ACC ~ Ephesians 3 v15

ALL FATHERHOOD NAMED FROM HIS FATHERHOOD. THEODORET: 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. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 3.14-15.

HUMAN FATHERHOOD UNDERSTOOD BY ANALOGY TO DIVINE FATHERHOOD. 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. I have found nothing except the twenty-first psalm, “and all the fatherhoods of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight,” and the twenty-eighth, “Give to the Lord, fatherhoods of the Gentiles, bring him the young of rams.” Think by this analogy: As God exists, God allows the term existence to be applied to creatures as well. So we say that creatures exist and subsist, not so as to imply that they exist in and of themselves [as God exists] but as a derived existence enabled by God. … According to this same argument, God allows the term fatherhood to be given to creatures. So by analogy to his fathering we can understand creaturely fathering. … Similarly, as the only good Onehe makes others good. As the only immortal One God has bestowed immortality on others. As the only true One he imparts the name of truth. So also the Father alone, being Creator of all and the cause of the subsistence of all things, makes it possible for other creatures to be called fathers. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 2.3.14.

WHETHER THERE IS FATHERHOOD IN HEAVEN. JEROME: We who are not of Abraham’s race are called Abraham’s children if we possess his faith. Similarly, I think that the angels and other invisible powers have something like princes of their own in heaven whom they rejoice to call fathers. … Our term fatherhood may now be used in the light of the awareness that God is Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the only begotten Son is so not by adoption but by nature. It is by adoption that creatures also are allowed to participate in fathering and hence are given the name of fathers. And remember that whatever we say of the Father and Son we say also of the Holy Spirit. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 2.3.

Eph