being a good father
What does the Bible say about being a good father? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
10 passages · most helpful first
4And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord.
6The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.
13As a father is compassionate to his sons, so has the Lord been compassionate to those who fear him.
21Fathers, do not provoke your children to indignation, lest they lose heart.
24The father of the just exults in gladness; he who has conceived the wise will rejoice in him.
3Behold, the inheritance of the Lord is sons, the reward is the fruit of the womb. 4Like arrows in the hand of the powerful, so are the sons of those who have been cast out. 5Blessed is the man who has filled his desire from these things. He will not be confounded when he speaks to his enemies at the gate.
1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we would be called, and would become, the sons of God. Because of this, the world does not know us, for it did not know him.
11So then, who among you, if he asks his father for bread, he would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he would give him a serpent, instead of a fish? 12Or if he will ask for an egg, he would offer to him a scorpion?
15But if it seems evil to you that you would serve the Lord, a choice is given to you. Choose today what pleases you, and whom you ought to serve above all else, either the gods that your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
1But you are to speak the things that befit sound doctrine. 2Old men should be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience. 3Old women, similarly, should be in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well, 4so that they may teach prudence to the young women, so that they may love their husbands, love their children, 5be sensible, chaste, restrained, have concern for the household, be kind, be subordinate to their husbands: so that the Word of God may be not blasphemed. 6Exhort young men similarly, so that they may show self-restraint.