This is Day 24 of our series on the Names Of God. Today we are discussing the name of God - Abba, Pater which means Father.
The Hebrew scriptures don't mention God as the Father of individuals but as Father to Israel. The Hebrew people considered God's name to be so holy, that they would not speak or even write it. You will find that the Hebrew name for God, Yahweh would have been written as a dashed line in order to afford deep reverence for God's holy name. The Hebrew name for God the Father is Ab. The Aramaic word for Father is Abba which translates as "dear father". You and I would know this term of endearment as "Daddy".
God The Father
Jesus offended and upset many of the Jewish elders because He would refer to God as His Father and by inviting all His followers to call God their Father too!
God’s name as “Abba Father” is only found referenced in the Bible three separate times, in the passages of Romans 8:15, Mark 14:36, and Galatians 4:6, which are all in the New Testament.
The most frequent term for "father" in the New Testament was the Greek word, Pater.
It is only Jesus and the Apostle Paul that use this name, for God.
Why would this name of God the Father, Abba be spoken of so sparingly in the Scriptures? Join me as we dig deep to uncover the treasure found in scripture.
Abba, Pater is the Aramaic name for God meaning dear Father.
And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18.
Pronouncing The Name Of God the Father: AB-ba pa-TAIR
This is Day 24 of a 30 Day study on The Names Of God. If you haven't read the introduction yet, please start HERE
What does Abba in the bible mean- Abba, Pater-Father:
This name of God is rich with meaning and implications for our lives. To begin to understand the name of God as Abba Father, let’s begin by understanding what “Abba” means.
As stated by Dictionary.com, “Abba” is the defining term for father in the Aramaic language, spoken by Jesus and Paul as an intimate term to characterize their personal relationships with God. It is also a term of reverence for bishops and patriarchs within the Coptic, Syriac, and Ethiopian churches.
When trying to comprehend the deep, and warm inviting name of God as Abba, consider who Jesus and Paul were. One is the Son of God and Savior for all mankind; the other was once determined to destroy the belief about Jesus and who He is until Jesus changed his life on that dusty road to Damascus.
That was a dramatic change in Paul and it is so wonderful to consider that this is the name of God that Paul speaks about. He must have truly realized how forgiven he was and how loved he was by God, to be able to call Him, Abba!
God is your heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally, provides for you unreservedly, and protects you unceasingly.
I hope you have a good relationship with your own earthly father. I know that not every person has that type of relationship. We live in a fallen world and for whatever reason, sometimes our dad just can't do that job very well but just remember that you have a heavenly Father that can fill that role, and more importantly, He desires to fill that role in your life.
Abba Father Bible verses
Scripture is filled with references to God as our Father. Here is a list of Bible verses about God the Father.
The first one I want to share is one you know very well. It is from Matthew 6:6-9. Jesus caused quite an uproar when He told His followers to call God by the name Abba-Father. To be fair, the Hebrew people of that time had been taught about the holiness of God and how to revere His name by not speaking it.
So it was an unusual concept to call God, "Daddy". Jesus told His followers to use this name when they pray to God. Keep this in mind during your own devotional time. You are praying to "Daddy".
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. Matthew 6:6-9
2. Galatians 4:6
This is what Paul the Apostle has to say in Galatians 4:6
"And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
Think about this for a second, the God who flung the stars into space, who always has been and always will be, who formed man from the dust of the earth, He invites you, His precious child, to call Him Abba, Father!
Bible Verses About God The Father
Here are some more Bible verses about God the Father. Write out any that touches your heart deeply in a notebook. If you love pretty notebooks, make sure you check out our collection HERE
2 Corinthians 6:18: And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
1 Corinthians 8:6: Yet for us, there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
Ephesians 4:6: One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
James 1:17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
1 John 3:1: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
John 14:10: Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
Romans 8:15: So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
Mark 14:36: “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Applying the name of God, Abba, Pater-Father to your life:
Take some time to marinate in the scriptures above and this truth locked into your heart, you have a heavenly Daddy. God is your Father and He loves you beyond your comprehension.
How does knowing God as Abba, Pater-Father affect your life?
I have prepared a free printable for you to use as you explore the names of God. You will find it in our Resource Library Here.
So who is Abba, Pater to you?
How does knowing God as Abba, Pater impact your life?
How can you grow in your Christian walk by understanding God as Abba, Pater?
Praying the Name Of God, Abba, Pater-Father :
When you pray the word of God, you are praying His words of truth into your situation. It is the same when you pray the names of God. When you understand the meaning of the specific name of God and pray it over your situation-it is declaring His power over it. It certainly will build your faith and expectation of God to move in it.
When you pray God's name, you are declaring the truth of who God is and you are proclaiming His power at work in your life. And when you pray to Abba, Pater-Father, you are praying to the One who sees you as His precious child and counts every hair on your head!
Let's Pray:
Abba, Pater, oh how I love you! Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you so much for sending your Son Jesus so that I can come into Your presence anytime and for all eternity. Help me to completely understand what it means to be Your child. Amen.
Names of God Bible Study
If you are intrigued by the names of God, you will love the Names of God study. Studying the names of God will impact your life. You will be encouraged by them and your faith can only grow deeper and stronger as you discover that God sees you as His treasure. He delights in you!
I would love it if you could share with me your thoughts as you work your way through this Scripture plan. You can connect with me via emailkaren@scripturalgrace.comor on our FACEBOOKpage.
Come back tomorrow as we unpack the name, Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness.
It's all about His grace
xx Karen.