FATHERHOOD AS A MODEL OF GODS RELATIONSHIP TO US

Models as part of theological study. Analogues. Imperfect by nature. Never able to fully covey the
fullness of the divine nature.
Example: some models in conflict to our temporal understanding i.e. King and Father. Both true,
not really in conflict different aspects of His nature.
Jesuss primary mode of relationship to God was as Father. Also vice-versa. Note: Mk. 1:11 cf.
Matt. 3:17. You are (This is) my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
Start of the Lords Prayer. Our Father, Hallowed Be Thy Name
This understanding extends to our doctrine of the Trinity (itself but a model to aid our
understanding). Father/Son relationship at the core.
Convenient/Sentimental myth of Abba as Daddy.
Explain. (Abba the Father in Greek, 3 places & c.)
I like it as a devotional understanding, esp. re new son, but must be held in balance with
reverence: Our Father/Hallowed be thy name.
How do we approach God as Father then? Firstly, as a mark of His sovereignty.
In pagan understanding the chief of their pantheon often received the title Father of the Gods. I.e.
Zeus/Jupiter.
A convenient way of understanding God as above all in authority. Roman punishment for
slandering ones father. Jewish punishment. Clearly a mark of respect.
Ex. 20:12 Honour your mother and father so important it is a commandment! We have lost the
depth of respect carried in earlier traditions.
He is the creator of all. Fatherhood in the sense of being the genesis of all that is.
When we survey the wonders of creation, Father lends awe and respect to prayer. G. K.
Chesterton quote a sense of wonder, respect/adoration/fear.
What more of Father? Secondly, as a term of covenant.
Son, and therefore implicitly Father, were central terms to Covenant in the OT carried forward
into the NT.
Ex. 4:22-23 Then you shall say to Pharaoh Thus says the Lord: Israel is My son, My firstborn.
So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will
kill your son, your firstborn.
Israel was Gods son under covenant, to refer to God as Abba was to acknowledge the covenantal
relationship held with Him. It was a relationship that separated out His people.
Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my Son.
Not an isolated incident: Son-Father model a key part of understanding covenant. We also see
fulfilment of this verse in Jesus the instigator of a new covenant.
Before Him came the Davidic covenant. 2 Sam. 7:13-14 He shall build a house for my name, and
I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he
commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
..so Nathan spoke to David.
Again, the model of this relationship was important to understanding the covenant established with
the house of David. It was a title that all kings descended from David could claim for themselves.
This model was kept when Jesus instigated the new covenant. Two key passages in seeing this:
Jn. 1:11-13 He came to his own and His own did not receive Him. But as many received Him, to
them He gave the right (covenant language) to become children of God, to those who believe in

His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God
Rom. 8:15-16 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the
Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our
spirit that we are children of God
v.17 and if children, THEN HEIRS heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ
We see then that in Christ we are co-heirs to His inheritance. The blessings and promise of the
covenant are ours, through Him.
Importance of son-ship in the model of inheritance not sexist: in Christ there is neither male nor
female.
When we acknowledge the Fatherhood of God, we acknowledge our place in covenant. The work
of His Son, His mercy and grace.
This mercy and grace, along with v.15 (notfear) hint at the final part of understanding the model
of God as Father.
Not Greco-Roman mind-set: dumb idols, animism.
Greek mind-set of God: Pagan, distantly located on Olympus not interactive.
Most critically: Aristotle, prime mover.
A traditional view of God has been as aloof, or distant. Certainly we approach Him by the Spirit
through Christ, but we approach Him.
Father speaks of familiarity, and intimacy.
Again not diminutive or casual, Abba the Father is a term of reverence, awe, respect. However,
as with the models discussed earlier we hold that in tension with the fact that we do have access
to the Father.
In Luke 15 Jesus spoke of Gods heart for His people in parables. The Pharisees were questioning
Jesuss spending of time with sinners. In response we have the parables of the lost sheep, the lost
coin, and the lost son. In the final one we see Jesus relating the heart of a father for his lost son.
I would argue that in the context this parable also serves to relate the heart of THE Father for his
sons.
A brief exposition:
11: Jesus as an unspoken 3rd son our role model.
12: Had as good as said I wish you were dead. As discussed earlier, the father ought to have
punished him for this.
13: Far country. How often has shame driven us from the presence of God? I should imagine this
was also for the sons own good. Protection from wrath/punishment.
17: But he came to himself. As we all do explain own story.
19: One cannot be un-sonned. Beauty of adoption. We often do not understand the depth and
breadth of Gods love, mercy and grace in our contrition. Not to say we shouldnt be repentant.
20: Running shameful activity for a man of the community. Got there before his neighbours.
Kissed him, fell on him even with the muck of the world still on him. Unclean. Cf. Eden
promises redemption before dealing with sin.
22: Interrupts his sons speech. Robe: his robe, mark of status. Ring: signet/seal authority to act
on his fathers behalf. Sandals: footwear of a freeman, not a slave as his son thought.
23: extravagance. Cf. Eph.2:1-2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
in which you once walked according to the course of this world
&c.
So we see that the model of God as Father helps us to understand three important things:
1) His sovereignty. The importance of understanding His divine nature. Ineffable.
2) His covenant. Our relationship with Him is to be understood by through this lens.

3) Our relationship. Our intimacy and familiarity with God as Father. His love, mercy and grace.
It is perhaps most important that we understand His love and mercy. The more we understand His
majesty and power, the more apparent His grace becomes in His manifest love for us.
If every time we say Father God we dwell on His might and sovereignty, how much more powerful
then when we come to dwell on the fact that this self-same God turns his love to us (individually
and corporately) in the death and resurrection of His Son?
I do not believe that a respect and fear of the Lord detracts from understanding his love for and
relationship with us. To me it just makes it so much more awesome that he would chose to love
me thus.
As my understanding of God, and esteem for His sovereignty grows so too then must my
appreciation of His love and Grace.
Even Jesus said If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
So, whilst Abba might not mean Daddy it doesnt feel as bad as it once did: Id much rather the
mystery of Gods furious love than a watered down and cosy understanding any day.