"And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham." Matthew 3:9
"Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matthew 19:19
"And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame." Luke 16:24
"Who said: Ye men, brethren, and fathers, hear. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charan." Acts 7:2
"MEN, brethren, and fathers, hear ye the account which I now give unto you." Acts 22:1
"Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (As it is written: I have made thee a father of many nations,) before God, whom he believed, who quickeneth the dead; and calleth those things that are not, as those that are." Romans 4:16-17
"I write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children. For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you." 1 Corinthians 4:14-15
"As you know in what manner, entreating and comforting you, (as a father doth his children,)" 1 Thessalonians 2:11
"I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus," Philemon 1:10
"Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons. Moreover we have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we reverenced them: shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live?" Hebrews 12:7-9
"I write unto you, fathers, because you have known Him, who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, babes, because you have known the Father. I write unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one." 1 John 2:13-14
(emphasis added for your much needed edification)
"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." Saint Jerome
Jerome was/still is correct. In Mt. 23:9 Jesus, in this case, used the word "father" not referring to the literal line-of-descent ancestors, but rather grammatically and syntactically was ordering his disciples not to confer the title "Father" to anyone but The God of The Heaven, Who in the figurative-literal sense is The Only One Who can save and impart a spiritual birth to a sin-sick soul.
Looking at the context, here is a precise translation of the Koine:
"But yourselves be not titled, Rahb-bee! For One is The Leader of you, The Christ. But you all yourself are brothers. And do not title anyone upon the Earth, Father of You! For One is The Father of you, The One in the Heavens. Neither be titled Leaders! For One is The Leader of you, The Christ. But the greatest one of you shall be your domestic servant. But who ever shall exalt himself, he shall be humbled. And who ever humble himself, he shall be exalted" (Mt. 23:8-12 from "The Gospels: A Precise Translation", published by Happy Heralds, Inc., see home page).
The context here in this chapter points out that Jesus is dealing with the leaven of hypocrisy by either Jews or would-be "Christians" who allow themselves to be called pompous titles (and similarly to wear distinctively ostentatious clothes, and obtain preferred status, I presume, from the immediate context)(and not to be shared, Is. 42:8).
My feeling is that your post does not make the distinction between being the physical or/and spiritual father of one or more children; as opposed to permitting a mantle of titled veneration to be conferred on one. Let me suggest that it is not wise to confuse paternity with organizational titles.
Thus referring to early apostles and prophets, or their disciples as Papal, or Patristics, or Father, or Reverend, or Holy Father, as earned figurative-literal titles, is quite contrary to the literal command of The Anointed One and Master, Jesus, to not ever allow this elevation by a title of veneration to be settled on oneself other than Himself, as it is a defining mark of blatant hypocrisy.
"He sent redemption unto His People: He hath commanded His Covenant for ever: "Holy" and "Reverend" is His Name" (Ps. 111:9).
It is a fearsome thing to ever permit a spiritually immature fellow human to mistakenly misuse this form of address, a misplaced devotion to one's spiritual elder; much less to personally aspire to the title, apparel, and preferred treatment that such election by humans bring.
The humble recognition afforded by "Brother" or "Sister" is good and honorific enough.
And BTW Jerome, though a great scholar and translator of his day, is no greater a saint, than myself or any other citizen of the Kingdom of The God, a title conferred by The God Himself, and not by (a) human(s) (Colossians 1:2, Philippians 4:21, Hebrews 13:24, for examples of many).
Respectfully -- a sermonette for Mothers' Day. Now, there's a good address form -- hope you love and respect your Mom, today and every day!