnt refer to any religous leader as your father.
Because you are putting them in a position of authority that God has not granted them to have.
Older ones were to simply to lead the congragation, thats it.
not represent God. which is what they try to do.

Answer 8

Congrats on being a new Christian! Welcome to the family of God and get some of that Christian Armor! Eph. 6:10-20!

Below is my answer.

Because they are false teachers.

Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Matt. 23:9

They also thing they must preform the eucharist to forgive sins and this contradicts the Bible.

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. Heb. 10:12

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Heb. 10:14

There was only ONE sacrifice needed for sins and Jesus was the sacrifice. ALL OTHER SACRIFICES ARE AND ABOMINATION.

They also pray to mary and the saints. This is idolatry.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. Ex. 20:4-5

They also confess sins to a priest or pope. THEY ARE ALL SINFUL MEN AND HAVE NO POWER TO FORGIVE SINS. ONLY GOD DOES.

If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Answer 9

If I remember correctly, and you should check me on this, I believe the word is abba, call no man abba.

I do not think that applies to rock groups though, just individual men.

PS:
Matthew 23:9
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

The word here is the Greek word pat-ayr, not abba. I stand corrected. Call no man pat-ayr. Although Jesus probably originally spoke this in Aramaic so I should look for the Aramaic word that means the same as the Greek word. Or Maybe Jesus spoke this in Greek which was a popular language in Palestine at the time. Wait, maybe it was abba.

Darn, I just don't know exactly which word not to use.

Maybe I should not call any man The One True and Living God, could that be it?

No, it must be abba.

PPS:

{pat-ayr'}
1) generator or male ancestor 1a) either the nearest ancestor: father of the corporeal nature, natural fathers, both parents 1b) a more remote ancestor, the founder of a family or tribe, progenitor of a people, forefather: so Abraham is called, Jacob and David 1b1) fathers i.e. ancestors, forefathers, founders of a nation 1c) one advanced in years, a senior 2) metaph. 2a) the originator and transmitter of anything 2a1) the authors of a family or society of persons animated by the same spirit as himself 2a2) one who has infused his own spirit into others, who actuates and governs their minds 2b) one who stands in a father's place and looks after another in a paternal way 2c) a title of honour 2c1) teachers, as those to whom pupils trace back the knowledge and training they have received 2c2) the members of the Sanhedrin, whose prerogative it was by virtue of the wisdom and experience in which they excelled, to take charge of the interests of others 3) God is called the Father 3a) of the stars, the heavenly luminaries, because he is their creator, upholder, ruler 3b) of all rational and intelligent beings, whether angels or men, because he is their creator, preserver, guardian and protector 3b1) of spiritual beings and of all men 3c) of Christians, as those who through Christ have been exalted to a specially close and intimate relationship with God, and who no longer dread him as a stern judge of sinners, but revere him as their reconciled and loving Father 3d) the Father of Jesus Christ, as one whom God has united to himself in the closest bond of love and intimacy, made acquainted with his purposes, appointed to explain and carry out among men the plan of salvation, and made to share also in his own divine nature 3d1) by Jesus Christ himself 3d2) by the apostles

Answer 10

You will find Catholics do a lot of things that are not necessarily based on or found in the Bible
Matthew 23:9
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.