Mark 14:36 He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.” NHEB
All four Gospels talk about Jesus’ prayer regarding the cup but only Mark has this “Abba” language.
Abba is an Aramaic term that is akin to saying “Daddy”. It is a unique term of address that no Jewish person would ever use nor does it appear that any first century Jewish authors would refer to God as “Father” (you might see “Father of Israel” but no reference in a personal sense). Also interesting is that they didn’t translate “Abba” into Greek but left it so that people would have to ask what the word means. The word drives home the idea that our relationship with God is personal. Paul picks up on this Abba language in Galatians and Romans:
Galatians 4:4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!” NET
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba. Father.” NHEB
In Galatians, all that matters to Paul is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as he wasn’t around for the earthly ministry. Here he tells us that Jesus comes as part of God’s plan of redemption and adoption. The verses in Romans describe the very personal nature of our relationship with God.
There is an argument put forth that the New Testament was originally written in Aramaic rather than Greek. For those taking that position, all words translated as “Father” are really “Abba”. Advocates will tell you that Josephus claimed that the Greek language was not used by first century Jews. One has to wonder if that is true given that there is a Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) that came about because of the great number of Jews who could not understand Hebrew. Others will argue that while the early Jews of this time period spoke Aramaic, they were bi-lingual as they also spoke koine (common) Greek. Also, the Aramaic texts that survive today utilize a different form of Aramaic than what was used in the first century indicating that they were created from the Greek texts and not the other way around. In general, the western church believes that the New Testament was written in Greek while the opposite is true for the eastern church.
Iraneus has a clear understanding (see Doctrine of Recapitulation) that the saving work of Christ is not just the Cross but His whole life. In this doctrine, the comparison between Adam and Christ was important in the way the early church understood Christ’s saving work (see Romans 5 and 1Corinthians 15). Where Adam failed, Christ succeeds by His active obedience during the three year ministry and His passive obedience in Gethsemane.
Luke 22:39 He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. 40 When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you do not enter into temptation.” 41He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. 45 When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief, 46 and said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” NHEB
Verses 43 and 44 are omitted from some translations because they don’t appear in some of the early manuscripts. Nevertheless, these details underscore what the early church believed about Jesus. There is something salvivic going on but these verses also make an argument for guardian angels. Our problem is that we are blinded to the spiritual world as A.W. Tozer writes in “The Bible World is the Real World”. (See https://www.thekingdomage.com/library/the-best-of-a-w-tozer/#TheBibleWorldIsTheRealWorld
There is also the issue of the work of the Holy Spirit versus guardian angels. Many things attributed to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament were attributed to angels in the Old Testament as the Holy Spirit had a more limited function in the time period before Christ.
Interestingly enough, Billy Graham was writing a sermon on angels and was surprised that there was nothing in his library nor as he thought about it, had he ever heard a sermon preached on angels. In his view, angels are not only messengers of God but they also “have been given the unseen task of watching over God’s people and guarding them from spiritual and physical harm”. (https://billygraham.org/answer/do-angels-still-do-things-like-they-did-in-the-bible/). Some verses to consider:
Matthew 18:10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. NHEB
Hebrews 1:4 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? NHEB
We immediately think of children when we see “little ones” but it could be believers, as well. The question also arises as to whether these angels serve little ones as a group or is it referring to the guardian angels of each little one. A few other examples from more than 200 appearances of the word “angel” (depending upon your translation) in the Old and New Testaments. Within these verses are a number dealing with fallen angels such as Jude 1:6, 2Peter 2:4 and Matthew 25:41.
Acts 12:6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off from his hands. 8 The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak, and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. NHEB
NUM 22:31Then God opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of God standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32 The angel of God said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come forth as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me: 33 and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.” NHEB
Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. NHEB