Not of This World: The Fatherhood of God Defined by Scripture

Series: God the Father: Knowing the First Person of the Trinity

Letting God Define Himself

One of the great errors of modern theology is the tendency to define God based on human experience. This is especially true when it comes to calling God “Father.” People often project their understanding of fatherhood—shaped by their own family stories—onto God. But Scripture commands a different approach.

God is not to be defined by man. He defines Himself. And when He calls Himself “Father,” it is not to mirror human fatherhood—it is to reveal a divine truth that is older, higher, and holier than anything we experience on earth.

Revelation, Not Analogy

God’s name as “Father” is a matter of divine revelation, not poetic analogy. From the mouth of Jesus, this name is central to how we are to understand and relate to God.

“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.’” (Matt. 6:9)

In this simple sentence, Jesus teaches that the Father is:

• Personal (“Our”),

• Transcendent (“in heaven”),

• Holy (“hallowed be Your name”).

This is not a soft title to make God more approachable. It is a name packed with glory, majesty, and authority. The Fatherhood of God is a truth to be revered, not reinvented.

Fatherhood Revealed in the Son

Jesus is the eternal Son. He has existed in a relationship with the Father before time began. When He calls God “Father,” He speaks not from metaphor, but from eternal fellowship.

“No one knows the Father except the Son…” (Matt. 11:27)

To understand what it means for God to be Father, we must begin with His relationship to the Son. This is the first and fullest definition of divine Fatherhood.

Earthly fatherhood does not define God. Rather, God’s eternal Fatherhood defines what true fatherhood is.

Earthly Shadows, Heavenly Reality

Ephesians 3:14-15 says:

“I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.”

Human families—fathers and households—are patterned after a divine original. That means the best of fatherhood on earth is a shadow of the real thing, and the worst cannot cancel out who God truly is.

When earthly fathers fail, God remains true. He does not abandon, abuse, or neglect. He provides, disciplines, protects, and loves with perfect righteousness. He is “Father of the fatherless” (Ps. 68:5), not because He replaces broken fathers, but because His fatherhood is primary and unshakable.

The Old Testament Reveals, But Dimly

In the Old Testament, God's fatherhood is revealed gradually. He is called the Father of Israel (Deut. 32:6; Isa. 63:16), especially in His role as Creator, Redeemer, and Covenant Lord. But the concept is largely national and collective, not personal.

The full light of God's fatherhood comes in the Gospels—when Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, enters the world and speaks constantly of “My Father.” The Old Covenant points to it; the New Covenant reveals it.

Correcting Misconceptions

Let’s address some common misunderstandings about the Fatherhood of God:

1. God is not Father only because He created us.

While God is the Creator of all, not all people are His children in the salvific sense (John 1:12). To call God “Father” in the truest sense, one must be born again (John 3:3).

2. God is not modeled after human fathers.

He is not the “idealized dad.” God is not defined by human roles—He defines them.

3. The Trinity is not three roles of one person.

God is not “Father” at one time and “Son” at another. The Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct persons, co-eternal and co-equal, relating in perfect unity forever.

Knowing the Father Through the Word

The only way to know God the Father truly is to know Him as He has revealed Himself in Scripture. And Scripture points us directly to Jesus Christ, the exact imprint of the Father’s nature (Heb. 1:3). As Jesus said:

“Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

That is not a claim to sameness of person, but sameness of essence and perfect revelation. If you want to know what kind of Father God is—look at the Son, His character, His compassion, and His obedience to the will of the Father.

What This Means for Believers

Understanding God’s fatherhood as defined by Scripture leads to both comfort and conviction.

• Comfort, because we don’t have to guess who God is. He is eternally good and personally involved in our lives.

• Conviction, because we must repent of reshaping God into our image. His Word must define how we think about Him.

This also shapes how we speak to others. We don’t say, “God is like a father,” as though He merely resembles something familiar. We say, “God is the Father,” and all good things about fatherhood flow from Him.

Conclusion: Fatherhood from Heaven, Not Earth

We must let heaven define earth—not the other way around. The fatherhood of God is not constructed from below but revealed from above. It is eternal in nature, sovereign in authority, and tender in relationship.

In a world filled with distorted views of God, we need the Word to reorient our vision. God is not defined by what we feel—He is defined by what He has spoken.

“To all who did receive Him… He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

He is the Father—not because we made Him so, but because He always has been!