Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Is this text referencing Jesus? If so, why does it state that His name shall be called the everlasting Father? Jesus is the Son.

Yes, this is referring to Jesus. But, keep in mind that all the titles or attributes given in this text aren’t describing Jesus’ place in the Godhead, but rather, what he is to us. Instead of referring to God the Father, “everlasting Father” here means more like “Father of eternity” in the same sense as in

quote:

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“...He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”(Luke 1:33 NASB)

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HTH,

Jeff

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Only removed the quoting of the immediately previous post. - Daryl

[ February 26, 2005, 05:32 PM: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]

Welcome to MSDAOL to both of you! I've wondered about that title myself. Jeff's answer is one of the best I've heard. I remember hearing others as well. Let's see if someone else has more on this. Again, welcome!

I believe that, since the Father and the Son are co-equal members of the Godhead, which includes the Holy Spirit, it is not unreasonable for them to share titles. Sharing titles does not negate their self-assigned roles, roles which they assigned themselves in order to relate to mankind, and other free moral agents.

For example, I was a single father, raising three lovely children by myself, and I was both mother and father to them. Since the Father and the Son are co-eternal and co-equal it makes sense that they would, at times, share titles. But their individual and distinct roles would remain unchanged.

Another interesting insight, that may apply here, is the idea that when Jesus became the Son of man He, in essence, also became the Son of God. That is, Jesus is the "Son" of God in the sense that He became the Son of man, which means Jesus was not begotten by the Father long ago, that Jesus is just as eternal as is the Father. Their self-assigned roles and titles do not imply that Jesus was begotten, rather than eternal.

I think those words, everlasting Father, is also to convey the fact that Jesus Christ is Jehovah God.

In connection with this though, I do wonder why He was referred only as the mighty God rather than the almighty God as He was described in Genesis 17:1 quoted below?

Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Hmm.. Good question Daryl. Does anyone have any thoughts on this.

As a side bar, the attention to detail that prompts that kind of question is one of the main sources of advancement in understanding IMO. "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men]." Proverbs 22:29

If we suspect mighty is a lesser title than almighty, and then wonder if it implies Jesus is somehow lesser than the Father (which nobody here seems to be saying so), then we should also question the implications of the other seemingly lesser titles – wonderful, counselor, prince, son, man. Given the many different titles and names for the Godhead, and the fact they are shared by the Father and the Son, I believe it indicates that They are doing everything they can to make it easier for us to relate to Them, rather than implying One is greater or lesser than the Other.

Exodus
6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by [the name of] God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Isaiah
9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Jeremiah
32:18 Thou showest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, [is] his name,

Habakkuk
1:12 [Art] thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

Almighty (OT) = Shadday or Shaddai (Strong’s #07706)
1. Almighty, most powerful
(a) Shaddai, the Almighty (of God)

Almighty (NT) = Pantokrator (Strong's #3841)
1. He who holds sway over all things
2. The ruler of all
3. Almighty: God

Mighty (OT) = Gibbowr (Strong’s #01368)
1. Strong, mighty
(a) strong man, brave man, mighty man

The different titles or names of the Father and the Son denote specific attributes of the Godhead, and are applicable to the context of the passage. Both the Father and the Son are Mighty and Almighty at all times. They are also Wonderful, Counsellor, Prince of Peace, Son of God, Son of Man - at all times. They are all things at all times. The title, Almighty, emphasizes the divinity of the Godhead, whereas, the name, Mighty, emphasizes the humanity of the Godhead. God is both human and divine - at all times.