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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: no function of the paternal office. For those only are called spiritual
fathers who govern and guide us by the Word of God; as St. Paul boasts
his fatherhood 1 Cor. 4, 15, where he says: In Christ Jesus I hove
begotten you through the Gospel. Now, since they are fathers they are
entitled to their honor, even above all others. But here it is bestowed
least; for the way which the world knows for honoring them is to drive
them out of the country and to grudge them a piece of bread and, in
short, they must be (as says St. Paul 1 Cor. 4, 13) as the filth of the
world and everybody's refuse and footrag.
Yet there is need that this also be urged upon the populace, that
those who would be Christians are under obligation in the sight of God
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