Our Divine Parent

A Biblical Theology of the Family of God

Joshua Joel Spoelstra

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781725267626, 9781725267619
• eBook ISBN: 9781725267633
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Criticism & Interpretation

Our Divine Parent traces the metaphorical theme of God's burgeoning family that spans the entire Bible. The family of God is a place of being, belonging, and becoming; and relationship with the Triune God as Divine Parent is characteristic of value and dignity, provision and protection, transformation and maturation, purpose and calling. Not merely a series of events relegated to the past, the family of God is an ongoing, present phenomenon--a salvation-relationship into which God invites all peoples to be adopted, redeemed children of God.

1

God as Father

It is well-known, and oft-lamented, that the Bible is thoroughly patriarchal—even androcentric—in orientation.41 Notwithstanding, the biblical language of God as father is metaphoric;42 metaphoric also is the biblical literature when casting God as mother (chapter 2). Consequently, it is worthwhile investigating how God relates to humans not only generally as a male/man but specifically through the familial metaphor of father.43

In this chapter, the few references to God as father in the Old Testament are examined, initially; it is in the New Testament, conversely, where prolific attestation to divine fatherhood exists, whether vocalized by Jesus in the Gospels,44 especially John,45 or by the writers of the epistles and apocalypse.46 Subsequently, the Old and New Testaments are simultaneously viewed to draw out key themes of God, particularly the character traits of a father; this investigation determines what is revealed about God and hence how to relate to God. Finally, the generational function of fatherhood, both natural and spiritual, is briefly registered (to be more fully developed in chapter 6).

1.1 God as Father in the Old Testament

There are a couple times in the Old Testament where God as creator is explicitly conflated with God as father.47 The prophet Malachi articulates, “‘Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us?’” (Mal 2:10b, NRSV; cf. Mal 1:6). Likewise, Moses advances, “Is not he [i.e., God] your father, who created you, who made you and established you?” (Deut 32:6b, NRSV). The association of creator with father evokes the figurative properties of God’s procreation.

In Deuteronomy 32:6b, the (Heb.) terms created (qnʿ), made (ʿsh), and established (kûn) may seem to evoke architectural or construction connotations; however, the imbedded imagery is that of birthing. This is corroborated with Job 31 where most of the same terminology (made [ʿsh] and fashioned [kûn]) occurs: “Did not he [God] who made me in the womb make them [i.e., his servants]? And did not one fashion us in the womb?” (Job 31:15, NRSV). The reference to womb in Job 31 naturally favors motherly imagery (see chapter 2, 2.1.2), so there are mixed metaphors throughout the Old Testament. Even within the same passage, though, the multivalence is exhibited; later in the Song of Moses (Deut 32:6b), God both sires (fatherly aspect) and births (motherly aspect) the children of Israel (Deut 32:18).

In the Psalter, God is hailed by the psalmists to be a father. The following stanzas attribute God’s fatherly qualities as being provider and protection, security and salvation, and compassionate.

•Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. (Ps 68:5, NRSV)

•“You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!” (Ps 89:26, NRSV)

•As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. (Ps 103:13, NRSV)

God’s parenthood of orphans is developed in chapter 5; alternatively, the compassion of God is the same characteristic prized of God as mother in Isaiah 49:15, which is taken up in chapter 2 (2.1.1).48

Isaiah and Jeremiah make mention of God in terms of father. Isaiah confesses, “you are our father . . . you, O LORD, are our father; our Redeemer” (Isa 63:16, NRSV); and “O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isa 64:8, NRSV; cf. Jer 18:1–11; Sir 33:10–13).49 Additionally, the renowned prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 contains many monikers including that of father: “a child has been born for us, a son given to us . . . [who] is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (NRSV).50

Jeremiah, similarly, has the following statements rhetorically emanating from the mouth of God: “Ha...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: God as Father
• Chapter 2: God as Mother
• Chapter 3: God as Parent of a Son
• Chapter 4: God as Parent of a Daughter
• Chapter 5: God as Adopter of Children
• Chapter 6: Parenting as Discipleship
• Conclusion
• Bibliography