Also, in the Vulgate it says:
nam si decem milia pedagogorum habeatis in Christo sed non multos patres nam in Christo Iesu per evangelium ego vos genui
Which roughly translated says:
for if you have tens of thousands of teachers in Christ but not many fathers for in Christ Jesus through the gospel I have begotten you
It is interesting to note that we have an English Bible in spite of the RCC, who wanted to keep it only in Latin and initially killed those who would print it in the native languages.
It is interesting to note that we have an English Bible in spite of the RCC, who wanted to keep it only in Latin and initially killed those who would print it in the native languages.
The NIV
Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
So it appears to me that Paul could possibly have been the first father in the Church that later became the Catholic Church.
I don`t know but if they are reading what Paul says and ignoring what Jesus said i can see where they have their reason.