Your comment: “Jesus told the apostle Paul to tell us to call no man father.”
Same old meaningless protest argument, Jesus also said to call no one teacher.
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).
there are numerous examples in the New Testament of the term “father” being used as a form of address and reference, even for men who are not biologically related to the speaker. There are, in fact, so many uses of “father” in the New Testament, that the Fundamentalist interpretation of Matthew 23 (and the objection to Catholics calling priests “father”) must be wrong
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, we Catholics 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.
Read the whole article: https://www.catholic.com/tract/call-no-man-father
Sorry; but it is WRITTEN in the Book that Rome gave the world.
Just like 'unless you eat my flesh' is found in it's pages.
Rome has decided that one is REAL and the other is allegory/metaphor.
Context, context, context.
Jesus was talking about addressing men by those titles.
He did not forbid the use of them in generic usage, or as a child would in calling his father *Dad, or *Father*.
So I have to agree with you on one thing, the Catholics use the same old meaningless protest against following the clear concise command of Jesus and continue to weasel out of obeying Jesus by calling their priests *Father*.
Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
One thing we can be sure of. When the Catholic church takes a verse out of context and misapplies it, it's CERTAIN that it does not mean what they claim it means.
Paul knows what a father is...We know what a father is...And even tho Paul acted like a spiritual father, Jesus told him to call no man father...And Paul nor his disciples addressed anyone as father...
there are numerous examples in the New Testament of the term “father” being used as a form of address and reference, even for men who are not biologically related to the speaker.
Oh please, outside of the OT Patriarchs and God, show me one time where someone was addressed as Father...
Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Do you know why Jesus says to NEVER call (address) someone as father??? Apparently not...It's because the title in a religious sense elevates the person who wears the religious attire and is called father above the common sinner...It's even claimed those 'fathers' become Jesus Christ at times...
Your entire religion has got it entirely wrong...Outside of church and even in church no one should be able to recognize a Christian leader because of the way he dresses or is addressed...Jesus says to Christians, do not call a religious leader father, or master, or teacher, and we Christians don't...
Those phony fathers are not special...Christian leaders have been given a gift that is no more special than the person who has been given the gift of accounting for the funds of a church or one who keeps the place clean...
Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
I not only would never, ever call another mere human being, Holy Father, I would be shakin' in my boots if someone ever addressed me that way...I can just imagine when these fools stand before God..."So you think you are the Holy Father, eh"???
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.
Sorry Charlie, it didn't happen in Jesus Christ's church...There aren't any priests in Jesus Christ's church...You guys got your church mixed up with someone else...
It wasn't a custom of the apostles. There's no record in Scripture of Paul or Peter being called *Father Paul* or *Father Peter* or calling ANYONE *Father _______*.
All Catholics follow is the custom of their your church. Who they don't follow is Jesus because they are NOT obeying Him.