On the Road to Bethlehem #15: Everlasting Father

“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon His shoulder,
and His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

—Isaiah 9:6

One of the most puzzling clues on the road to Bethlehem comes in the third title of the four afforded to the Messiah in Isaiah 9. He was to be the “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” and He would be the “Everlasting Father.” What makes it particularly confusing is the manifestation of God as Triune in the New Testament. While the word “Trinity” does not appear in Scripture, the concept does. As a matter of fact, the first time the word “Trinity” appears is not until the last decade of the 2nd century by Tertullian (one of the early church fathers). The doctrine of the Trinity is the church’s attempt to distinguish the one God (see Deuteronomy 6:4; cf. James 2:19) who has revealed Himself in three distinct and intimately connected persons who cannot be divided, but can be differentiated (Matthew 28:19-20; cf. Luke 3:21-22). The Christian faith is Triune (one God revealing Himself in three persons), but not tritheistic (three gods).

In Isaiah 9:6, God’s Messiah is to be known as the “Everlasting Father.” This does not mean that Jesus is the Father God. On the contrary, the translation of the verse is literally “Father of Eternity” in the sense of “Author of Eternity.” The meaning then of this messianic title would convey the idea that God’s Messiah would be the Creator of the world and would be the one who would bring all of creation to its ultimate end.

The New Testament teaches that Jesus was the Creator of the world,  

“All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made”—John 1:3. 

As Paul wrote to the Colossians,  

“For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him”—Colossians 1:16. 

And as the author of Hebrews stated,

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power”—Hebrews 1:1-3.

It is Jesus who created the world, who sustains it, and will bring it to its ultimate end (Acts 17:31). He is the “Everlasting Father” and the one whom the Israelites were expecting as Messiah. The mystery of Jesus as the Father of Eternity makes our understanding of Advent even more amazing. The God who created time and man, decided to dwell in time subjected to its limits and space, and take on the skin and bones of His creation. He is God, our Lord, the one through whom we have salvation (Acts 4:12). May we seek our Creator God, who loved us so much He stepped into time to give His life so that we might have it. Amen.