Biblical Descriptions of an Ideal Father/Child Relationship

Biblical Descriptions of an Ideal Father/Child Relationship

Benjamin Elliff has given us below a useful list of of Bible texts describing how the critical Father/child relationship is to be lived out. This could be a source for daily meditation, discussions with a spouse, mentoring men, training children, and small group interaction. Make good use of this list to improve relations between children and fathers, and to honor God who is the perfect Father.

Biblical Descriptions of an Ideal Father/Child Relationship

The Father’s Relationship to His Child

1. A father pities/shows compassion (oikteiro) to his children. “As a father shows compassion to his children. . . ” (Ps. 103:13 LXX).
2. A father does not shame (entrepo) his children. “I do not write these things to shame you . . . (1 Cor 4:14).
3. A father admonishes (noutheteo) his children. “. . . but to admonish you as my beloved children” (1 Cor 4:14).
4. A father loves (implied in the word agapetos) his children. “. . . as my beloved children” (1 Cor 4:14).
5. A father does not provoke his children to wrath (parorgizo) “Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath” (Eph 6:4).
6. A father brings up (ektrepho) his children. “. . . but bring them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).
7. A father exhorts (parakaleo) his children. “We were exhorting . . . each one of you as a father would his own children” (1 Thess 2:11). “And you have forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons” (Heb 12:5).
8. A father encourages (paramutheo) his children. “We were . . . encouraging . . . each one of you as a father would his own children (1 Thess 2:11).
9. A father bears witness (martyreo) to his children. “We were . . . bearing witness to each one of you as a father would his own children (1 Thess 2:11).
10. A father disciplines (paideuo) his child. “What son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Heb 12:7).
11. A father carries (nasa’) his child. “The Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son” (Deut 1:31).
12. A father does not exasperate his children. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart” (Col. 3:21).

The Child’s Relationship to His or Her Father

1. A child obeys (hypakouo) his father. “Children, obey your parents” (Eph 6:1).
2. A child honors (timao or Hebrew chibbed). “Honor your father and mother” (Eph 6:2 and Exod 20:12). Also, a child honors (doxazei or Hebrew chibbed) his father. “A son honors his father. . . . If I am a father, where is my honor?” (Malachi 1:6 LXX).
3. A child respects (entrepomai) his father. “We had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them” (Heb 12:9).
4. A child submits (hypotassomai) to his father. “Shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?” (Heb 12:9). “Children, submit to your parents in everything” (Col 3:20).

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