Abba is the Aramaic word for "father." The word occurs three times in the New Testament (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). In each case it has its Greek translation subjoined to it, reading abba ho pater in the Greek text; abba, pater in the Latin Vulgate, and "Abba, Father" in the English version. St. Paul made use of the double expression in imitation of the early Christians, who, in their turn, used it in imitation of the prayer of Christ. Opinions differ as to the reason for the double expression in our Lord's prayer:
Abba
Textum selige ad illuminandum — te invitabimus ut accountum gratuitum crees.
Notae fontium
APA citation. Maas, A. (1907). Abba. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01006d.htm
MLA citation. Maas, Anthony. "Abba." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. <https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01006d.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Joseph A. Murphy.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is webmaster at newadvent.org. Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.