St. Paul confirms that there are various types of fatherhood, all of which are
based on the Fatherhood of God: “For this cause I bow my knees to the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity in heaven and on
earth is named” (Eph. 3:15). Abraham is acknowledged as the father of all
who have faith in numerous passages, even in the New Law:
“And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the
dead, they will repent’” (St. Luke 16:30).
“Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and
was glad” (St. John 8:56).
“And Stephen said: ‘Brethren and fathers, hear me. The God of glory
appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he
lived in Haran’” (Acts 7:2).
“He received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he
had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make
him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus
have righteousness reckoned to them” (Rom. 4:11).
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son
Isaac upon the altar?” (St. James 2:21).
The Acts of the Apostles records that the early Christians in their prayers
likewise referred to King David as their father:
“…who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say by the Holy
Spirit, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?’”
(Acts 4:25).
St. Paul addressed a crowd in Jerusalem as follows:
“Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which I now make before you”
(Acts 22:1).
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