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ok whats up with calling a man father?

It says in the Bible "Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:9-12).

So are catholics wrong by doing this? Why are they allowd to call a man Father? Are they commiting sin ?

15 Answers

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  • 2 decades ago
    Favorite Answer

    Hard to say - but then, in the Commandments, one is told to Honor thy Mother and Father.

    So, one may honor thy Father, but not call him Father?

    -j.

  • Anonymous
    2 decades ago

    the church does this to make their congregation look up to the priest as a teacher, the father of the family. it's the same reason the bible was edited to take out personal meditation as a means for direct contact with god. they want people to feel like they must have a link to god, and can't get to him without the church . the "father" is the wise one connected to god in a way that you never can be is the crock they're trying to sell

  • 2 decades ago

    Not to slam your paternal parental unit but your biological father just brought you into this world. True, he loves you and deserves your love and respect and all that but he doesn't own you. He fed and clothed you and, one day, you said toodles and tip toe'd down the ol' road of life. See ya.

    Your Heavenly Father is your true eternal Father.

    1Corinthians chapter 6.

    19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

    20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

    My kids call me Dad. That's fine - as long as they know who their Heavenly Father is.

  • Icy U
    Lv 5
    2 decades ago

    It is a translation thing. The Jewish have a different word for Father, but can only be translated as Father too us. There are alot of translation problems with the Bible, the best way to understand it is to learn Hebrew and then read a Hebrew version.

  • Anonymous
    2 decades ago

    Yes, while I think it is reasonable to continue using "father" in the strictly biological sense, it appears to be a clear violation of the text to use "father" as a title of honor.

  • Mim
    Lv 7
    2 decades ago

    I think they are wrong defiantly. its the priest placing himself in the place of God and to call the pope Holy father I think is a graves sin

  • Anonymous
    2 decades ago

    Its a literary device known as exaggeration meant to emphasis the respect, reverence and love we must show to God that the respect, reverence and love shown to men (our fathers) on earth must pale in comparison.

  • 2 decades ago

    The point is not the terminology, but the emphasis place on the title. We are instructed to not revere such persons with the kind of reverence due God.

    In other words, it's what you mean by the word, not the word itself.

  • 2 decades ago

    I guess it means if your worshiping the person on your knees or something!! I hope a catholic out there has the answer, I like to know too...

  • ?
    Lv 5
    2 decades ago

    Good question!! Have asked this one before! Could not get a biblical answer That made since tho!!

    loj

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