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54 Bible Verses about Being a Good Father
Reflecting God is the bedrock of parenting. He's the ultimate example of love and fatherhood we could ever have. Think about it, you're the spiritual leader of your home, responsible for nurturing the faith of those you live with. Being a parent is so much more than just a title; it’s about showing love and living out God’s word.
I know it can feel like we need a parenting handbook sometimes, but we already have the best guide there is. When you seek God's guidance, you’ll find clarity and direction. Keep that connection with Him strong every day, and you’ll see how it strengthens your bond with your children, too.
Raising a child means teaching them in a way they can understand, starting from when they're little. Jesus calls us to teach children His ways, which are the way, the truth, and the life. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us that being a good parent begins with following God's commandments and obeying His word.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.
Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.
Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,
by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,
and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.
Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel,
“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely,
for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, how I am doing.
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace be with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
“that it may go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.”
A rod and reproof impart wisdom, but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
If you strike him with the rod, you will deliver him from death.
My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad;
my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the Lord all the time.
For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Discipline your child, for there is hope, but do not set your heart on causing his death.
The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him.
Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.
What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?
Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?
Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?
The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.
Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.
In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children,
to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited.
Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Yes, sons are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Sons born during one’s youth are like arrows in a warrior’s hand.
How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! They will not be put to shame when they confront enemies at the city gate.
These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind,
and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.
The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him.
But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother.
Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.
My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord, and do not loathe his rebuke.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.
What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?
Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
and in the desert, where you saw him carrying you along like a man carries his son. This he did everywhere you went until you came to this very place.”
You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.
I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then the Lord will give to Abraham what he promised him.”
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him.
Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his slaves, ‘Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet!
Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate,
because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again – he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
If you have no desire to worship the Lord, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord!”
As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children,
exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.
Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children.
Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?
But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.
Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.
Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many.
I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life.
Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil.
Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on.
For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.
For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence.
But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble.
Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching.
How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands!
You will eat what you worked so hard to grow. You will be blessed and secure.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the inner rooms of your house; your children will be like olive branches, as they sit all around your table.
Yes indeed, the man who fears the Lord will be blessed in this way.
He established a rule in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants,
He sent his anger in full force; he did not spare them from death; he handed their lives over to destruction.
He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their reproductive power in the tents of Ham.
Yet he brought out his people like sheep; he led them through the wilderness like a flock.
He guided them safely along, while the sea covered their enemies.
He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this mountainous land which his right hand acquired.
He drove the nations out from before them; he assigned them their tribal allotments and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.
Yet they challenged and defied the sovereign God, and did not obey his commands.
They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors; they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.
They made him angry with their pagan shrines, and made him jealous with their idols.
God heard and was angry; he completely rejected Israel.
so that the next generation, children yet to be born, might know about them. They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.
Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.
Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations.”
Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.
So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.
See what big letters I make as I write to you with my own hand!
Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.
But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!
And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.
From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
If the Lord does not build a house, then those who build it work in vain. If the Lord does not guard a city, then the watchman stands guard in vain.
I will instruct and teach you about how you should live. I will advise you as I look you in the eye.
And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.