Why are Catholic priests called "father"?

[curious mike]

Hey guys, can anyone explain to me why Cahtolic priests are addressed as Father when Jesus very explicitly stated not to call any man on earth father?

Also, what then are are you supposed to call your biological father?

 

[Soyeong]

Hey guys, can anyone explain to me why Cahtolic priests are addressed as Father when Jesus very explicitly stated not to call any man on earth father?

Also, what then are are you supposed to call your biological father?

Hello,

The goal of a rabbi was to make copies of themselves and the goal of a disciple was to memorize their rabbi's teachings, to learn how to think and act like them, and to essentially become an imitation of them (1 Corinthians 11:1). In order to accomplish this, they had to have a very close relationship with each other, and disciples would refer to their disciples as "Father". There's even some traditions that say that if you father and your rabbi were in prison, then you should bail out your rabbi first. In any case, once a disciple was ready, they could then go out and gather their own disciples and make copies of themselves. So Jesus was not saying that we should not use certain titles or than we shouldn't teach others, but that we should make copies of him rather than copies of ourselves.

When rabbis taught, they weren't teaching in their own names, but rather they would quote their rabbi who was quoting another rabbi about how to interpret the law. There are a number of times throughout the NT where it says something like they were amazed because Jesus taught them as one who had authority (Mark 1:22). This is because Jesus was speaking in his own authority according to the will of the Father and not according to what some other rabbi had said. So Jesus certainly used the rabbi/disciple paradigm, but he mixed it up a bit by teaching in his own authority and when he told his disciples to go out and make their own disciples, he told them to make followers of him rather than of themselves.

 

[curious mike]

Thanks for the explanation but sorry to say I am still not getting it as Jesus said "call no man on earth your father..."?

 

[Albion]

Hey guys, can anyone explain to me why Cahtolic priests are addressed as Father when Jesus very explicitly stated not to call any man on earth father?

Also, what then are are you supposed to call your biological father?

It seems to me that you've put your finger on the answer to your own question there. The Bible has many examples of calling mortals ('Father' Abraham, for example) by that title. Therefore we conclude that Jesus was speaking of a concept of Fatherhood rather than about the use of the word itself and in other contexts.

 

[Soyeong]

Thanks for the explanation but sorry to say I am still not getting it as Jesus said "call no man on earth your father..."?

Again, I think this in the context of a rabbi/disciple relationship, not saying that a child shouldn't use a certain title when referring to their dad. It's not about the word that you use to refer to to them, but about what that word signifies about their relationship. If someone were to make followers of themselves rather than followers of Jesus, then it doesn't matter what title they use, it is that they are doing something that they shouldn't be doing.

1 Corinthians 3:4-5 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.

It is easy for us to get caught up in following a teacher or for a teacher to get an inflated ego, but we should only follow someone insofar as they point us to Christ.

 

[curious mike]

It seems to me that you've put your finger on the answer to your own question there. The Bible has many examples of calling mortals ('Father' Abraham, for example) by that title. Therefore we conclude that Jesus was speaking of a concept of Fatherhood rather than about the use of the word itself and in other contexts.

Ok, I think I got it now, it was not mean to be literal but rather to acknowledge that the father in heaven is your true father, thanks.

 

[prodromos]

Hey guys, can anyone explain to me why Cahtolic priests are addressed as Father when Jesus very explicitly stated not to call any man on earth father?

Also, what then are are you supposed to call your biological father?

It is not only Catholics, but Orthodox as well. All the ancient Churches refer to their ordained ministers as "Father"

https://theorthodoxlife.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/call-no-man-father/

 

[bbbbbbb]

I find it curious that there are various titles used, such as father, or mother, or sister, or brother, but never cousin. If, as the Catholic church asserts, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ were actually His cousins, and He used the same word in reference to all who do the will of God, why don't Catholics call their religious folks cousins?

 

[Albion]

I find it curious that there are various titles used, such as father, or mother, or sister, or brother, but never cousin. If, as the Catholic church asserts, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ were actually His cousins, and He used the same word in reference to all who do the will of God, why don't Catholics call their religious folks cousins?

As you said, they've deemed all of Christ's siblings to be cousins, so they've equated the terms brother/sister and cousin with each other.

 

[tz620q]

I find it curious that there are various titles used, such as father, or mother, or sister, or brother, but never cousin. If, as the Catholic church asserts, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ were actually His cousins, and He used the same word in reference to all who do the will of God, why don't Catholics call their religious folks cousins?

I heard a joke a couple of years ago that went like this:

An Eastern Catholic Bishop was touring the U.S. and was in Austin, Texas. He was invited to an interdenominational breakfast one Sunday and showed up with his flowing white beard and full vestments. Intent on eating, he was interrupted by a man in an expensive three piece suit that proclaimed loudly, "Do you know Jesus Christ?"

Without looking up from his plate the Bishop said, "He's my cousin."

 

[bbbbbbb]

As you said, they've deemed all of Christ's siblings to be cousins, so they've equated the terms brother/sister and cousin with each other.

And, very oddly, in the passages where Christ makes reference to believers as being His brother and sisters, all Catholic translations call both his sibling "brothers and sisters" and believers also "brothers and sisters". If, in fact, they are only cousins one would think their translation would conform to their theology.

 

[Albion]

And, very oddly, in the passages where Christ makes reference to believers as being His brother and sisters, all Catholic translations call both his sibling "brothers and sisters" and believers also "brothers and sisters". If, in fact, they are only cousins one would think their translation would conform to their theology.

Yes it does seem so.

 

[justcoolforyou]

And, very oddly, in the passages where Christ makes reference to believers as being His brother and sisters, all Catholic translations call both his sibling "brothers and sisters" and believers also "brothers and sisters". If, in fact, they are only cousins one would think their translation would conform to their theology.

You can change the text based on theological interpretation... to speak of a relative for cousin that word was brother or sister...

 

[justcoolforyou]

Hey guys, can anyone explain to me why Cahtolic priests are addressed as Father when Jesus very explicitly stated not to call any man on earth father?

Also, what then are are you supposed to call your biological father?

St paul told Timothy in the new testament he became his father through the gospel... you should base your interpretation on this on how st paul view it and used it...