Throughout Scripture, fathers is a common term for the patriarchs (Matthew 23:30, Matthew 23:32; Luke 1:55, Luke 1:72; Luke 6:23, Luke 6:26; John 4:20; John 6:31; Acts 3:13, Acts 3:25; Romans 11:28; Romans 15:8; 1 Corinthians 10:1; Hebrews 1:1)1 or other righteous and notable men from the Old Testament.2 It refers to the ancestors of Jewish believers and not the first generation of Christians (as claimed by some commentators).3
4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”