S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

In Scripture there are many different names used to describe God. While all the names of God are important in many ways, the name "Abba Father" is one of the most significant names of God in unders...

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July 01 2013 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What does it mean that God is our Abba Father?

"Abba" is an Aramaic word for "father" that connotes a sense of intimate, loving, and respectful relationship, similar to "daddy" or "papa". While children used it, adults also used it to refer to their fathers, indicating a deep, confident bond rather than just a childlike term of endearment. In the Christian context, calling God "Abba, Father" signifies a close, dependent relationship with Him, in which believers can approach Him with the same confidence and the intimacy Jesus had. 

All descendants of the imperfect Adam were slaves to sin, so they could not be considered sons of God. But thanks to Jesus' ransom sacrifice, Jehovah can free them from slavery to sin and adopt them as his sons, making them joint heirs with Christ. (Ro 8:14-17; Ga 4:1-7) Paul emphasises the change in relationship by saying that such adopted ones cry out: "Abba, Father!"

This Aramaic word appears three times in the Scriptures. It is always in transliterated form in the original Greek and is usually transliterated in English translations. Each time the term is followed immediately by the translation ho pa·terʹ in Greek, which literally means "the father" or, used as the vocative, "O Father." In each case, it is used with reference to the heavenly Father, God.

Mark records that Jesus used the term when praying to Jehovah God in Gethsemane shortly before his death, saying: "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; remove this cup from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want." (Mr 14:36) Here is the fervent appeal of a son to a beloved father, followed quickly by an assurance that, in any event, he would remain obedient.

Rather than as just a translation from Aramaic into Greek, some see in the use of both ʼAb·baʼʹ and "Father" together, first, the trust, confidence, and submissiveness of a child, followed by a mature appreciation of the filial relationship and its responsibilities. It seems evident from these texts that, in apostolic times, Christians used the term ʼAb·baʼʹ in their prayers to God.

It is interesting that the word ʼAb·baʼʹ came to be applied as a title of honour to Jewish rabbis in the early centuries of the Common Era and is found as such in the Babylonian Talmud. (Berakhot 16b) The one acting in the capacity of vice-president of the Jewish Sanhedrin already held the title of ʼAv, or Father of the Sanhedrin. In later periods, the title was also applied to the bishops of the Coptic, Ethiopic, and Syrian churches and, more particularly, to the Bishop of Alexandria, thereby making him the "papa" or "pope" of that part of the Eastern church. 

Why did Jesus in prayer address Jehovah as "Abba, Father"? The Aramaic word ʼab·baʼʹ can mean either "the father" or "O Father." On each of the three occasions that the expression appears in the Scriptures, it is part of a prayer and is used with reference to the heavenly Father, Jehovah. What significance does the word carry? The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states: "In the colloquial speech of Jesus' time, ʼabbāʼ was primarily used as a term of informal intimacy and respect by children of their fathers." It was an endearing form of address and among the first words that a child learned. Jesus used the expression in a particularly fervent appeal to his Father. In the garden of Gethsemane, just hours before his death, Jesus, in prayer, addressed God with the words "Abba, Father."​—Mark 14:36.

"ʼAbbāʼ as a form of address to God is extremely uncommon in Jewish literature of the Greco-Roman period, doubtless because it would have appeared irreverent to address God with this familiar term," continues the above-mentioned reference work. However, "Jesus'... use of this term in prayer is an indirect attestation of His extraordinary claim to intimacy with God." The other two Scriptural occurrences of "Abba"​—both in the writings of the apostle Paul—​indicate that first-century Christians also used it in their prayers.​—

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