We all know Paul never appropriated the title of father. He never asked those he had led to Christ to address him as Father Paul. Had he done so, it would have been a sin.
We also have a good portion of Christians calling their ministers Reverend (Most high) and many more calling them teachers or instructors.
Is there any one left who actually believes what Jesus said?
Excuses, excuses and more excuses Jesus plainly said we were not to use father, Rabbi,Teacher,or Instructor as a tittle, your argument about brothers and fathers spiritual or other wise just clouds the issue as Jesus is talking about tittles.
I could call my dad father if i was so inclined and would not be wrong, so we need to get away from all of the excuse`s.
you wrote
Can you argue that these usages are identical? One refers to the Lord God. One refers to a man, a mere mortal.
Why ask what any one knows just as i may have said different?
You wrote
When you see the word for ‘brother,’ you apply yourself to find out if you can’t find someone somewhere who says it means something other than, ‘brother.’
Wrong, i just could not help but to see what seemed a contradiction, i believed for many years just like you do because that is what i was taught in church by the Doctors,most high Reverends, Teachers and instructors.
Could it be that Jesus said some things just to see how far many of the so called know it all elites would go just to prove he did not say what he said or make him say something he did not say, just teasing.
But it is like they say (the proof is in the pudding ) the scripture Paul wrote is the pudding.
Making excuses is not going to change it as any one who reads the scriptures with prayer can see.
I don’t know why you would assume I believe titles, such as reverend, are Biblical/acceptable . They aren’t. I have never uttered the title, ‘reverend,’ and with God’s help I never will.
None of which makes the title, ‘father,’ Biblical or acceptable. It’s just as much prohibited as the title, ‘reverend.’
You cite people using the title, ‘father,’ subsequent to the time of Christ. Irrelevant. Nowhere are we told that tradition is inspired and inerrant. “God-breathed,” applies only to the Bible.
Here’s what Jesus said about subordinating Scripture to tradition:
Mark 7:
5 The Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?”
6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
7 But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’
8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”