Some render the phrase often transliterated as "Abi-ad" in Isaiah 9:6 as "Father of Eternity". As yet I have not seen any good explanation of what such a "name" would mean. It would seem to indicate that Jesus is someway the one who brought eternity into being. One would have to define eternity and also how Jesus would be the Father, the life-giver, of Eternity, in order for such a translation to make any sense. If it is thought to mean that Jesus is the source of eternity, and Jesus himself is eternal (which some have defined existing outside of time), then it would mean that eternity did not exist, and therefore Jesus himself did not exist, until Jesus, who would be non-existent without eternity, brought eternity into being so that Jesus could exist in this alledged idea of eternity. Nevertheless, many trinitarians insist that it should be rendered this way, and then claim that it proves that Jesus is "eternal", having no beginning or end thus that he possesses this attribute that only belongs to Yahweh. As yet, I have not seen any explanation given that explains how the rendering "father of eternity" would support such a view as claimed.
Then, again, the name to be given in Isaiah 9:6 does not apply until sometime after Jesus is given to Israel (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:32), after he is born to Israel as a son to whom is to be given the dominion (Luke 1:32; Ephesians 1:15-21), which dominion Daniel says is also given to the saints, who become joint-heirs with Jesus. -- Daniel 7:27; Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 6:2.
Actually, Jesus became the eternal father when he became the "life-giving spirit" as the last Adam. -- 1 Corinthians 15:45.
The entire name of Isaiah 9:6 can be rendered many different ways, with the recognition that EL GIBBOR does not necessarily mean "Mighty God" as that term is usually used in English. The same phrase (in plural form) appears in Ezekiel 32:21, yet I don't know of any translation that renders the phrase there as Mighty God, or Mighty Gods. Most translations render the phrase in Ezekiel 32:21 as something like "the strong among the mighty".
More concerning Isaiah 9:6 can be found at:
http://godandson.reslight.net/isaiah9-6.htmlChristian love,
Ronald
