buttercat1791 on Nostr: That seems to me to be a somewhat incoherent position. If someone holds a legitimate ...

That seems to me to be a somewhat incoherent position. If someone holds a legitimate position, it is natural in our use of language to use the term of address that goes with that position. It is clear that Jesus is saying that we should not pridefully seek station for ourselves, nor should we be sycophants and give others accolades they do not deserve. However, I fail to see the substantial distinction between acknowledging a spiritual station and according an honorific proper to that station.

If Paul is a spiritual father to the church in Corinth, it would be strange to say that he ought never address the Corinthians as "my children in Christ," or some such title accordant to their relative stations. Likewise, if the Corinthians can call Paul a spiritual father, it would be counterintuitive to say that they can never address him directly as such. The honorific in such a case is given out of love and respect rooted in Christ; it is not insisted upon out of pride, nor is it bestowed out of a fawning servility.