"Abba" Father
Perhaps the most familiar Christian concept of God is as Father, for God is addressed in the Lord’s Prayer as "Our Father, who art in heaven...." When we look at Jesus’ own terminology, "Father" is by far his most frequent term for God. If we are to understand the term "Father" in the Bible, we must be willing to explore a different culture than our own. Though twenty-first century America stresses gender equality and the rights of women, this is relatively new. A century ago women couldn’t vote or inherit property in some states. For most of history and in most cultures of the world, fathers have been the primary figure in families.
"In the patriarchal societies, the father figure is endowed with two particular characteristics. On the one hand, the father rules as head of the household and the person to whom most respect is due, having absolute authority over his family. On the other hand, he has the responsibility of guarding, supporting, and helping the other members. Both these characteristics are also present when a deity is described or addressed as “father."
In the Old Testament, God is referred to as Abba in the creative sense only twice; "Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?" (Deuteronomy 32:6, NIV)
In a single Messianic passage the Child is referred to in terms suitable to only God himself: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonder-ful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
That’s it, the sum total of the use of Father as a title or metaphor for God in the Old Testament. Notice the relative formality of these references. God is Father of the nation, Father of the people. I make this point to accentuate how new and different was Jesus’ revelation of God as Father -- his Father, Abba, our Father, the Father we can pray to.
As I began to examine the ways Jesus introduced us to God as Father, the most commonly known is “Heavenly Father” or Father in heaven:
"... That you may be sons of your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:45)
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...." (Matthew 6:9, NIV, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11)
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)
"In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." (Matthew 18:14)
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)
In Biblical Hebrew .ab is "father." But in Aramaic .abbā. is a word derived from baby-language. A small child "learns to say .abbā. (daddy) In the pre-Christian era the usage of the word broadened so that .Abbā. as a form of address to one’s father was no longer restricted to children, but also used by adult sons and daughters. The childish character of the word ("daddy") thus receded, and .abbā. acquired the warm, familiar ring which we may feel in such an expression as "dear father.”… "Abba, Father,’ he said, ’everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’" (Mark 14:36)
"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ’Abba, Father.’" (Romans 8:15)
"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ’Abba, Father.’" (Galatians 4:6)
Jesus introduced us to God as our Father in a way unheard of in the Old Testament.
The implications of Jesus’ reference to his Father were abundantly clear to his opponents. Jesus’ relationship to his Father as Son was unique.
"’My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.’ Jesus expressed his very close relationship to the Father, but it was difficult for them (and for us today) to understand it fully.
"Jesus answered, "’I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said, ’Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus answered: ’Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ’Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.’" (John 14:6-10)
"In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." (John 16:26-28)
The Old Testament knew him as God. We know him as both God and Father, revealed to us through Jesus Christ. He is the one who gives us access to the Father (John 14:6). Consider Paul’s statement to counter belief in the many "gods" and "lords" in the Greco-Roman world:
"For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." (1 Corinthians 8:6).
Do you know God as your “abba” Heavenly Father?
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