[An Aramaic word, Chal. abbâ, Syr. abbâ or abbô, the father, or O father.] Being retained in the Greek text of the N.T., and the versions, along with its transl. father, the combination Abba father is used by devotional writers as a title of invocation to the first person of the Trinity. Also a title given in the Syriac and Coptic churches to bishops, and by bishops to the patriarch: father, religious superior.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. viii. 16. The spirit of adopcioun of sones … in which we cryen, Abba, fadir.
1557. Genevan, ibid. The Sprite of adoption, whereby we crye Abba, that is to say, Father.
1611. Bible, Mark xiv. 36. And he said, Abba, father, all things are possible vnto thee.
1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., 525. Abba is a word of honour and glory, even as Rabbi: whence the Latin Abbas, and our English Abbot, have been derived to denote the greatest person in a society.
1719. Watts, Hymn, ‘Behold what wondrous grace’ (556). My faith shall Abba, Father, cry And thou the kindred own.
