Fatherhood of God

My Heavenly Father

In recent years, much discussion has been given to the practice of referring to God as “Father.” While clearly, God transcends sexuality, being neither male nor female, the writers of the Bible were inspired to address Him with male pronouns. The Spirit of God enables believers to call God “Abba, Father” (lit. “Daddy,” Rom. 8:15).

God revealed Himself throughout the Old Testament as “Father” (Jer. 3:19), and this was the term Jesus used in addressing Him (John 17). The Fatherhood of God is not merely one of many suitable “God metaphors.” It is in a class of its own, what scholars would label as an analogy sui generis. The title “Father” not only tells us what God does—or what some aspect of His character is like; rather, it identifies more of who He actually is. The same cannot be said of biblical God metaphors such as “tree,” “door,” “rock,” “mother hen,” or “mistress of the house.”

True Fatherhood is grounded on the basis of God’s being — on the basis of God the Father relating to the Son and the Spirit. Human fatherhood is but an imperfect symbol of this transcendent reality. The Fatherhood of God is not inconsequential or alterable, for it is the primary basis by which God has determined that believers will relate to Him: “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:18).

Taken from The Woman’s Study Bible