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God
the Father is the first person in the Christian Trinity. The Right hand is
held in Sikara (peak) to the right side of body to denote 'Father'. God as
father is evident in the Old Testament. A large number of personal names
apply the title of father to deity such as Joab, Yahweh is 'Father'. Abiel
or Eliab, 'El is father'. Absalom 'the father i.e. the God is peace'.
These Israelite name do not differ in number of type from similar name in
Mesopotamia and Canaan. Yahweh is called the father of Israel. The title
of father in Israel is a theological metaphor which expresses the love of
father for his son (Ho. 11:1). This love exhibits itself in his paternal
care of Israel (Ex 4:22 ff Dt. 1:31 8:s; Is 43:ff). In his compassion and
forgiveness (Ps 103:12 ff, Je 3:19-20; Ho 2:1). In the New Testament the
same concept of God as father includes the notion of paternal love and
care )Mt 6:5-8, 26ff; 7:11; 10:29-31 18:14; Lk 11:13). Perhaps the supreme
statement of God's paternal forgiveness appears in the parable of the
prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32). The left hand is held in Tripataka (a flag
with three) to denote a crown signifying kind, the greatest. In the Gospal
according to St. John, the Father appears almost entirely as the Father of
Jesus in contrast to the Father of the disciples. Jesus has a unique
relationship with the father, who communicate his self to men through
Jesus His son and confers upon Him power and authority to execute His
mission. The father is greater than Jesus (14:28 as the father is always
superior to his son, and the sender to the one sent (16:25). Jesus is sent
by the Father and lives through the Father (6:57) and thus is able to
communicate life to those who believe in him; and He can send His
disciples with the fullness of power as he himself was sent by the Father
(20:21). |
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