Catholics, did u know...?

Question

...that in the Bible, even your Bible, it says to call no man your father?? matthew 23:9. Look it up. In this verse it is no talking about your earthly father, your parent, that you can't call him father, but to your priest. It says no to give him the title of Father. Only God in Heaven is your Father, as it clearly says.
So why are you calling your priest 'Father'?

in that passage he is not talking about our biological father...He is talking about titles for people in authoirty as in the church, government, etc. we can call our dad father, but when we refer to a priest as Father we are giving him God's title and he is not God.

in that passage he is not talking about our biological father...He is talking about titles for people in authoirty as in the church, government, etc. we can call our dad father, but when we refer to a priest as Father we are giving him God's title and he is not God.

Answer 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? I think not.

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 of a lack of humility as the pharisees of Jesus' day.

The Apostle Paul writes:

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. (1 Corinthians 4:14-15)

And:

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

And:

I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, who was once useless to you but is now useful to (both) you and me. (Philemon 10-11)

And finally, Peter calls himself the "father" of Mark:

The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son. (1 Peter 5:13)

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

"Did u know? Look it up ..." Nice condescension there, as if us poor dumb Catholics never heard this verse before -- or know where to find it in the Bibles we don't read (where the New Testament is the same, dear, whether it's "yours" or "ours").

I call the priests in my parish many things. Pastor. Teacher. Friend. And yes, when I talk with them, it's "Father Tom". For the life of me, I don't see what difference it makes to you personally (do "u" know the difference between doctrine and practice? Look it up ) unless in "ministry to save Catholics" circles it's the Catholic thing of the day to slam, and tomorrow you're moving on to -- what, confession? Mary? The Pope?

Think about this for just a moment: The verse you've quoted has been read by quite a few educated churchmen over the centuries, wouldn't you say? If it truly meant "whatever you do, don't use Father as a form of address for the priests!" don't you think it might have at least sparked some discussion, perhaps at one of the Church councils, if not an outright edict against it somewhere along the line? "Hey, wait, we'd better come up with something else for the priests; says right here, in Matthew 23..."

Do you really think it's just been in the last, oh, 500 years or so -- culminating in the amazing Bible knowledge of 20th-21st century fundamentalists -- that what the Bible really says has been made clear? And by golly, you're the ones to help the poor dumb Catholics see the light?

And some call Catholics arrogant. Sheesh.

My apologies for the tone of this. But I've had quite enough of my former fundamentalist brethren first telling me what I believe and then telling me how wrong I am, based on their interpretation of what it says in the Bible I study every ... single ... day.

Answer 3

The Elders of the Church are Called "Fathers" and the Faithful "Children"
Matt. 23:9 - Jesus says, "call no man father." But Protestants use this verse in an attempt to prove that it is wrong for Catholics to call priests "father." This is an example of "eisegesis" (imposing one's views upon a passage) as opposed to "exegesis" (drawing out the meaning of the passage from its context). In this verse, Jesus was discouraging His followers from elevating the scribes and Pharisees to the titles of “fathers” and “rabbis” because they were hypocrites. Jesus warns us not to elevate anyone to the level of our heavenly Father.

Matt. 23:8 – in this teaching, Jesus also says not to call anyone teacher or rabbi as well. But don’t Protestants call their teachers “teacher?” What about this commandment of Jesus? When Protestants say “call no man father,” they must also argue that we cannot call any man teacher either.

Judges 17:10; 18:19 - priesthood and fatherhood have always been identified together. Fatherhood literally means "communicating one's nature," and just as biological fathers communicate their nature to their children, so do spiritual fathers communicate the nature of God to us, their children, through (hopefully) teaching and example.

Eph. 3:14-15 - every family in heaven and on earth is named from the "Father." We are fathers in the Father.

Acts 7:2; 22:1,1 John 2:13 - elders of the Church are called "fathers." Therefore, we should ask the question, "Why don't Protestants call their pastors "father?"

1 Cor. 4:15 - Paul writes, "I became your father in Christ Jesus."

1 Cor. 4:17 - Paul calls Bishop Timothy a beloved and faithful "child" in the Lord.

2 Cor. 12:14 - Paul describes his role as parent over his "children" the Corinthians.

Phil. 2:22 - Paul calls Timothy's service to him as a son serves a "father."

1 Thess. 2:11- Paul compares the Church elders' ministry to the people like a father with his children.

1 Tim. 1:2,18; 2 Tim. 1:2-3 - Paul calls Timothy his true "child" in the faith and his son.

Titus 1:4 - Paul calls Titus his true "child" in a common faith. Priests are our spiritual fathers in the family of God.

Philemon 10 - Paul says he has become the "father" of Onesimus.

Heb. 12:7,9 - emphasizes our earthly "fathers." But these are not just biological but also spiritual (the priests of the Church).

1 Peter 5:13 - Peter refers to himself as father by calling Mark his "son."

1 John 2:1,13,14 - John calls the elders of the Church "fathers."

1 John 2:1,18,28; 3:18; 5:21; 3 John 4 - John calls members of the Church "children."

1 Macc. 2:65 - Mattathias the priest tells his sons that Simeon will be their "father."

There is MUCH MORE evidence where this came form.

Answer 4

Catholics, did u know...?

...that in the Bible, even your Bible, it says to call no man your father?? matthew 23:9. Look it up. In this verse it is no talking about your earthly father, your parent, that you can't call him father, but to your priest. It says no to give him the title of Father. Only God in Heaven is your Father, as it clearly says.
So why are you calling your priest 'Father'?

Our Bible is the same as your Bible except that Luther removed several books and added one word to the Gospels to justify his religious views. This Bible was composed by the Catholic Church hundred of years after the death of Christ. Before that, the Church followed Tradition. Furthermore, there is nothing in Catholic Doctrine that is contradicted by the Bible. But back to the question. In Mathew 23, Jesus is speaking directly to the Scribes and Pharisees. He rebukes them for their hypocricies. As for the Church calling it's priests father, well I'll let you see it to yourself. Please refer to the below scripture:
Acts 7:2
Acts 21:40, 22:1
Rom 4:16-17
1 Cor 4:14-15
1 Tim 1:2
Tit 1:4
Heb 12:7-9
Lk 14:26
1 Thess 2:11
Philem 10
1 Jn 2:13-14

If you would like to know more about the Catholic Church and its teachings, please refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, EWTN.org Faith questions, or BibleChristianSociety.com

For Linda W,
Please refer to the links above. All of your challenges are easily answered, but not in this person's question. I believe you should listen to the talk called "2 minute apologetics" on the BibleChristianSociety.com website. This quickly addresses many common questions protestants have. There are also many specific talks centering on Catholic Doctrine that will provide in-depth answers to your questions.

Answer 5

The Bible calls many men Father as does Jesus Himself(Lk 14:26) and St Paul (1 Cor4:14-15)and St John(whoexplicitly calls presbyters or priests or elders 'fathers' in 1 John 2:13-14)
Matt 23:9 means do not ascribe your origin or authority to human origin or authority. Only God is the untimate authority,teacher,Father,etc.
Do you call your male parent Father? Do you call you teacher teacher?
This passage and context mention nothing about priests;if it can be applied to clergy, then it can be applied to parents. I agree with you that it does not ,so please be consistent.

You are interpreting the bible in the light of your own
traditions and authorities and you do not seem to realize this.

God bless have a blessed Lord's day.

Why not go out and get the Catechism of the Catholic Church and see what Catholicism really teaches?

Answer 6

Okay, I was going to stay out of this one, but - March, where in the Bible does anyone say it's okay to pray to human beings, statues and graven images? Where in the Bible does it say that you must be absolved of sin by a priest, when Christ has already done that for you? And if the pope can excommunicate you (or keep you out of heaven), then what was all that business on the cross? Do you actually believe that the pope is more powerful than the blood of Jesus Christ? Yes, Jesus appears to be giving Peter some authority after He is gone, but where is the verse that says that authority can be inherited or passed down from Peter?

It looks to me as if a lot of Catholic doctrine contradicts the whole concept of Christ.

Answer 7

Rom 4:1 "What shall we say then that Abraham our [father], as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? "

This is one of many verses that make reference to "father'. I am not a Catholic but what your verse is referring to is calling someone Father in a form of worship toward that person.So Catholics be warned that the priest is only a man and not as God.

Answer 8

I am not a catholic. And I agree with you. I just wanted to thank you for what you said. IF we cant support our beliefs by the Bible, then how can we say we are Christian. BEing Christian means being a follower of Jesus , by believing in the full teachings of Jesus in the HOly Bible, by obeying them, and know Jesus is coming soon. To confess your sins, turn from them , and say NO to sin and Yes to JEsus.
The Bible also says that we are to confess our sins to the father and receive absolution. Only God can give absolution, total forgivness of sins. I am glad you ased what you did, to make ppl think. Maybe they can tell us why they believe as they do since it is not biblical....

Answer 9

I actually believe this verse refers to anyone, even our Dads.
All Glory and Honor goes to our Heavenly Father, it is He who we direct our Praise and Prayers to.

Answer 10

The priest talks on the role of God when we celebrate Mass. He has to act through God when he does the Mass.

Answer 11

I too was gonna stay away from this one....
I too agree with you....and I wanna add an event that happen to me while working at a E.R. hosp
a friend of mine brother fell off a roof and landed on his head, she call her cath church and begged
Padresito to come and pray last rites over her brother and when he arrived she grabed his hand and kissed it several times and begged him to forgive her brother of sins and give him salvation to heaven.....I felt she was confused and she gave this man Padresito kiss kiss too much honor and glory... I began to pray and pray and as he prayed over her brother I prayed for God to intervene in the name of Jesus> I had her permission of course I didnt need a priest to pray....I prayed in the name of Jesus.
the boy lived trrough it all; he recovered in a years time. he put all his trust in the priest and her whole family gave all the thanks and glory to the priest.
I knew who really healed the young man. God is not the author of confusion, my friend was confused about who is on the throne and who is merely the instrument ...

question to catholics: does your priest allow your non bible readers to continue to lift him up or does he teach the bible,does he correct,rebuke and sheppard them to the knowledge of Christ? or does he just allow the uneducated in bible knowledge to just continue seeking him (the priest)?
Turn your eyes upon Jesus not man
The BIG DIFFERENCE IS::>>>
you and I know that we address Rabbi's and priest and pastors, rev. & elders as deacons or teachers, merely a title>>> BUT we dont hold them up in higher esteem higher than the Lord.

Alot of catholics at my mom senior center do;. They talk about what the "saint" did for them when they prayed to this or that "saint" we know that former prists are turned into saints if they are proven to make a miracle, just like the healing of my friends brother... but that is another topic. The seniors mostly mexicans at my mom senior center are not taught otherwise.

correct me if Im wrong. Is it made clear to non english speaking parishoners is there a class? like catechism class? when I was in catechism a nun teacher told my class that if a baby is born and dies, that baby is going straight to hell unless you first drizzle holy water on it >>> is there a jar of holy water in the delivery room? I dont know.