Pater is father or ancestor. Father is pater in Latin, also. Think of English words: paternal, paternity, patrician, and patrimony. Also Jupiter, interestingly enough. Jupiter originated from the latin word iupeter, meaning god-father. Jupiter was the supreme god in Roman mythology. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system.
This word pater in its various forms can be found over 400 times in the New Testament. More than 100 of these instances are in the Gospel of John. Many times it is used to mean an earthly father. For instance, Matthew 4:21: Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus mentions His Father many times. For instance, John 3:35: “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.” Or John 6:40: “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” Jesus refers to God as His Father many times. He taught his disciples to refer to God as their Father also. In Paul’s letters, Paul talks about God as Father. As in Romans 8:15: The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” In Greek this is ‘Abba, ho Pater’. Abba is the Hebrew for Father and pater is the Greek for father, in this instance God the Father. God chooses us to become His children. We are adopted into His kingdom. We are to strive to become more like Him.
Verses:
Matthew 5:16 NIV In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they many see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:6 ESV But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:26 KJV Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Matthew 19:19 NIV ‘Honor your father and mother’, and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 28:19 NASB Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Mark 14:36 KJV And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
John 6:44 ESV No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
John 14:2 NIV My Father‘s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (In other translations you may see mansions or dwelling places for rooms. This word for rooms, mone only occurs twice in the New Testament and can mean lodging, dwelling-place, room, abode, or mansion. (biblehub.com))
John 14:23 NIV Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (This ‘home’ is mone again, as mentioned above. Some versions use abode.)
John 15:16 NASB “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”
John 20:21 KJV Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Acts 13:17 ESV The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. (A few versions use ancestors instead of fathers.)
1 Corinthians 8:6 NASB Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Colossians 3:17 NASB Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Hebrews 11:23 ESV By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
1 John 3:1 KJV Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Matthew 6:9-13
Luke 2:48-49, 15:11-32
John 4:20-23, 5:17-23, 15:1, 16:25-28
Acts 7:11-20
Galatians 1:1-4, 4:6
Ephesians 5:31
James 1:17, 1:27
1 John 2:13-16, 2:22-24
Revelation 14:1
The G/K number for pater is 4252.
The Strong’s number for pater is 3962.
