12:9

the Father of our spiritual life: This phrase could be literally translated “the Father of the spirits.” As used in this context, the expression does not refer to Jehovah as the Father of all spirit creatures. Rather, Paul is contrasting “human fathers” with the heavenly Father, whom he and his fellow Christians shared. Therefore, this phrase focuses on Jehovah’s role as the Father of those who have been given a new birth as anointed Christians. Paul may have in mind two ways in which Jehovah is their Father: (1) he anoints them with his holy spirit, giving them a heavenly hope (Heb 12:22-24, 28), and (2) day by day, he continues to supply his holy spirit to guide them and help them remain faithful. In both of those ways, Jehovah is the Source, or Father, of their lives as spirit-anointed men and women. In principle, however, these words can apply to all Christians. As a father helps his children, so does Jehovah. He helps them to become spiritual people rather than fleshly ones. (See study notes on 1Co 2:15; Ga 6:8.) Paul’s wording here is similar to the Septuagint rendering of Nu 16:22 and 27:16, where Jehovah is called “the God of the spirit of all people,” emphasizing that he is the Source of life for all humans.