Matthew 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
WHen I read the verses above I can’t help but think that calling the head of the church “Holy Father” would fit in with what Christ was advising against?
Judges 17 it says Micah was a young man and he asked the Levite to stay with him and be his father AND his priest and further on he refers to himself as his priest.
John 2 Jesus is calling God His father. ?
2 Corinthians 12 he is speaking to a church.
I read through all the verses that you posted. I see the usage of the word father in a different context than you. Fathers is indeed used many times in relation to ancestors and those that came before...such as “church fathers.” I take that as how we use the term our “founding fathers” Fathers in the faith is the way I see it used mostly in those verses.