The Fatherhood of God: The Old Testament | Cross & Crescent Ministries

Cross & Crescent Ministries

The Fatherhood of God:

The Old Testament

Question: Does the Old Testament identify God as Father?

--------------------------------------------------

Overview

The Fatherhood of God is taught throughout the Old Testament. Those who identify God as Father are as follows.

Moses (Genesis 6:1-4, Exodus 4:21-23, Deuteronomy 14:1-2, 32:7 & 32:18-19)

Job (Job 1:6 & 38:4-7)

David (Psalm 2:1-12, 82:1-8, 89:19-29 & 1 Chronicles 28:4-6)

Isaiah (Isaiah 63:15-19)

Hosea (Hosea 11:1-4)

It should be noted that the Fatherhood of God has nothing to do with physical, biological or sexual procreation. A Son of God, according to the Bible, is someone who represents God and acts with the authority of God, and this is applied to humans and angels. Simply put, God is a Father because God has sons and daughters, and the sons and daughters of God are those who represent God and act with the authority of God.

References to the Fatherhood of God in the Old Testament are especially significant when contrasted with the Quran. The Quran (although claiming to be a continuation of the religion of the Prophets) states that it is highly inappropriate to associate Allah with Fatherhood or to suggest that Allah has children in any sense (2:116-117, 4:171, 5:18, 6:100-101, 9:30, 17:110-111, 19:88-95, 21:25-28, 25:1-3, 39:4, 72:1-5 & 112:1-4). In short, the Quran denies the religion of the Prophets by denying the Fatherhood of God.

--------------------------------------------------

Bible Passages - Moses

Genesis 6:1-4

(1) When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, (2) the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. (3) Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

(4) The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward - when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Exodus 4:21-23

(21) The LORD said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. (22) Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, (23) and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Deuteronomy 14:1-2

(1) You are the children of the LORD your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead, (2) for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 32:6

(6) Is this the way you repay the LORD, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?

Deuteronomy 32:18-19

(18) You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth. (19) The LORD saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters.

Bible Passages - Job

Job 1:6

(6) One day the angels [the sons of God] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.

Job 38:4-7

(4) “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. (5) Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? (6) On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - (7) while the morning stars sang together and all the angels [sons of God] shouted for joy?

Bible Passages - David

Psalm 2:1-12

(1) Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? (2) The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, (3) “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”

(4) The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the LORD scoffs at them. (5) He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, (6) “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

(7) I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. (8) Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. (9) You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

(10) Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. (11) Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. (12) Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 82:1-8

(1) God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”:

(2) “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? (3) Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. (4) Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

(5) “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

(6) “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ (7) But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.”

(8) Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.

Psalm 89:19-29

(19) Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young man from among the people. (20) I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. (21) My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. (22) The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him. (23) I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. (24) My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted. (25) I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. (26) He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ (27) And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. (28) I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. (29) I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.

1 Chronicles 28:4-6

(4) “Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. (5) Of all my sons - and the LORD has given me many - he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. (6) He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. (7) I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’

Bible Passages - Isaiah

Isaiah 63:15-19

(15) Look down from heaven and see, from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us. (16) But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. (17) Why, LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance. (18) For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary. (19) We are yours from of old; but you have not ruled over them, they have not been called by your name.

Bible Passages - Hosea

Hosea 11:1-4

(1) “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. (2) But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. (3) It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. (4) I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.

Quran Passages

The Quran 2:116-117 (Abdul Haleem)

(116) They have asserted, ‘God has a child.’ May He be exalted! No! Everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him, everything devoutly obeys His will. (117) He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth, and when He decrees something, He says only, ‘Be,’ and it is.

The Quran 2:116-117 (Sahih International)

(116) They say, "Allah has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are devoutly obedient to Him,

(117) Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.

The Quran 4:171 (Abdul Haleem)

(171) People of the Book, do not go to excess in your religion, and do not say anything about God except the truth: the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was nothing more than a messenger of God, His word, directed to Mary, a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers and do not speak of a ‘Trinity’ - stop [this], that is better for you - God is only one God, He is far above having a son, everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him and He is the best one to trust.

The Quran 4:171 (Sahih International)

(171) O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.

The Quran 5:18 (Abdul Haleem)

(18) The Jews and the Christians say, “We are the children of God and His beloved ones.” Say, “Then why does He punish you for your sins? You are merely human beings, part of His creation: He forgives whoever He will and punishes whoever He will. Control of the heavens and earth and all that is between them belongs to Him: all journeys lead to Him.”

The Quran 5:18 (Sahih International)

(18) But the Jews and the Christians say, "We are the children of Allah and His beloved." Say, "Then why does He punish you for your sins?" Rather, you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the [final] destination.

The Quran 6:100-101 (Abdul Haleem)

(100) Yet they made the jinn partners with God, though He created them, and without any true knowledge they attribute sons and daughters to Him. Glory be to Him! He is far higher than what they ascribe to Him, (101) the Creator of the heavens and earth! How could He have children when He has no spouse, when He created all things, and has full knowledge of all things?

The Quran 6:100-101 (Sahih International)

(100) But they have attributed to Allah partners - the jinn, while He has created them - and have fabricated for Him sons and daughters. Exalted is He and high above what they describe.

(101) [He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing.

The Quran 9:30 (Abdul Haleem)

(30) The Jews said, ‘Ezra is the son of God,’ and the Christians said, ‘The Messiah is the son of God’: they said this with their own mouths, repeating what earlier disbelievers had said. May God confound them! How far astray they have been led!

The Quran 9:30 (Sahih International)

(30) The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allah"; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allah." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?

The Quran 17:110-111 (Abdul Haleem)

(110) Say [to them], ‘Call on God, or on the Lord of Mercy - whatever names you call Him, the best names belong to Him.’ [Prophet], do not be too loud in your prayer, or too quiet, but seek a middle way (111) and say, ‘Praise belongs to God, who has no child nor partner in His rule. He is not so weak as to need a protector. Proclaim His limitless greatness!’

The Quran 17:110-111 (Sahih International)

(110) Say, "Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names." And do not recite [too] loudly in your prayer or [too] quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way.

(111) And say, "Praise to Allah, who has not taken a son and has had no partner in [His] dominion and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with [great] glorification."

The Quran 19:88-95 (Abdul Haleem)

(88) The disbelievers say, “The Lord of Mercy has offspring.” (89) How terrible is this thing you assert: (90) it almost causes the heavens to be torn apart, the earth to split asunder, the mountains to crumble to pieces, (91) that they attribute offspring to the Lord of Mercy. (92) It does not befit the Lord of Mercy [to have offspring]: (93) there is no one in the heavens or earth who will not come to the Lord of Mercy as a servant - (94) He has counted them all: He has numbered them exactly - (95) and they will each return to Him on the Day of Resurrection all alone.

The Quran 19:88-95 (Sahih International)

(88) And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son."

(89) You have done an atrocious thing.

(90) The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation

(91) That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son.

(92) And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.

(93) There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant.

(94) He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting.

(95) And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone.

The Quran 21:25-28 (Abdul Haleem)

(25) We never sent any messenger before you [Muhammad] without revealing to him: ‘There is no god but Me, so serve Me.’ (26) And they say, ‘The Lord of Mercy has taken offspring for Himself.’ May He be exalted! No! They are only His honoured servants: (27) they do not speak before He speaks and they act by His command. (28) He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede without His permission - indeed they themselves stand in awe of Him.

The Quran 21:25-28 (Sahih International)

(25) And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."

(26) And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, they are [but] honored servants.

(27) They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command.

(28) He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive.

The Quran 25:1-3 (Abdul Haleem)

(1) Exalted is He who has sent the Differentiator down to His servant so that it may be a warning to all people. (2) It is He who has control over the heavens and earth and has no offspring - no one shares control with Him - and who created all things and made them to an exact measure. (3) Yet the disbelievers take as their gods things beneath Him that create nothing, and are themselves created, that can neither harm nor help themselves, and have no control over death, life, or resurrection.

The Quran 25:1-3 (Sahih International)

(1) Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His Servant that he may be to the worlds a warner -

(2) He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion and has created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination.

(3) But they have taken besides Him gods which create nothing, while they are created, and possess not for themselves any harm or benefit and possess not [power to cause] death or life or resurrection.

The Quran 39:4 (Abdul Haleem)

(4) God could have chosen any of His creation He willed for offspring, but He is far above this! He is the One, the Almighty.

The Quran 39:4 (Sahih International)

(4) If Allah had intended to take a son, He could have chosen from what He creates whatever He willed. Exalted is He; He is Allah, the One, the Prevailing.

The Quran 72:1-5 (Abdul Haleem)

(1) Say [Prophet], ‘It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn once listened in and said, “We have heard a wondrous Quran, (2) that gives guidance to the right path, and we have come to believe it - We shall never set up partners with our Lord - (3) and that He - exalted be the glory of our Lord! - has neither spouse nor child. (4) Outrageous things have been said about God by the foolish among us, (5) although we had thought that no man or jinn would [dare to] tell a lie about Him.

The Quran 72:1-5 (Sahih International)

(1) Say, [O Muhammad], "It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, 'Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur'an.

(2) It guides to the right course, and we have believed in it. And we will never associate with our Lord anyone.

(3) And [it teaches] that exalted is the nobleness of our Lord; He has not taken a wife or a son

(4) And that our foolish one has been saying about Allah an excessive transgression.

(5) And we had thought that mankind and the jinn would never speak about Allah a lie.

The Quran 112:1-4 (Abdul Haleem)

(1) Say, ‘He is God the One, (2) God the eternal. (3) He begot no one nor was He begotten. (4) No one is comparable to Him.

The Quran 112:1-4 (Sahih International)

(1) Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One,

(2) Allah, the Eternal Refuge.

(3) He neither begets nor is born,

(4) Nor is there to Him any equivalent."