Sound exegesis distinguishes among literal teachings, parables, and allegorical teaching. What do you call the man who impregnated your mother? Do you call him “father”?  Remember, Protestants,  the Fourth Commandment: Honor thy father and mother.

 

“And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, Christ.” Matthew 23:9-10

 

Understand that this is a case of allegory. The non-literal nature of this allegorical verse is underscored by the use of the father-son language elsewhere in the New Testament. The Protestant habit of taking Matthew 23 literally is one more instance showing that they need a Pope—and should avoid private interpretation.

 

From the Douay Rheims, Challoner notes on Matthew 23:9-10: “The meaning is that our Father in heaven is incomparably more to be regarded, than any father upon earth: and no master to be followed, who would lead us away from Christ. But this does not hinder but that we are by the law of God to have a due respect both for our parents and spiritual fathers, (1 Cor. 4:15) and for our masters and teachers.”

 

“For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.” 1 Corinthians 4:15

 

St. Paul here indicates that, having “begotten” them, he is truly a spiritual father to the Corinthians “in Christ Jesus, by the gospel.” Hence, the Corinthians allegorically had more than one father, but “not many fathers.” Each one had at least a biological father and St. Paul, a spiritual father.

 

“To Titus my beloved son, according to the common faith, grace and peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Saviour.” Titus 1:4

 

St. Paul’s father-son metaphor is another instance of St. Paul’s spiritual fatherhood, in this instance Titus’ spiritual father in Christ

 

“The church that is in Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you: and so doth my son Mark.”

1 Peter 5:13

 

St. Peter, the “Rock” himself, the Pope, uses St. Paul’s same father-son metaphor in telling us that he, St. Peter, was Mark’s spiritual father in Christ—and, of course—Mark also had a biological father. What do you think Mark, Titus, and the Corinthians called their biological fathers? “Father.”

 

So… how are your mother and…um…er…uh…whatever you call him?