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FAQ # 217
QUESTION 217
: Isaiah 9:6 states, "For
unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will
be upon His shoulder. And His
name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6). Some commentators prefer to translate
"Everlasting Father" literally, as 'Father of eternity'.
In accordance with common Old Testament idiom, the owner or possessor
of a given thing is named 'father of' it: For example, Abialbon (2 Sam.
23:31), 'father of strength', means 'strong'; Abiasaph (Ex. 6:24), 'father
of gathering', means 'gatherer'. As the creator of the Aeons (Hebrews
1:2; 11:3), Jesus is the ‘father of eternity’; thus, it follows that it
means he is eternal.” Isn’t that so?
The Darby Bible and Young's Literal Translation both
render this passage as "Father of Eternity:”
"For unto us a child is
born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder;
and his name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of
Eternity, Prince of Peace" (Darby Bible, Isa. 9:6).
"For a Child hath been
born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on
his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace" (Young's Literal Translation,
Is. 9:6).
Even further, some other noted sources say the same
thing:
Dr. Robert Bowman points
out that Abiethon - literally "father of strength" (2 Sam. 23:31)
means "strong"; Abiaseph - literally "father of gathering"
(Ex.6:24) means "gatherer";
and Abigail - literally "father of exultation" (1 Chron.2:16)
is a woman's name meaning "exulting."
Therefore, "Father of eternity" in Isaiah 9:6 means
that Jesus is "eternal." ….It does not mean that He is "the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2Cor.1:3). (Pastor Roger
Griffith of Bosque Farms Assembly of God, joywell.org).
However, the word "Father"
is merely the tool used to address Christ's deity, just as the word "Son"
depicts His humanity. Moreover, the Hebrew word for Father 'ab' is
used in accordance with a custom usual in Hebrew and in Arabic, where
he who possesses a thing is called the father of it. Thus Abialbon (2
Samuel 23:31), "father of strength," means "strong";
Abiasaph (Exodus 6:24), "father of gathering," means "gatherer";
Abigail (1 Chronicles 2:16), "father of exultation," is a woman's
name meaning "exulting"; and so forth." Therefore, in keeping
with the Hebrew custom the title "everlasting Father" or as
it has also been translated, "Father of eternity" would simply
be stating that Christ is eternal. (Albert Barnes, Notes on the
Old Testament and Practical: Isaiah, Vol. I, Grand Rapids, MI.: Baker
Book House, 1950 reprint, pg. 193, as quoted in Robert M. Bowman, Jr.,
"Oneness Pentecostalism and the Trinity", Forward, The News
and Research Periodical of the Christian Research Institute, Vol. 8, Number
3, 1985, p. 23-24).
Some translators would prefer to translate many things
their way, e.g NWT, TNIV, etc. But the fact still remains that the original
translation of this verse is Everlasting Father and not “Father of Eternity.”
In fact, if the Trinity theory is correct and God ‘willed’ the Son and
Spirit before creation as they say, it means there was a period they did
not exist; though they existed before all creation. If so, eternity was
there and has existed with the father so it predates the Son and Spirit
and thus the later two isn’t ‘THE’ owner or possessor of it. Thus, none
can be called the Father of it, except the father himself. If our souls
lives on after death in paradise or torment, it means we can be considered
eternal. Even further, Angels never die (cease to exists) and were born
in eternity or out of time, it means that other beings are eternal, so
to speak. Are they “Everlasting fathers” too or as it is said here, “father
of eternity?” Even if that is argued, the words used in Isaiah 9:6 were
meant for GOD only. For instance, they are many counselors, many called
wonderful and so on. But this verse points out that the person coming
was like no other; not someone who can be called these things, but Wonder
itself, Counsel itself, Peace itself, God himself and the Father himself.
Any other light on this scripture is incorrect and must be avoided. This
is why “Everlasting Father” is used and is meant literally; describing
that the father is coming.
Probably because this error is known, it is then rendered
“Father of the Ages:” rather than turning to the truth.
Brumback observes how Isaiah 9:6 is
the one verse in the entire Bible that gives Christ the title 'Father'
and is therefore seized upon by Oneness adherents as 'proof' that Jesus
is God the Father. It should first be observed that this verse can also
be translated 'Father of eternity', or 'Father of the ages.'
According to Matthew Henry's
Commentary this implies that Jesus is the creator of the ages (Heb.1:2;
11:3)… (Pastor Roger Griffith of Bosque Farms Assembly of God, joywell.org).
If ages suggest existences, then their Trinity theory
would again show that “God the Father” alone is the “Father of the Ages,”
since the allege other two were willed after the ages was, and allegedly
pre-existed before earth's creation. Therefore, that title couldn’t be
applied to an allege separate "God the Son." To elude this madness,
it was then said because he 'created the ages', as in earth and time,
as suggested by the scripture references given, then he is the “Father
of the Ages.” However, according to their Trinity theory he couldn’t be
the “Father of the Ages” (as in this world) because the scripture teaches
us that Spirit of God created the world (Gen. 1:2), the Father created
the world (Heb. 1:2), and the Son created the world (Col. 1:16). The uniqueness
of “Father of the Ages” can’t be then applied to Son, if two other allege
persons did it as well. Therefore, all the attempts at discrediting that
Isaiah 9:6 did not say Jesus is father has failed; and failed miserably,
because it also shows the Trinity Theory for what it is – a flawed unbiblical
claim.
Robert M. Bowman while erroneously weaving this doctrinal
excuse of Isa 9:6 stated the truth on the matter without realizing. He
said,
“...the word "Father" is merely the tool
used to address Christ's deity, just as the word "Son" depicts
His humanity.”
That is, what made Christ deity was the very father
himself coming into flesh. There was no pre-existence being as son, so
sonship “refers” to the fleshly birth, wherewith he says, “This day I
have begotten thee” (Heb 1:5) –
a specific time in time. The father is spirit (John 4:24), this spirit
took on flesh (John 1:14) as a human being (Hebrews 2:14-15). The flesh
is just a coating and the spirit is the real you; hence Jesus (Son) can
be called the father and is the father because it is the father amongst
us as a human being (John 1:10).
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