Critics point to Matthew 23:9 — “call no man your father” — as proof that calling priests “Father” contradicts Scripture. The same verse also says “call no man teacher.” The Apostle Paul called himself a spiritual father in 1 Corinthians 4:15. Stephen addressed the Sanhedrin as “brothers and fathers” in Acts 7:2. A close look at what Jesus was actually condemning — and what the earliest Christians actually practiced.
Critics point to Matthew 23:9 — “call no man your father” — as proof that calling priests “Father” contradicts Scripture. The same verse also says “call no man teacher.” The Apostle Paul called himself a spiritual father in 1 Corinthians 4:15. Stephen addressed the Sanhedrin as “brothers and fathers” in Acts 7:2. A close look at what Jesus was actually condemning — and what the earliest Christians actually practiced.
