Call No Man Father (or teacher for that matter)

[Catholic Crusader]

The New Testament is filled with examples of and references to spiritual father-son and father-child relationships. Many people are not aware just how common these are, so it is worth quoting some of them here.

Paul regularly referred to Timothy as his child: "Therefore I sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ" (1 Cor. 4:17); "To Timothy, my true child in the faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord" (1 Tim. 1:2); "To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord" (2 Tim. 1:2).

He also referred to Timothy as his son: "This charge I commit to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophetic utterances which pointed to you, that inspired by them you may wage the good warfare" (1 Tim 1:18); "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:1); "But Timothy’s worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel" (Phil. 2:22).

Paul also referred to other of his converts in this way: "To Titus, my true child in a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior" (Titus 1:4); "I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment" (Philem. 10). None of these men were Paul’s literal, biological sons. Rather, Paul is emphasizing his spiritual fatherhood with them.

Perhaps the most pointed New Testament reference to the theology of the spiritual fatherhood of priests is Paul’s statement, "I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (1 Cor. 4:14–15).

Peter followed the same custom, referring to Mark as his son: "She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark" (1 Pet. 5:13). The apostles sometimes referred to entire churches under their care as their children. Paul writes, "Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children" (2 Cor. 12:14); and, "My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you!" (Gal. 4:19).

John said, "My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1); "No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth" (3 John 4). In fact, John also addresses men in his congregations as "fathers" (1 John 2:13–14).

By referring to these people as their spiritual sons and spiritual children, Peter, Paul, and John imply their own roles as spiritual fathers. Since the Bible frequently speaks of this spiritual fatherhood, most Christians acknowledge it and follow the custom of the apostles by calling priests "father." Failure to acknowledge this is a failure to recognize and honor a great gift God has bestowed on the Church: the spiritual fatherhood of the priesthood.

Most Christians know that as members of a parish, they have been committed to a priest’s spiritual care, thus they have great filial affection for priests and call them "father." Priests, in turn, follow the apostles’ biblical example by referring to members of their flock as "my son" or "my child" (cf. Gal. 4:19; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:1; Philem. 10; 1 Pet. 5:13; 1 John 2:1; 3 John 4).

All of these passages were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and they express the infallibly recorded truth that Christ’s ministers do have a role as spiritual fathers. Jesus is not against acknowledging that. It is he who gave these men their role as spiritual fathers, and it is his Holy Spirit who recorded this role for us in the pages of Scripture. To acknowledge spiritual fatherhood is to acknowledge the truth, and no amount of anti-Catholic grumbling will change that fact.

This practice goes back 2000 years, and still today is held to by Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, Coptics, Catholics, and others. Why are there a few Christians who break from this apostolic tradition?

[Tantor]

None of the above..

[Charles Sloan]

Are you just here to ram your Catholic doctrine down our throats?

[Tantor]

I am sure they would put us to death if they still could.

[Charles Sloan]

I am sure they would put us to death if they still could.

There was a time...

[broach972]

Are you just here to ram your Catholic doctrine down our throats?

No, he is posting what the Church really teaches and dispelling the stereotypes and myths that exist about the Church.  And he is doing a very good job.

But of course, you are more than welcome to challenge him.....

[Tantor]

I am sure they would put us to death if they still could.

There was a time...

Yeap, there was a time when the Pope encouraged and then looked away when 20,000 of my ancestors were slaughtered in France.

[broach972]

I am sure they would put us to death if they still could.

There was a time...

Brilliant responses to the opening post...I cannot wait to see more.

[Charles Sloan]

Are you just here to ram your Catholic doctrine down our throats?

No, he is posting what the Church really teaches and dispelling the stereotypes and myths that exist about the Church.  And he is doing a very good job.

But of course, you are more than welcome to challenge him.....

I already shut him down on other topics, this would be no different. The Bible exposes all errors.

But is the Catholic Zealot a friend you invited to help you promote your sect?

[Catholic Crusader]

Are you just here to ram your Catholic doctrine down our throats?

As I said, calling Christian pastors "father" goes back 2000 years, and is practiced by Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, Coptics  and others, beside Catholics. Calling this "Catholic doctrine" is an insult to the Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, Coptics  and others who follow this tradition.

[Catholic Crusader]

I already shut him down on other topics, this would be no different. The Bible exposes all errors.

But is the Catholic Zealot a friend you invited to help you promote your sect?

I'm afraid you did no such thing. Your feeble apologia is no match for me.

[Charles Sloan]

I already shut him down on other topics, this would be no different. The Bible exposes all errors.

But is the Catholic Zealot a friend you invited to help you promote your sect?

I'm afraid you did no such thing. Your feeble apologia is no match for me.

Okay Super Catholic... you are the man!!!

[Catholic Crusader]

I am sure they would put us to death if they still could.

Who, Anglicans or Eastern Orthodox?

...because they call their priests father too, you know

[broach972]

Are you just here to ram your Catholic doctrine down our throats?

No, he is posting what the Church really teaches and dispelling the stereotypes and myths that exist about the Church.  And he is doing a very good job.

But of course, you are more than welcome to challenge him.....

I already shut him down on other topics, this would be no different. The Bible exposes all errors.

But is the Catholic Zealot a friend you invited to help you promote your sect?

Shut him down??    Not quite Charles.  He has done quite well.

I have no idea who this person is.  But I have been praying for someone like him to come along.

[Catholic Crusader]

Okay Super Catholic... you are the man!!!

Nope. I'm just a Christian and a sinner, like you.