Names of God: Father

God is referred to as Father throughout the Bible.

One source says, “In general, the title Father (capitalized) signifies God’s role as the life-giver, the authority, and powerful protector, often viewed as immense, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent with infinite power and charity that goes beyond human understanding.” 

After all, a father is a parent or male parent of a child or children. The father is usually known and considered the protector and provider for the family.    

“For You are our father, for Abraham did not know us, neither did Israel recognize us; You, O [YHWH], are our father; our redeemer of old is your name.”  {Isaiah 63:16}

This is a reminder of the covenant of God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. One scholar says, “He {God} is titled the Father of the poor, of the orphan and the widow, their guarantor of justice. He is also titled the Father of the king, as the teacher and helper over the judge of Israel.”

In the New Testament, Jesus refers to God as his father and the head of the trinity.

Jesus said:

  • “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.”  {John 16:28}
  • but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me Get up, let us go from here. {John 14:31}
  • Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.  {John 5:19}
  • “I and the Father are one.”  {John 10:30}
  • No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. {John 6:44}
  • “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you ‘ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”  {John 14:28}
  • “Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.  {John 8:49}
  • “even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”  {John 10:15}
  • “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”  {John 15:10}
  • “And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.  {Matthew 26:39}

Finally, Jesus taught us to pray by beginning with “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.”  {Matthew 6:9}

Paul reminded us of the trinity and the importance of God.  “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”   {Galatians 4:4-7}

Do you refer to God as your father?

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