A True Man

SUCH was the man whom we have pictured sitting under a fig-tree.

His name was Nathanael. One day a friend went up to him and said, "We have found Jesus of Nazareth."

Nathanael seemed to think it could not be Jesus; for, said he, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip, his friend, said, "Come and see." Nathanael went to see.

As he came near to Him, Jesus said, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." Nathanael wondered how it was that Jesus knew him.

Jesus told him that before Philip called him, when he thought he was alone under the fig-tree, reading God's word or praying, He saw him. Philip felt sure now that, wherever He came from, He must be the Son of God.

Have you ever seen a man who's selling fruit put the best at the top of the basket, and cover over and hide the worst part of the fruit? Why does he do that? Is it honest and sincere dealing ? Now, nearly everybody tries to hide his or her own faults. A great deal depends upon who is known to be looking, but Nathanael had no guile, no deceit. He did not put the best on the outside. He was a man of true piety, —he made no profession that he did not live up to. He did not say one thing and do another.

Jesus saw Nathanael when he was praying. He said so.

Remember—
Jesus beholds whatever you do...
So wherever you are, whoever you are around, whatever you are doing, always be true.

FATHER:

fa'-ther (Anglo-Saxon, Foeder; German, Vater; Hebrew 'abh, etymology uncertain, found in many cognate languages; Greek pater, from root pa, "nourisher," "protector," "upholder"):

1. Immediate Male Ancestor:

Immediate male ancestor. The father in the Hebrew family, as in the Roman, had supreme rights over his children, could dispose of his daughter in marriage (Ge 29), arrange his son's marriage (Ge 24), sell his children (Ex 21:7), but not his daughter to a stranger (Ne 5:5), had power of life and death, as in the case of Isaac (Ge 22), Jephthah's daughter (Jud 11:34 ), the sacrificing of his children to Molech (Le 18:21; 20:3-5), etc. Respect, reverence and affection for fathers (and equally for mothers) is most tenderly, explicitly and sternly prescribed from the earliest times (Ex 20:12; Le 19:3; De 5:16; Mic 7:6; Ezekiel 22:7, etc.). A symmetrical and beautiful picture of the duties and character of the ideal human father may be built up from the Old Testament, with added and enlarged touches from the New Testament. He loves (Ge 37:4); commands (Ge 50:16; Pr 6:20); instructs (Pr 1:8, etc.); guides, encourages, warns (Jer 3:4; 1Th 2:11); trains (Ho 11:3); rebukes (Ge 34:30); restrains (Eli, by contrast, 1Sa 3:13); punishes (De 21:18); chastens (Pr 3:12; De 8:5); nourishes (Isaiah 1:2); delights in his son (Pr 3:12), and in his son's wisdom (Pr 10:1); is deeply pained by his folly (Pr 17:25); he is considerate of his children's needs and requests (Matthew 7:10); considerate of their burdens, or sins (Malachi 3:17, "As a man spareth his own son"); tenderly familiar (Luke 11:7, "with me in bed"); considerately self-restrained (Eph 6:4, "Provoke not your children to wrath"); having in view the highest ends (ibid., "Nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord"); pitiful (Ps 103:13, "as a father pitieth his children"); the last human friend (but one) to desert the child (Ps 27:10: "When (a thing to the psalmist incredible) my father and my mother forsake me, then Yahweh will take me up").

2. Ancestors, Immediate or Remote:

    (a) Ancestor, immediate or remote: Ge 28:13, "Abraham thy father" (grandfather); 1Ki 22:50, "Jehoshaphat .... David his father"; Jer 35:6, "Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father"; Da 5:11, "Nebuchadnezzar thy father" (personal or official ancestor); Ge 15:15, "Go to thy fathers in peace" (and so (in the plural) in over 500 passages). The expressions "slept with his fathers," "go down to his fathers," "buried with his fathers," "gathered to his fathers," are self-explanatory euphemisms.

    (b) The founders of the (Hebrew) race, specifically the patriarchs:' Romans 9:5, "whose are the fathers," considered here also as in a sense the religious ancestors of all believers.

    (c) Progenitors of clans, i.e. (Revised Version (British and American)) "fathers' houses": Ex 6:14; 1Ch 27:1, etc.

    (d) Gods as progenitors of men: Jer 2:27, "Who say to a stock, thou art my father."

3. Figurative and Derived Uses:

    (a) A spiritual ancestor, one who has infused his own spirit into others, whether good, as Abraham, the father of the faithful, Romans 4:11; or bad, as John 8:44, "Ye are of your father the devil."

    (b) Indicating closest resemblance, kinship, affinity: Job 17:14, "If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father."

    (c) A source: Eph 1:17, "Father of glory"; Job 38:28, "Hath the rain a father?"

    (d) Creator: Jas 1:17, "the Father of lights."

    (e) The inventor or originator of an art or mode of life: Ge 4:20, "father of such as dwell in tents" (a hint here of hereditary occupations? Probably not).

    (f) One who exhibits the fatherly characteristics: Ps 68:5, "a father of the fatherless."

    (g) One who occupies a position of counsel, care, or control (frequently applied by sultans to their prime ministers): Ge 45:8, "a father to Pharaoh"; Jud 17:10, "Be unto me a father and a priest."

    (h) A revered or honored superior: 2Ki 5:13, "My father, if the prophet had bid thee"; but especially applied to prophets: 2Ki 2:12, "My father, my father!" also to elderly and venerable men: 1John 2:13, "I write unto you, fathers"; hence also, with perhaps an outlook on (2) (a), deceased early Christians: 2Peter 3:4, "from the day that the fathers fell asleep." An ecclesiastical title, condemned (in principle) by our Lord: Matthew 23:9, "Call no man your father on the earth"; but applied, under the power of the Spirit, to members of the Sanhedrin (probably) by Stephen: Ac 7:2; and by Paul: 22:1, but the latter, perhaps also the former, may simply refer to the elderly among his hearers. Christ's condemnation is clearly of the praise-seeking or obsequious spirit, rather than of a particular custom.

"Father," used by Mary of Joseph, in relation to Jesus, equals "putative father," a necessary reserve at a time when the virgin birth could not yet be proclaimed (Luke 2:49). But note Jesus' answer: "my Father's house."

Philip Wendell Crannell

FATHER:

Is often synonymous with ancestor, founder, or originator, as Ge 4:20-21 John 8:56 Romans 4:16. Joseph was a father to Pharoah, Ge 45:8, as his counselor and provider. God is the FATHER of men, as their Creator, De 32:6 Isaiah 63:16 64:8 Luke 3:38. But as we have forfeited the rights of children by our sins, it is only through Christ that we can call God by that endearing name, "our Father," John 20:17 Romans 8:15-17.

In patriarchal times, a father was master and judge in his own household, and exercised and authority almost unlimited over his family. Filial disobedience or disrespect was a high offence. Under the law, certain acts of children were capital crimes, Ex 21:15,17 Le 20:9; and the father was required to bring his son to the public tribunal, De 21:18-21. See MOTHER.

Father, a name applied

(1) to any ancestor
    (Deut. 1:11; 1 Kings 15:11; Matthew 3:9; 23:30, etc.); and

(2) as a title of respect to a chief, ruler, or elder, etc.
    (Judg. 17:10; 18:19; 1 Sam. 10:12; 2 Kings 2:12; Matthew 23:9, etc.).

(3) The author or beginner of anything is also so called; e.g., Jabal and Jubal
    (Gen. 4:20, 21; comp. Job 38:28).


Applied to God
    (Ex. 4:22; Deut. 32:6; 2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 89:27, 28, etc.).

    (1.) As denoting his covenant relation to the Jews (Jer. 31:9; Isa. 63:16; 64:8; John 8:41, etc.).

    (2.) Believers are called God's "sons"
        (John 1:12; Rom. 8:16; Matthew 6:4, 8, 15, 18; 10:20, 29).

        They also call him "Father"
            (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:4)

Father

An idolatrous title of priests
    (Judges 17:10)

Forbidden to be used as a title among the disciples
    (Matthew 23:9)

See PARENTS; GOD, FATHERHOOD OF.

FATHER:

The position and authority of the father as the head of the family are expressly assumed and sanctioned in Scripture, as a likeness of that of the Almighty over his creatures. It lies of course at the root of that so-called patriarchal government, (ge 3:16; 1co 11:3) which was introductory to the more definite systems which followed, and which in part, but not wholly, superseded it. The father’s blessing was regarded as conferring special benefit, but his malediction special injury, on those on whom it fell, (ge 9:25,27; ge 27:27-40; ge 48:15,20; ge 49:1) ... and so also the sin of a parent was held to affect, in certain cases, the welfare of his descendants. (2ki 5:27) The command to honor parents is noticed by St. Paul as the only one of the Decalogue which bore a distinct promise, (ex 20:12; eph 6:2) and disrespect towards them was condemned by the law as one of the worst crimes. (ex 21:15,17; 1ti 1:9) It is to this well-recognized theory of parental authority and supremacy that the very various uses of the term "father" in Scripture are due. "Fathers" is used in the sense of seniors, (ac 7:2; ac 22:1) and of parents in general, or ancestors. (da 5:2; jer 27:7; mt 23:30,32)

FATHER'S GOD:
    Ex 3:13; De 1:11; 4:1; Jos 18:3; 2Ch 28:9; 29:5

FATHERHOOD OF GOD:
    (1) General References to
        1Ch 29:10; Ps 68:5; Isaiah 63:16; 64:8; Matthew 6:9; 7:11; Romans 8:15 1Peter 1:17

--SEE Spiritual Adoption, CHURCH, THE
Providence, PROVIDENCE DIVINE

    (2) God Spoken of as the Father of all Men
        De 32:6; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 23:9; Romans 3:29; 1Corinthians 8:6; Eph 4:6; Hebrews 12:9 1Jo 5:7

Father
    (1.) The immediate male parent of a child, Gen. ix. 18; and it is sometimes put for both parents, Prov. x. 1.

    (2.) The grandfather, or any other progenitor, however remote, especially if any covenant was made with them, or grant of blessings given them for their seed: so Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and others, where the fathers of the Jews in the time of Christ, John 4:20. and 8:53. Heb. 1:1. Gen. 17:4.

    (3.) An inventor of an art, and method of living; an instructor of others in any science, Judg. 17:10. 1 Sam. 10:12: so Jabel was the father of such as dwell in tents, and Jubal the father of all musicians, Gen.4:20, 21. Hiram the founder, was a father, or chief director of the artificers belonging to Hiram king of Tyre, and Solomon, 2 Chron. 2:13. Elijah was a father, to Elisha, and the young prophets of Jericho, 2 Kings 2:12. Founders of cities, and progenitors of the inhabitants, are called fathers of these cities: so Salma was the father of Bethlehem; Hareph, of Bethgader; Joab, of the valley of Charashim; Jehiel, the father of Gibeon, 1 Chron. 2:51. and 4:14. and 9:35.

    (4.) Father, is a title of respect: Naaman's servants called him their father, 2 Kings 5:13. Jehoram and Joash, called Elisha their father, 2 Kings 6:21. and 13:14.

    (5.) One that affectionately counsels, cares and provides for one; so God is the Father of the fatherless, Psal. 68:5. Joseph was a father to Pharaoh, Gen. 45:8. Job a father to the poor, Job 29:16.

God is called the Father of Christ. As the first person of the Godhead, he from eternity begat him, Eph. 1:3. John 1: 14. He is the Father of spirits, of lights, of glory, of mercies, of all things: he created angels and souls of men, and preserves them in their nature and work; he is the origin and bestower of all light, glory, and merciful favours; he is the former and preserver of all things, Heb. 12:9. James 1:17. Eph. 1:17. and 4:6. 2 Cor. 1:3. He is the Father and Mother of the rain, dew, ice, and hoar frost, as he forms and produces the same, and sends it on the earth, Job 38:28, 29. He was the Father of the Jews, and is so of all professors of the true religion, as he marvellously raises them up, establishes them in their national and church state, and is their peculiar governor, Deut. 32:6. Gen. 6:2. He is the Father of the saints, he begets them again into his image by his word and Spirit, adopts them into his family; renders them familiar with him, kindly cares, provides for, and protects them, and renders them joint heirs with Christ of his heavenly inheritance, Rom. 8:15, 16. He is the Father of all men by creation, and providential preservation and government, Mal. 2:10. Christ is the everlasting Father; from eternity the elect were chosen in him; by his obedience and suffering, by his word and Spirit he confers their new state and nature, and gives them his kingdom, and every thing necessary, Isa. 9:6 and 53:10.

The Old Testament saints are called his fathers; the apostles, and others, New Testament believers, are called his children, Psal. 45:16. ...Satan is called a father, he introduced sin into the world; he makes men like himself, and di- rects and counsels them in their evil way, John 8:44. Abraham was the father of them who believe; he was an eminent pattem of their faith .and obedience; and into his bosom they are gathered in the eternal state, Rom. 4:11. Natural parents are called fathers of our flesh, as they only beget our body, Heb. 12:9. We are to call no man father; are to acknowledge none but Christ, and God in him, head of the church, author of our religion, or Lord of our conscience, Matth. 23:9. To call corruption our father, and the worms ,our mother and sister, is humbly to acknowledge, that we sprung from dust; shall by putrefaction return to it; and so may, for meanness, claim kindred, with vermin, Job 17:14. John Baptist turned the hearts of the Fathers to the children, when he excited the Jews in his time to believe the principles, receive the like endowments, and follow the practice of their godly ancestors, Mal. 4:6. To sleep with our fathers, go to them, or be gathered to them, is to die like our ancestors, and go with them to the grave or separate state of souls, 1 Kings 2:10. Judg. 2:10. ...Sometimes the father-in-law, or father of one's wife, is, represented as his father: so Heli, who was the father-in-law of Joseph the carpenter, is re- presented as his father, Luke 3:23.

Father, This term is very variously applied in Scripture, and occurs in modes of expression which are not quite usual in European languages. For, beside the uses of it common to all languages

    (1), of the immediate male parent;

    (2) of the more remote parents or ancestors;

    (3) of one occupying somewhat nf the position and exercising to some extent the authority of a father, as Joseph to Pharaoh, Ge. 45:8, or Naaman to his servants, 2 Ki. 5:13; it is also extended

    (4) to all, who in any respect might be said to originate or have power over any object or persons. For example, the inventor of an art was called its father, or the father of those who practiced it; Jubal was "the father of all such as handle the harp and organ," and Jabal " the father of such as dwell in tents," Ge. 4:20,21. So in regard to cities, Salma is represented as the father of Bethlehem, Hareph of Beth-gader, &c., 1 Ch. 2:51; 4:14; 9:35.

The place and authority of the father stood very high in patriarchal times, and they were substantially embodied in the legislation of Moses. While the father lived he continued to represent the whole family, the property was held in his name, and all was under his superintendence and control. His power, however, was by no means unlimited or arbitrary; and if any occasion arose for severe discipline or capital punishment in his family, he was not himself to inflict it, but to bring the matter before the constituted authorities, De. 21:18-21. But these authorities were charged to repress all filial insubordination, and with summary judgment put an end to its more lawless outbreakings. On the other hand, the father, as the head of the household, had the obligation imposed upon him of bringing up his children in the fear of God, making them well acquainted with the precepts of his law, and generally acting as their instructor and guide, De. 6:20; Ex. 12:26, &c. So that, if fathers were, in the first instance, faithful to their trust, it could not very frequently happen that the severities in question would need to be exercised upon the children.

For the more peculiar use of the word father, in reference to God, and the relations implied in it, see under Abba, and Sons Of God.