Charles J. Aebi Charles J. Aebi Dear Aebi: "A preacher recently told his
audience that it was all right to address God as 'Daddy, Daddy'
because the word 'Abba' means 'Daddy.' Is that so?"
There is some interpretation involved in it, but
I think "Daddy" as applied to God is flippant and shows
a lack of reverence and respect. I first heard it used in the
1960's by one who said "Great celestial Daddy" as hippy
slang for "Heavenly Father." Abba is Aramaic
for "Father," and was used by Hebrew - or Aramaic -
speaking Jews and Christians. I have not yet found any scholar
who suggests that "Daddy" is an appropriate translation
for it and therefore that we should use "Daddy" in reference
to God because of the Biblical use of Abba (or for any
other reason).
Abba (Aramaic for "Father") is used
in Scripture only along with pater (Greek for "Father")
and only in three passages, as far as I have found: Mark 14:36,
Romans 8:15, and Galatians 4:6. In Mark 14:36 (NKJV), Jesus said,
"Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this
cup away from Me: nevertheless, not what I will, but what You
will." He was praying to God about the suffering He
was to undergo. Some think Jesus may have used Abba
every time He addressed God and that Mark translated it. Dorris
(Commentary on the Gospel by Mark, p. 339) thinks Jesus
used the Hebrew and Mark supplies the Greek translation of it.
Hendriksen (New Testament Commentary, p. 588) explains,
"It is not necessary to believe that Jesus, in addressing
his Father, used two words: the Aramaic Abba and the Greek
Pater, both with the same meaning, namely, 'Father.' He
probably said 'Abba,' a word which Mark, writing mainly for non-Jews,
immediately translates into the language with which his readers
are better acquainted, Greek." Gould and others agree with
Dorris and Hendriksen.
Romans 8:15 (NKJV) reads, "For you did not
receive the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye received the
Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'"
The context is that of our being sons of God because we are adopted
and led by the Spirit of God through the word of God which guides
us into the new birth and through the Christian life. Lightfoot
and Lard believe Paul uses both words just as Mark used them -
the Greek to translate the Hebrew or Aramaic. Lard says that either
both should be translated or both be left untranslated, in which
case we would have either "Father, Father" or "Abba,
Pater." R. L. Whiteside thinks both terms are used together
for emphasis (A Commentary on Paul's Letter to the Saints at
Rome, p.178). Winters believes the repetition may be explained
as expressing an affection too deep for words or as a Greek translation
of the Aramaic (Commentary on Romans, p. 93). None of them
suggests that we should make the application of calling God "Daddy."
The emphasis, as shown by the context, is that we have a great
blessing to be in God's family, and that we should therefore act
the part of God's sons and be obedient to the will of our Father.
In Galatians 4:6 (NKJV), Paul says, "And
because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son
into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father." All that is
said about Abba in Romans 8:15 applies here also; both
passages are talking about our son-ship and our obligations and
privileges as sons. Since we are privileged to be sons, we should
act like sons. 2660 Layman Rd., Vincent, OH 45784-9730. cjandi@juno.com