Why Do Catholics Call Priests Father?
A Biblical and Historical Explanation of a Common Criticism
Introduction: The Accusation That Never Goes Away
Few debates between Catholics and Protestants appear more often than this one simple objection:
“Jesus said call no man father.”
If you spend time in online debates, comment sections, or inter-Christian discussions, you’ve probably heard it.
Protestants will often quote Matthew 23:9:
“Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father who is in heaven.”
From that single verse they draw a quick conclusion:
Catholics call priests Father
Jesus said call no man father
Therefore Catholics are disobeying Jesus
On the surface, the argument sounds convincing.
But the moment you read the Bible carefully — and in context — the argument collapses.
Because the New Testament itself repeatedly uses the language of spiritual fatherhood.
Understanding this passage requires reading all of Scripture, not isolating a single sentence.
The Bible Uses the Word “Father” Constantly
If Jesus intended a literal ban on using the word father, Christians everywhere would be violating His command every single day.
Start with the most obvious example:
Your own dad.
The Ten Commandments explicitly say:
“Honor your father and your mother.”
(Exodus 20:12)
Clearly the Bible itself has no problem using the word father.
And it doesn't stop there.
The New Testament repeatedly uses the language of spiritual fatherhood.
St. Paul Calls Himself a Spiritual Father
One of the clearest examples appears in 1 Corinthians 4:15.
St. Paul writes:
“For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”
Paul — one of the greatest leaders in the early Church — literally calls himself their spiritual father.
So if Matthew 23:9 were meant to be interpreted in a strictly literal way, Paul himself would be breaking Christ’s command.
But Paul was not contradicting Jesus.
He understood exactly what Jesus meant.
The Context of Matthew 23: Jesus Is Condemning Pride
To understand Jesus’ words, you must read the entire chapter of Matthew 23.
Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisees — the religious elite of His time.
These leaders loved:
public recognition
titles
places of honor
spiritual status
Jesus condemns them because they used religion to elevate themselves above others.
He says they love being called:
Rabbi
Teacher
Father
Master
But their hearts were filled with spiritual pride.
So Christ warns His followers:
Do not imitate that behavior.
Do not use religion to glorify yourself.
That is the point of the passage.
Not banning vocabulary.
If Taken Literally, Christians Would Have Bigger Problems
If someone insists on interpreting Matthew 23 literally, they create a major contradiction.
Because in the same passage, Jesus also says:
“You have one teacher.”
Yet Christians everywhere still use the word teacher.
Protestant churches have:
Bible teachers
Sunday school teachers
theology professors
pastors who teach Scripture
So clearly Christians already understand something important:
Jesus was not banning titles.
He was condemning spiritual arrogance.
What Catholics Actually Mean When They Say “Father”
When Catholics call a priest Father, they are not replacing God.
They are recognizing spiritual fatherhood.
Just as St. Paul described.
A priest:
baptizes believers
teaches the faith
guides the spiritual life of the parish
hears confessions
administers the sacraments
shepherds the community entrusted to him
In other words, he fulfills the role of a spiritual father to the faithful.
This idea comes directly from the earliest Christian understanding of the Church as a family.
Spiritual Fatherhood in the Early Church
The language of spiritual fatherhood did not appear in the Middle Ages.
It existed from the very beginning of Christianity.
Early Christian writings regularly refer to leaders as spiritual fathers.
Church fathers like:
St. Basil
St. John the Apostle
early bishops and mentors
used this language openly.
Christians understood the Church as a spiritual family:
God is the ultimate Father
Christ is the head of the Church
believers are brothers and sisters
spiritual leaders serve as fathers in the faith
This structure reflects the mentorship model established by the apostles.
The Real Issue: Authority in Christianity
At its core, this debate is not really about vocabulary.
It is about authority.
Many Protestants follow the doctrine of Sola Scriptura — the belief that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority for Christian teaching.
Catholics hold a different position that reflects the earliest Christian tradition.
Catholics believe:
the Church preserved the Bible
the Church preserved apostolic teaching
Scripture and tradition work together
The apostles passed on their authority through generations of leaders.
This is what Catholics call Apostolic Succession.
Priests participate in that mission of guiding believers toward Christ.
Why the Criticism Falls Apart
When critics claim Catholics violate Jesus’ command, they usually repeat a misunderstanding that falls apart when Scripture is read carefully.
Because:
The Bible itself uses spiritual fatherhood language
The apostles used the term
Early Christians used the term
The Church has used it for 2,000 years
The real message of Matthew 23 was about humility, not vocabulary.
Final Thought: The Meaning of “Father”
A priest is not called father because he replaces God.
He is called father because he helps lead believers toward God.
Just as St. Paul described.
Just as the early Church practiced.
Just as Christianity has understood for two thousand years.
When Scripture, history, and Christian tradition all point in the same direction, the conclusion becomes clear.
Calling priests Father is not a violation of Christianity.
It is part of the spiritual family Christ established in His Church.
Sources & References
Scripture:
Matthew 23:8–10
1 Corinthians 4:15
Ephesians 6:4
1 John 2:13–14
Early Christian references:
St. Basil the Great — Letters
Early Church writings on spiritual fatherhood