Everlasting Father
Of the four names given to the child who would be born, this is often the most confusing. Is Isaiah calling Jesus the Father? This would fly in the face of an orthodox understanding of the Trinity. The revelation we have of the Trinity is the Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Father, but they are both God. So, why does Isaiah call the Messiah the “Everlasting Father?”
This is more of a translation issue than a theological one. It might be better for us if it were translated as “the Father of eternity.” This might well be speaking of His role in Creation. All things were made by Him and without Him was anything made, is the way John puts it in his gospel. Of course, this idea of Christ as Creator is echoed by the other apostles.
But the context of Isaiah seems to point us in another direction. It suggests to us that the nature of Christ’s rule will be that of a father, not a tyrant. Jesus is and will be eventually seen by all to be Lord of lords and King of kings. His power and rule will be absolute. If He were a mere man that would be a frightening prospect. Who wants to hand over to any man the absolute rule of the earth? It would be a horrible disaster.
Christ brings no such worries to the heart of those who understand His nature. He rules, but it is with fatherly care. He reigns, but not without love and concern for those whom He governs.
While eternity might simply be a recognition that all things are in His hands. He, as Paul said it, holds everything together. It seems more likely in the context of Isaiah that he is saying that Christ’s rule is going to be stable and lasting. We need not worry of fear that once He assumes complete Sovereignty, and once every knee has bowed before Him, and every tongue confessed Him as Lord that nothing will disrupt that. It will be a fatherly reign that will never end.
