Morning brothers.
I’ve heard Pastors Tim & Max mention ‘nursing fathers’
I love the concept, but do y’all know specifically where that comes from?
And lol not lol, today it kinda has a different ring to it, given our sexuality insanity
Still, y’all know where that comes from?
Shepherds who are true shepherds. Beautiful
Pls, Thx, Love,
I thought it was Isaiah 60:16, kind of a mixed metaphor.
I believe Paul was alluding to this in 1 -Thessalonians 2:7 when he spoke of nursing mothers as well, the idea of a church father having a tenderness with the sheep as a nursing mother with her own children. God help me
1 Thessalonians 2:7 (NASB95)
But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.
Hi Paul,
I believe they are referring to the Westminster Confession 23.3 regarding civil magistrates:
Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith. Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the Church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred functions, without violence or danger. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and discipline in His Church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief. It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance.
Here is a collection from other private communication I received:
Isaiah 49:23. KJV says “And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.”
NKJV, ESV: foster fathers…nursing mothers
NASB95: guardians…nurses
That’s the only place it shows up. The word translated “nursing fathers” and the word translated as “nursing mothers” are two different Hebrew words. The “nursing mothers” word seems to clearly have to do with literal nursing. The word translated as “nursing fathers” seems to have a much wider range of meaning.
More.And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse H539 unto it.
And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse H539 took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
Also Is 60:4 Isa 60:4
Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed H539 at thy side.
Same root for texts above. Diff between two words Is 49:23 is denotation of sucking w/queens, but otherwise both words are used for carrying/caring for child.
The “nursing fathers” word seems to also have quite a range of more figurative usage throughout the OT.
Yes, but derivative. Gesenius above. Think we always need to keep in mind that any word that starts with fundamentals of fatherhood and motherhood is going to explode in meanings and usage otherwise.
One of my faves is Num 11:12; see also Is 40:11 (bosom); Gal 4:19; 1Thess 2:7; all beautiful.
Respect, Thanks 'n Love,
