Everlasting Father

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

“Everlasting Father.” How strange that this should be a title of Christ, yet the reference is indisputable. Well known and often quoted at Christmas, Isaiah 9:6 not only foretells of the birth of the “child” but also gives a list of the names of God’s “Son.”

Although the doctrine of the Trinity is not always easy to understand it becomes a lot more complicated indeed if the Son is called the Father or vice versa. Nowhere else in scripture is Jesus referred to as a father. He had no offspring of his own and believers don’t become children of Christ. Rather, He is the only begotten of the father and through Him men and women are adopted into God’s family. As a result they become joint  heirs with the Son.

         

How then is Jesus Christ the “Everlasting Father?”

         

The key to understanding the phrase is actually on the word “everlasting”. J.N. Darby in his translation of the Bible renders the title “Father of Eternity” expressing the truth that eternity originates with Him. He is its source.

         

The Lord Jesus is the One who inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15) and His goings forth are from everlasting (Micah 5:2). Never having been created, the state of being eternal is an attribute of Christ. He is therefore, fully capable of bestowing eternal life to those He chooses.

         

Everlasting Father is clearly a title of deity and the Lord Jesus Christ owns it. There is nothing everlasting apart from Him.