AB'BA (ab'a). A customary title of God in prayer (Mark 14:36; Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6). It was in common use in the mixed Aram. dialect of Palestine and was used by children in addressing their father. It answers to our "papa." The right to call God "Father" in a special and appropriative sense pertains to all who have received the testimony of the Spirit to their forgiveness.

ABBA. The idea of God's intimate relationship to humanity is a distinct feature of Jesus' teaching. God relates to believers as a father relates to his child. Some would translate Abba as "Daddy" to convey the close, personal meaning of the word. Even when "Father" in the New Testament translates the more formal Greek word pater, the idea of abba is certainly in the background. Jesus addressed God as Abba in prayer (Mark 14:36) and taught His disciples to pray in the same terms (Luke 11:1-2). Jesus' claim of intimate relationship with God offended many of His opponents because they considered Abba to be overly familiar in addressing God. But Jesus' usage established the pattern for the church's view of God and each believer's relationship with Him. Paul used Abba to describe God's adoption of believers as His children (Rom 8:15) and the change in the believer's status with God that results (Gal 4:6-7).

ABBA. NT:5 is an Aramaic word, found in Mark 14:36; Rom 8:15 and Gal 4:6. In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews) it is stated that slaves were forbidden to address the head of the family by this title. It approximates to a personal name, in contrast to "Father," with which it is always joined in the NT. This is probably due to the fact that, abba having practically become a proper name, Greek-speaking Jews added the Greek word pater, "father," from the language they used. Abba is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; "father" expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child.