What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?

Christian fathers serve an important function in teaching their children the ways of our Lord. They are also to be examples themselves, living out a life dedicated to Christ. In this article, we will look at some short passages of scripture that reveal what a Christian father is to be.

Here are some verses that show us how God expects fathers to act:

• Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
  

  What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?

This verse tells us that fathers are responsible for teaching their children about God and His Word. 

• Colossians 3:21 – “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”
  

  What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?

Fathers must also set an example for the family to follow and lead them in the right direction so they can grow up as productive members of society.

• 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 – “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”

These are the words of Paul to the Thessalonians when they first met. He knew they had just started following Christ, so he treated them like his own children and gave them advice and encouragement. He also told them that they had to do what he said if they wanted to please God. This passage shows that it is the father’s job to teach his children about God and show them how to get to heaven. 

The Bible is full of references to fathers and what it means to be a father, and the above verses are just a few of them. The father-child relationship is one of the most important relationships in life and one that should be honored and respected by all involved. Let’s learn more about this by digging deeper into this special topic. 

What is the biblical meaning of a father?

The word “father” is one of the most important words in the Bible. It appears over a thousand times in the Bible and is used to refer to God and human beings. But what does it mean?

To understand what the Bible means by “father,” we have to know what an ancient Hebrew would have understood by that term. The Hebrew word for “father” is “AV” 1. But spiritually speaking, the father figure is extremely important when we analyze it in the Bible. Jesus emphasized it while teaching the disciples how to pray that God is our Father in Heaven and we are His children (Luke 11:2).

Furthermore, the Hebrew word “AV” was used much more broadly than we use it today. It could mean either a father or grandfather, depending on the context. So, when we read about fathers in the Bible, it could be referring to someone who has fathered children and grandchildren or someone who has not had children but still acts as an authority figure.

Our Heavenly Father is like that. He is a father to everyone. Whatever race, gender, or age we are, He remains as a Father. And He loves us, cares for us, and provides for us. But what does it mean to be a father? What does it mean to be a fatherly figure? In the Bible, there are many examples of fathers who acted as mentors or guides to their children. Here are some of them: 

• Abraham

Abraham raised his son Isaac under difficult circumstances (Genesis 22:2) and then sent him off into the world with faith in God’s provision—and with His blessing. 

Abraham’s story is one of faith and obedience. It’s also a reminder of how important it is for parents to raise their children to know God and to trust Him.

• Jacob 

If you read through the book of Genesis in the Bible, you’ll see that he loved each of his children very much. We see this in Genesis 37 when he sent Joseph to check on his brothers, who had been working on grazing the flocks near Shechem. Another situation of His love as a father is Genesis 42:4, where he does not want to part ways with any of his children except for Benjamin because then he would have lost his other son too (Joseph).

• Moses

Moses had two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. However, he also acted as a father figure to the entire Hebrew people as they fled from Egypt. He helped discipline and supply for them during their forty-year journey to the Promised Land. 

Moses sometimes appeared to be a strong character, but he was merely a man. He demonstrates to modern fathers today that the tough duties of raising a child may be accomplished when we remain close to God.

• Joseph

Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus. He endured immense adversity to protect his wife, Mary, and his infant son, Jesus, and subsequently attended to Jesus’ upbringing and welfare as he grew up. Joseph instructed Jesus in carpentry. According to the Bible, Joseph was a righteous man, and Jesus must have admired his guardian for his quiet strength, integrity, and compassion.

What is a father’s role?

When it comes to a father’s role, there are so many things that he can do. He is a protector and provider. He is a teacher and a leader. He is also a prayer warrior who prays for his family and guides them on the right path in life.

There are many different perspectives on what a Christian father should look like in a family setting. The following passages are an attempt to highlight their role.

• He is a protector and provider.

According to the Bible, a Christian father must safeguard and provide for his family (1 Timothy 5:8). However, as he works hard to provide for his family and ensure that they have the finest that life has to offer, it is essential that he not get preoccupied with worldly possessions, or he may overlook his children’s emotional needs, which are as essential.

Children require regular interaction with their fathers, including communication and bonding. Regardless of how busy his work schedule is, a father must learn how to balance his professional and personal life and make sure he can find time to spend with his children.

• He is a teacher and a leader.

As a father, a man needs to be the first person his children learn from and follow in life, teaching them what is right and wrong and showing them how good and bad are different. They need to know that he will always be there for them to help them figure out how to get around in this world

If the children do something wrong, it’s also important for a father to stick to what he believes and punish them, as the Lord does according to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. But he does these things out of love. Those who love their children are careful to teach them right from wrong, says the Bible (Proverbs 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.). Make sure that they start training and show them the way as soon as possible; the Bible says that even when children are old, they will not turn away from their training (Proverbs 22:6).

• He is a prayer warrior.

A good father always keeps his family in his prayers. Prayers have the power to move mountains and alter any circumstance in life. One of the most important methods to implement Christian teaching, to build up and encourage his children from an early age, is through prayer.

When he prays daily for his family members, they always feel protected and cared for. They are always confident in life because their father remembers to pray for them. They do not need to dread anything whatsoever.

King David, the father of King Solomon, is an example of a devout father. He frequently prayed for his son. As a Christian parent, you should pray not only for your children’s physical health but also for their spiritual and general well-being.

How do I pray for my dad?

Since we learned that a father is a spiritual warrior, we must also fight for him in spiritual warfare as he intercedes for the well-being of his family. That is the role of the children, but how do we do this?

A child’s prayer for his father should be simple, honest, and heartfelt. It should be a reflection of the love and respect he/she has for him. The child should express gratitude for all the sacrifices their father has made for them, and they should pray that God will bless their father with good health and happiness in the future and pray that he remains strong in His faith in Jesus Christ. 

It’s important to know what it means to be a child of God and to understand that we have access to God through prayer. So, we should not be discouraged because we have Jesus Christ as our Lord. Remember that whatever we ask for in prayer, we believe we will receive it, and it will be ours (Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.).

Here are some prayer items that we can include in our prayer time for our fathers: 

• Pray that he’ll stay in the refuge of Jesus Christ alone.

When we look at our fathers, we might think that they have pretty stable lives. In reality, there can be a lot of uncertainty, especially when they are getting old. Our parents may worry about their health, finances, or ability to care for older relatives.

In the middle of all the uncertainty, they might be tempted to rely too much on short-term solutions. But we know that we can only have real, lasting peace if we put our hope in Jesus Christ, the rock of our salvation (Ephesians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 10:4).

Pray that he will look to Jesus and remember how much He loves them, no matter what. If he isn’t a Christian yet, pray boldly that God would show them the truth of the gospel so they can find true rest in Christ (Matthew 11:28).

• Pray that he’ll always praise God in any circumstance.

Many of our fathers have worked hard in their jobs, at home, in their communities, and at church. Like most people on earth, he’ll think he deserves a life of rest and relaxation. But godly wisdom tells us that our lives are not our own and that God made us to praise him and talk about his good deeds for the rest of our lives (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Ask God to help your father figure out how he can serve God best in each season. Pray that he will keep believing in God and praising Him even when his mind and body are compromised.

• Pray that he’ll be blessed even during old age.

Let’s accept the fact that our father will get old. It’s only normal for us to pray that our father has a long and healthy life, but God wants us to have a broader perspective. We should also ask God to keep him alive so that others might witness his strength and use this as a testimony of God’s goodness. However, if our father is sick, pray that if God decides not to heal him here on earth, at least He will let him be able to declare Christ even in his death.

Conclusion

We covered a lot of ground in this article, but it comes down to this: the Bible says that fathers should treat their children with love and respect, providing them with guidance so they can grow into productive adults. It also says that God commands fathers to provide for their families. In short, the Bible tells us that fathers have a significant role in raising godly children that will follow God’s commands.

And as a child, we are responsible for protecting our fathers through prayer and honoring them as the head of the family.