Christian theology

===God the Father===
{{Further|God the Father}}
In many [[monotheist]] religions, God is addressed as the father, in part because of his active interest in human affairs, in the way that a father would take an interest in his children who are dependent on him and as a father, he will respond to humanity, his children, acting in their best interests.<ref>Diana L. Eck (2003) Encountering God: A Spiritual Journey from Bozeman to Banaras. p. 98</ref> In Christianity, God is called "Father" in a more literal sense, besides being the creator and nurturer of creation, and the provider for his children.<ref>{{bibleverse|Heb|1:2–5}}, {{bibleverse|Gal|4:1–7}}</ref> The Father is said to be in unique relationship with his only begotten (''monogenes'') son, [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]], which implies an exclusive and intimate familiarity: "No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."<ref>{{bibleverse|Mt.|11:27}}</ref>

In Christianity, God the Father's relationship with humanity is as a father to children—in a previously unheard-of sense—and not just as the creator and nurturer of creation, and the provider for his children, his people. Thus, humans, in general, are sometimes called ''children of God''. To Christians, God the Father's relationship with humanity is that of Creator and created beings, and in that respect he is the father of all. The New Testament says, in this sense, that the very idea of family, wherever it appears, derives its name from God the Father,<ref>{{bibleverse|Eph|3:15}}</ref> and thus God himself is the model of the family.

However, there is a deeper "legal" sense in which Christians believe that they are made participants in the special relationship of Father and Son, through Jesus Christ as his spiritual [[bride of Christ|bride]]. Christians call themselves ''adopted'' children of God.<ref>"God sent forth His Son... that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."; {{bibleverse|Galatians|4:4–7}}</ref>

In the New Testament, God the Father has a special role in his relationship with the person of the Son, where Jesus is believed to be his Son and his heir.<ref>{{bibleverse|Heb.|1:2–5}}</ref> According to the [[Nicene Creed]], the Son (Jesus Christ) is "eternally begotten of the Father", indicating that their divine Father-Son relationship is not tied to an event within time or human history. ''See'' [[Christology]]. The Bible refers to Christ, called "[[Logos (Christianity)|The Word]]" as present at the beginning of God's creation.,<ref>{{bibleverse|John|1:1}}</ref> not a creation himself, but equal in the personhood of the Trinity.

In [[Eastern Orthodox]] theology, God the Father is the "principium" (''beginning''), the "source" or "origin" of both the Son and the Holy Spirit, which gives intuitive emphasis to the threeness of persons; by comparison, Western theology explains the "origin" of all three ''hypostases'' or persons as being in the divine nature, which gives intuitive emphasis to the [[divine simplicity|oneness]] of God's being.{{Citation needed|reason=I think we need a reliable source for the contrasted "intuitive emphasises" in Eastern and Western theology|date=July 2019}}