The Fatherhood of God in the Old Testament.

The article provides an overview of the theme of God as father in the Old Testament and, briefly, its continuity in the New Testament. The author examines all of the texts where God is mentioned as father in the Old Testament as he relates to the nation of Israel. The article offers an analysis of God as father in the contexts in which this concept appears. God's fatherly characteristics are exhibited through his self-revelation through Torah, writings and prophets, but also through his acts toward Israel and through his relationship with Israel. The theme of God's fatherhood continues and expands in the New Testament, and comes to the center of New Testament theology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]