Theologians on fatherhood

  • Clement of Alexandria:
    • "God is the Father of all, but he is especially the Father of his Son, Jesus Christ." (Stromata 1.29.1)
    • "The Father is the source of all being and life, and the Son is the one through whom the Father reveals himself to us." (Paedagogus 1.8.47)
    • "Human fathers are limited and imperfect, but God is the perfect Father." (Exhortation to the Greeks 10)
  • Augustine of Hippo:
    • "The Father loves the Son with an infinite love, and the Son loves the Father with an infinite love. This love is the very essence of the Trinity." (On the Trinity 8.8.12)
    • "God's love is perfect and unconditional. It is not based on our merits or our actions. It is simply the way that God is." (Confessions 1.6.11)
    • "Human fathers are capable of love, but God's love is greater than anything we can imagine." (_Sermon 260.1)
  • Martin Luther:
    • "God is our Father, and we are his children. He loves us unconditionally, and he has sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins." (The Bondage of the Will 1.1)
    • "Human fathers are often harsh and demanding, but God's love is patient and forgiving." (Commentary on Galatians 4:6)
    • "We should all strive to be like God, the perfect Father. We should love one another unconditionally, and we should forgive one another." (Sermon on the Mount 5:44)
  • Karl Barth:
    • "God is the eternal and infinite Father. He is the source of all being and life, and he is the one who loves us unconditionally." (Church Dogmatics 1.1.1)
    • "Human fathers are limited and finite, but God is the eternal and infinite Father. We can never fully understand the love of God, but we can experience it through Jesus Christ." (Church Dogmatics 4.1.1)
    • "We are all called to be sons and daughters of God. We are called to live in love and obedience to him." (Church Dogmatics 4.1.2)

These are just a few examples of the many quotes and references that could be given on the fatherhood of God and the sonship of believers. The fatherhood of God is a central theme in the Bible, and it is a theme that has been explored by many theologians throughout the centuries.