yet have ye not many fathers We have here an interesting example of the fact that the spiritrather than the letter of Christ's commands is to be observed, and that one passage of Scripture is not to be strained so as to contradict another. -Call no man your father on earth," says Christ (St Matthew 23:9): that is, as explained by the present passage, in such a spirit as to forget Him from whom all being proceeds.

in Christ Jesus I have begotten you i.e. because Jesus Christ dwells in His ministers, and their work is His. Cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9.

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