Does Abba Mean “Daddy”?
By David Guretzki .
sense of relational intimacy to dictate His actions, He may
well have refused to go to the cross, assuming that no daddy
would require a son to do such a thing!
Two other passages in the New Testament tell us more
about a proper understanding of Abba. Paul instructs us
that it is only by the Spirit of God who “brought about
[our] adoption to sonship” that we are enabled as children
of God to cry “Abba, Father,” (Romans 8: 15). Interestingly, the Apostle tells us elsewhere it is actually the Spirit
who cries “Abba, Father,” on our behalf (Galatians 6: 4).
Together, these passages teach that our abil-
What if
ity to cry “Abba, Father,” is itself a gift from
Christians
the Holy Spirit, completely independent of
do not feel such
what we may (or may not!) feel. As a gift, our
cry “Abba, Father,” gives us confidence that
things even though
we will receive an eternal inheritance and the
they walk in faith
resurrection of our bodies. This inheritance,
and place their
though originally given by the Father to the
trust in Jesus?
Son, is now also guaranteed to us as spiritually
adopted sons and daughters in Jesus Christ. But let us not forget that the path to Res- urrection was by way of the Cross. To share in the future promise of the resurrection is also to share in the fellowship of sufferings with Christ in His death (see Galatians 2: 20 and Philippians 3: 10), not to mention the need to endure the discipline of our Father in heaven who disciplines His children for their good (Hebrews 12: 4-11). So what should Abba mean for us? In light of the above, two things are especially im Father,” is to say in revereAportant to note. First, tocry “Abba, nt submission, “Here am I, Lord,.
send me” (see Isaiah 6: 8). Second, to say “Abba, Father,” is to
have confidence by the Holy Spirit that we will inherit eternal
life along with Jesus, the firstborn from the dead (Colossians
1: 18). Indeed, it is during the darkest hours when God may
feel the farthest from us that the Holy Spirit still enables us to
know we are truly His children in Jesus Christ!
It is commonly said that the meaning of the word Abba,
as spoken by Jesus to God the Father, is captured in how
we use the words “Daddy” or “Papa” today. In other
words, to address God as Abba speaks of a sense of relational intimacy, closeness and safety. But is there clear evidence
this is what Abba means in Scripture? Simply put, no.
Unquestionably, we have the privilege of having a relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ (John 14: 6).
Indeed, Jesus invites us to address God as “our Father”
(Matthew 6: 9)! It is no surprise, then, that Christians often
experience relational intimacy with God. But
what if Christians do not feel such things even
though they walk in faith and place their trust
in Jesus? Who hasn’t had such moments? Unfortunately, by overemphasizing the notion
that Abba is primarily about our experience
of relational intimacy, we undermine the fact
that our relationship to the Father is firm in
Christ no matter what we may feel.
The idea that Abba is equivalent to the
modern words “Daddy” or “Papa” (and their
connotations) is largely due to a widespread misapplica-tion and popularization of some of the conclusions of a
famous biblical scholar named Joachim Jeremias. An expert
on the ancient languages, Jeremias suggested that, like our
words “Dadda” or “Momma,” the Aramaic words Abba
and Imma were some of the first words learned by children.
Thus Jesus’ use of Abba might give insight into His consciousness of an intimate relationship to God as His Father.
Nevertheless, Jeremias also insisted that the word Abba is by
no means to be understood as a childlike expression of Jesus’
familiarity with God but was, on the contrary, a sign of
Jesus’ complete submission to the Father’s sovereign will.
A closer look at Mark 14:36, the only verse in the Bible
where the term Abba comes from Jesus’ lips, confirms the
conclusion that Abba was a term of reverent submission
uttered to the Father. Jesus prays: “Abba, Father, everything
is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I
will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). Yes, the prayer was
uttered by Jesus in the hour of His deepest need of assurance of God’s love for Him, but it would be irresponsible
to ignore the fact that this verse reveals Jesus giving Himself
completely to the Father’s will. Indeed, had Jesus allowed a
David Guretzki is an associate professor of theology at Briercrest
College & Seminary, Caronport, Sask. Ask a Theologian,
written by Representatives of 11 seminaries affiliated with The
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, will go on hiatus for the next
year to make room for a series looking ahead to the Lausanne
Congress on World Evangelism in October 2010.
