FATHERHOOD

There are two ideas in the New Testament connected with this subject which should be specially noted: one in John's ministry – fatherhood conveying growth in the family of God. John speaks of it in his first epistle; to it is attached the knowledge of "him that is from the beginning", meaning that they know Christ as seen from the beginning of His ministry, and so are mature; for the fulness of fatherhood was in Him. He is spoken of in this way, as the "Father of Eternity", or the 'Father of the age' (Isaiah 9:6). He exhibits fatherly qualities with His disciples. Then in Paul we have the second idea connected with fatherhood involving a model. He says, "For if ye should have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers" (1 Corinthians 4:15). He goes on to say that he has begotten them in Christ Jesus by the gospel, meaning that he was not only an instructor, but the progenitorial idea was in him. He begat children. That is, there were definite results from his ministry, constituting him a father in that sense.

J. Taylor Vol.53 p.368

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