Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Ephesians 3:15

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

From the supreme Father, he says, "every family": "on earth" — he calls tribes families, having received this name from the names of their fathers; "in heaven," however — since there no one is born from anyone — by families he designates the individual hosts, that is, both the heavenly and the earthly orders He created, and from Him came those who are called fathers.

Commentary on Ephesians ↗

Theodoret of Cyrus

God is fully and truly Father; for he was not first a father and later became son but is always Father and Father by nature. The other fathers, whether bodily or spiritual, have received this name from above.… Paul is saying here that he is petitioning the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is truly Father. He has his fatherhood not by receiving from another but himself has conferred fathering upon others.

Interpretation of the Epistle to the Ephesians 3.14-15 ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

Before any discussion we must note that he did not say "from whom every fatherhood in heaven and earth is born" but "from whom every fatherhood in heaven and earth is named." For it is one thing to merit the name of father, another to have a natural relation [as eternal Father to all creatures].… I have searched about in Scripture asking whether the word fatherhood is ever applied to the Gentiles. …

Commentary on Ephesians 3:14 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

We are confirmed in the hope of obtaining what we ask for with confidence by his authority since from him all paternity in heaven and earth is named. At this point the question arises if there is any paternity in heaven. A quick answer would be that in heaven means that paternity is present in God and in Divinity, and that this is the source of all fatherhood. But this is not questioned here, it is known to all the faithful. It is asked whether in heaven, that is, in the angels, there is any paternity. …

Commentary on Ephesians ↗

Bonaventure

For the origin is not through human investigation, but through divine revelation, which flows from the Father of lights, from whom all paternity in heaven and on earth is named, from whom through his Son, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit flows into us, and through the Holy Spirit, dividing and distributing gifts to each one as he wills, faith is given, and through faith Christ dwells in our hearts.

Breviloquium, Prologue ↗