God the Father

From Encyclopedia Reformata

The name ‘Father’ is frequently applied in Scripture to the triune God, as the creator of all things, 1 Cor. 8:6; Heb. 12:9; Jas. 1:17; as the Father of Israel, Deut. 32:6; Isa. 63:16; and as the Father of believers, Matt. 5:45; 6:6, 9, 14; Rom. 8:15. In a deeper sense, however, it is The Father applied to the First Person of the Trinity, to express His relation to the Second Person, John 1:14, 18; 8:54; 14:12, 13. This is the original Fatherhood, of which all earthly fatherhood is but a faint reflection. The distinctive characteristic of the Father is that He generates the Son from all eternity. The works particularly ascribed to Him are those of planning the work of redemption, creation and providence, and representing the Trinity in the Counsel of Redemption.

The name “Father,” as applied to God, is not always used in the same sense in Scripture. It may denote the triune God (a) as the origin of all created things, I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 3:14, 15; Heb. 12:9; Jas. 1:17; (b) as the Father of the chosen nation of Israel, Deut. 32:6; Isa. 63:16; 64:8; Jer. 3:4; Mal. 1:6; 2:10; and (c) as the Father of believers as His spiritual children, Matt. 5:45; 6:6–15; Rom. 8:15; I John 1:3. In a far more fundamental sense, however, the name is applied to the first person in the Trinity in His relation to the second person, John 1:14, 18; 5:17–26; 8:54; 14:12, 13. This is the original Fatherhood of God, of which all earthly fatherhood is but a faint reflection. The distinctive property of the Father is that He generates the Son from all eternity. Certain works are ascribed particularly to the Father, though the other persons also participate in them, such as planning the work of redemption, the works of creation and providence, and the work of representing the Trinity in the Counsel of Redemption.

Source: Based on Louis Berkhof’s Summary and Manual of Christian Doctrine.