“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
My sister asked me whether I thought songs which call Jesus our Father are incorrect. If God the Father is our Father—and He is, then it seems odd to say that Jesus is our Father too. I think she has a good point.
The only verse I can think of which identifies Jesus as Father is Isaiah 9:6, quoted above. But while Isaiah 9:6 does identify the Messiah, that is, Jesus, as “Everlasting Father,”, that does not mean that He is our Father.
Remember that Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father, who are in heaven…” We pray to God the Father, a Person distinct from God the Son. Though both are one Being, they are separate Persons, as is the Holy Spirit.
Jesus repeatedly spoke to His Father and said that God is His Father. See, for example, Matt 7:21; 10:32-33; 11:25, 26, 27; 12:50; 15:13; 16:17, 27; 18:10, 19, 35; 20:23; 25:34; 26:29, 39, 42, 53; Mark 8:38; 13:32; 14:36; Luke 2:49; 9:26; 10:21, 22; 22:29, 42; 23:34, 46; 24:49; John 2:16; 5:17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 30, 36, 37, 43, 45; 6:27, 32, 37, 39, 44, 45, 46, 57, 65; 8:16, 18, 19, 28, 29, 38, 49, 54; 10:15, 17, 18, 25, 29, 30, 32, 36, 37, 38; 11:41; 12:26, 27, 28, 49, 50; 13:1, 3; 14:2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 31; 15:1, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 24, 26; 16: 3, 10, 15, 16, 17, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32; 17:1, 5, 11,21, 24, 25; 18:11; 20:17, 21; Rev 2:27; 3:5, 21.
He also often said that God is the Father of believers: Matt 5:16, 45, 48; 6:1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 18, 26, 32; 7:11; 10:20, 29; 13:43; 18:14; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 11:25, 26; Luke 6:36; 11:2, 13; 12:30, 32; John 4:21, 23.
To the eleven disciples He said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). That is, Jesus is the manifestation of God the Father. Compare John 1:18. No one has seen God the Father at any time. “The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
The Apostles often refer to God the Father and Jesus as two separate Persons. See Rom 1:7; 6:4; 15:6; 1 Cor 1:3; 8:6; 15:24; 2 Cor 1:2, 3; 11:31; Gal 1:1, 3, 4; 4:6; Eph 1:2, 3, 17; 2:18; 3:14; 5:20; 6:23; Phil 1:2; 2:11; Col 1:2, 3, 19; 2:2; 3:17; 1 Thess 1:1, 3; 3:11, 13; 2 Thess 1:1, 2; 2:16; 1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4; Heb 1:5; 1 Pet 1:2, 3; 2 Pet 1:17; 1 John 1:2, 3; 2:1, 22, 23, 24; 4:14; 2 John 3, 9; Jude 1; Rev 14:1.
And, of course, God the Father called Jesus His Son at both Jesus’ baptism (Matt 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22) and His transfiguration (Matt 17:5; 2 Pet 1:17).
The gospel coalition website says (see here), “It’s unlikely Isaiah has the Trinity in mind at all when he says the Messiah will be called Everlasting Father. It’s not the Messiah’s role within the Godhead, but the Messiah’s character toward us that Isaiah has in mind. Concerning the language of ‘Everlasting Father,’ Sam Storms calls it ‘a descriptive analogy pointing to Christ’s character . . . he is fatherly, father-like, in his treatment of us.’”
In his commentary on Isaiah, J. Alec Motyer says that Everlasting Father refers to “his relationship to his subjects” (p. 89) and to “his concern, care, and discipline” (p. 90). Similarly, John Martin in The Bible Knowledge Commentary says that the point is that “The Messiah will be a ‘fatherly’ Ruler” (p. 1053).
We should love and worship all members of the Trinity. But each is a separate Person. We do well not to confuse the three members of the Trinity.
Alvin
Excellent Bob~!
Also a point might be made is that the Lord will rule with a rod of iron in the kingdom. A rod is seen as a fatherly way of correcting a child.
Revelations 3:19; 12:5; Hebrews 12:5-7; Proverbs 13:24
Leo Z
Thank you Pastor Bob. What a timely post. I was just recently engaged in a discussion about the distinct persons of the godhead with an anti-trinitarian oneness modalist and Isaiah 9:6 is one of their doctrinal proofs texts.
Scripture does not contradict Scripture, and with the scores of verses showing the distinction of the persons of the Triune godhead which you noted, shows that contextually this Isaiah verse (as well as the others that they use) conveys a different meaning. Even logically, it doesn’t make sense that God slips in and out of modes especially in texts where a conversation between Jesus and the Father occurs. In a way, I see that as portraying God to be schizophrenic.
Praying for you and GES!
Kingsley Osakwe
Another translation of that phrase is Father of eternity.I see it as saying that Jesus is the fountain of eternal life.The Bible says “In him was life”. Also ” God has given us eternal life and this life is in Christ “
KEN TAMASHIRO
Hi Pastor Bob,
My guess is this,…that in Isaiah’s day the Trinity was not revealed per se but only knowledge of God. It would seem likely that the role of a father would have a different meaning in Isaiah’s mind.
I think Jesus sat down at the right hand of God makes more sense than to go any further into speculation of Jesus being God the Father.
Grace and Peace to You, Ken Tamashiro
Bill Giovannetti
Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, a professor of mine, argued this should be translated “the Father of Eternity.” Works for me.
Vince
I had a thought as you were referencing the verses that described Jesus as the manifestation of the Father. It’s possible that maybe Isaiah was also referring to Christ as the manifestation or representative of the invisible Everlasting Father, on Earth, which could be why He is described that way in Isaiah 9:6.
Jo Ann
I read somewhere that “Father of Eternity” was a reference to Diety.
Barry Blundi
Brethren, you will find the Hebrew translation “Everlasting Father” translates to “Father of eternity.” The subject of the contex/passage is God coming incarnate. This expression declares that Yashua is God, and therefore, coequal with the Father and the Spirit, in light of His/their eternal existance. The term “Father” does not designate functional position, but rather eternal exsistence. Yet another prophecy that God would make an appearence in human flesh. Praise Him for His grace and truth. Love to all my brethren here, and asking Father for Sharon and Bob in this trial. “…never to harm us, a hope and a future.” Please Bob, keep us posted. Maramnatha!