# God the Father, heavenly Father, Father

## Facts:

The terms “God the Father” and “heavenly Father” refer to Yahweh, the one true God. Another term with the same meaning is “Father,” used most often when Jesus was referring to him.

* God exists as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each one is fully God, and yet they are only one God. This is a mystery that mere humans cannot fully understand.
* God the Father sent God the Son (Jesus) into the world and he sends the Holy Spirit to his people.
* Anyone who believes in God the Son becomes a child of God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit comes to live in that person. This is another mystery that human beings cannot fully understand.

## Translation Suggestions:

* In translating the phrase “God the Father,” it is best to translate “Father” with the same word that the language naturally uses to refer to a human father.
* The term “heavenly Father” could be translated by “Father who lives in heaven” or “Father God who lives in heaven” or “God our Father from heaven.”
* Usually “Father” is capitalized when it, refers to God.

(Translation suggestions: [How to Translate Names](rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names))

(See also: [ancestor](../other/father.md), [God](../kt/god.md), [heaven](../kt/heaven.md), [Holy Spirit](../kt/holyspirit.md), [Jesus](../kt/jesus.md), [Son of God](../kt/sonofgod.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 Corinthians 8:4-6](rc://en/tn/help/1co/08/04)
* [1 John 2:1](rc://en/tn/help/1jn/02/01)
* [1 John 2:23](rc://en/tn/help/1jn/02/23)
* [1 John 3:1](rc://en/tn/help/1jn/03/01)
* [Colossians 1:1-3](rc://en/tn/help/col/01/01)
* [Ephesians 5:18-21](rc://en/tn/help/eph/05/18)
* [Luke 10:22](rc://en/tn/help/luk/10/22)
* [Matthew 5:16](rc://en/tn/help/mat/05/16)
* [Matthew 23:9](rc://en/tn/help/mat/23/09)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[24:9](rc://en/tn/help/obs/24/09)__ There is only one God. But John heard __God the Father__ speak, and saw Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit when he baptized Jesus.
* __[29:9](rc://en/tn/help/obs/29/09)__ Then Jesus said, “This is what my __heavenly Father__ will do to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
* __[37:9](rc://en/tn/help/obs/37/09)__ Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “__Father__, thank you for hearing me.”
* __[40:7](rc://en/tn/help/obs/40/07)__ Then Jesus cried out, “It is finished! __Father__, I give my spirit into your hands.”
* __[42:10](rc://en/tn/help/obs/42/10)__ “So go, make disciples of all people groups by baptizing them in the name of __the Father__, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and by teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
* __[43:8](rc://en/tn/help/obs/43/08)__ “Jesus is now exalted to the right hand of __God the Father__.”
* __[50:10](rc://en/tn/help/obs/50/10)__ “Then the righteous ones will shine like the sun in the kingdom of __God their Father__.”

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H0001, H0002, G39620
