Table of Content

Introduction

1. Definition of Angelology (angel) -------------------------------------------------------------------1

2. Angel in the Old Testament -----------------------------------------------------------------------2-3

3. Angel in the New Testament ------------------------------------------------------------------------3

4. Existence of Angels -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3

5. Nature and attributes of Angels -------------------------------------------------------------------3-4

6. Angels of the Lord -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4

Conclusion

Bibliography

1
Introduction

In this paper we will discuss the existence of angels and the nature of the angels. After going
through this paper one would be sure that the angels exist and that there was a record in the
Bible. And we will be discussing the mentions of the angle from Old Testament and form the
New Testament. We will also briefly discuss the works of the angels and the kinds of angels
which are recorded in the Bible.

1. Definition of Angelology (Angel), Doctrines of angel

There are a number of different words used in scripture to define angelic beings. Angels the
Hebrew word malak simply means “messenger”; it may refer to a human messenger (1kings
19:2) or a divine messenger”; (Gen. 28:12). The basic meaning of the word is “one who is
sent,” As a divine messenger an angel is a “heavenly being charged by God with some
commission.1 He is a creature, but also holy and uncorrupted spirit in original essence, yet
endowed with free will, and therefore not necessarily impervious to temptation and sin. 2

Sons of God: Angels are called “sons of God” in that in their unfailing estate they are God’s
sons by his creation (Job 1:6, 38:7).3 Holy ones: Angels are also referred to as “holy ones”
(ps.89:5,7) in the sense that they are “set apart” by God and for God as attendants to His
holiness. Host: Angels are referred to as the “host,” which can be understood to denote the
armies of heaven (Ps. 89:6,8, 1 Sam. 17:45). The phrases used to describe the angels in this
manner are “host of heaven,” and as the millions of heavenly beings that surround God they
are called “hosts” in the phrase “Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 31:4). 4

2. The existence of angels

The existence of angels is uniformly presented in scripture. Thirty-four books of the bible
make reference to angels (seventeen in the Old Testament; seventeen in the New Testament).
Critical to the belief in angels is the relationship of angels to Christ. Christ was helped by
angels following His temptation (Matt. 4:11); he referred to the resurrected state as
comparable to angels (Matt. 22:29-30); He taught that angels would re-gather the nation
Israel at the time of His return (Matt. 25:31-32, 41). The existence of angels is tied to the
reliability of the testimony of Christ.5
1
Paul Enns, The moody handbook of theology; (Hyderabad: GS Book, 2008), 299.
2
J.D. Douglas: The new bible dictionary: First Edition; (Singapore: Authentic books, 1962), 362.
3
Roy Zuck, “job,” in The bible knowledge commentary, 2 vols. (Wheaton, III.: Victor, 1985), 719.
4
Enns, The moody handbook of theology, 299.
5
Enns, The moody handbook of theology, 300.

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 3. Angels in the Old Testament

The angels of the Lord, the executive or even manifestation of Yahweh, angels are spiritual
beings separate from God, yet, unless they are fallen, of unquestioned integrity, goodwill and
obedience to him. Angels may appear to men as bearers of God’s specific commands and
tidings. They may bring specific succor to needy mortal servants of God. They may
undertake commissions of military assistance or, more rarely, active hostility towards Israel.6

Old Testament angelology reaches its fullest development in Daniel, the earliest Jewish
apocalypse. Here angels are first endowed with proper names, and attain to something like
personality, Gabriel explains many things to Daniel, much in the spirit of Zechariah’s divine
visitant (Dn. 8:16ff; 9:21ff). In the both books the angel is the fluent mouthpiece of God, and
may be questioned, but Daniel’s Gabriel is more rounded and convincing. Michael has a
special function as guardian angel of Israel, and other nation are similarly equipped (Dn.
10:20). This became rabbinic commonplace there is a visionary glimpse into the heavenly
place, where there are countless myriads of throne angels.7

4. Angels in the New Testament

The New Testament largely endorses and underlines the Old- though the intervening
centuries must not be forgotten. Heb 14 defines the angels both as messenger of God and as
minister to man, while the totality of passages suggests a deepening bond of sympathy and
service. The Old Testament implies that angels were the joyful witnesses of, though not
necessarily active participants in, God’s act of creation. In the New Testament they are
closely associated with the given of the low and it is not inconsistent that they should be
frequently coupled with final judgment. 8

5. Nature and Attributes of Angels

Angels are spirit beings. Although angels may reveal themselves to mankind in the form of
human bodies (Gen. 18:3) they nonetheless are called “spirits” (Heb. 1:14), suggesting they
do not have corporeal bodies. Hence, they do not function as human beings in terms of
marriage (Mark 12: 25), nor are they subject to death (Luke 20: 36).9

6
D.R.W. Wood, New bible Dictionary Third Edition, (Hyderabad: authentic books, 1982), 37.
7
Wood, New bible Dictionary…, 36.
8
Douglas, The new bible dictionary, 362.
9
Enns, The moody handbook of theology. 300.

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Angels are created beings. The Psalmist call upon all nature to praise God for His creation.
Along with the celestial bodies, the Lord created the angels by His word (Ps. 148: 2-5). Job
was reminded that the angels sang praise to God when they were created (Job 38: 6-7). Christ
created the angels that they might ultimately give praise to him (Col. 1: 16).10

Angels are higher order than man. Mankind, including our incarnate Lord, is “lower than the
angels” (Heb. 2:7). Angels are not subject to the limitations of man, especially since they are
incapable of death (Luke 20:36). Angels have greater wisdom then man (2 Sam. 14: 20), yet
it is limited (Matt. 24:36). Angels have greater power than man (Matt 28: 2; Acts 5: 19; 2
Peter 2:11), yet they are limited in power (Dan 10:13).11

Angels, however, have limitations compared to man, particularly in future relationships.

Angels are not created in the image of God; therefore, they do not share man’s glorious
destiny of redemption in Christ. At the consummation of the age, redeemed man will be
exalted above angels (1 Cor. 6: 3).12

6. The Angels of the Lord

The angel of the Lord, sometimes ‘the angel of God’ or ‘my (or ‘his’) angel’, is represented
as a heavenly being sent by God to deal with men as His personal agent and spokesman.13
The angel is identified as God, speaks as God, and claims to exercise the prerogatives of God.
That the Angel of the Lord is a Christophany is suggested by the fact a clear reference to “the
Angel of the Lord” ceases after the incarnation. References to an angel of the Lord in Luke
1:11 and 2:8 and Acts 5: 19 lack the Greek article which would suggest an ordinary angel. 14

Conclusion

We come to know that angels are the messenger form God, who carry and pass the word of
God to humans when God sent. Through this paper it is also clear that the angels were also a
created being and create by God to serve Him, they have free will but they are holy and have
more higher essence for now that which will be change in future when men attaint God’s
glorious. Even though angels are created being they are spirit being and does not have flesh
and blood like humans. There are various kind of angles and have their own duties in front of

10
Enns, The moody handbook of theology. 301.
11
The moody, lecture in systematic theology. 235.
12
Enns, The moody handbook of the theology ,300.
13
Douglas, The new bible dictionary, 38
14
J. Hampton Keathley III, Angelology: The Doctrine of Angels (Bible studies press: New American Standard
bible,1989), 4.

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God. This topic reminds me that we humans who accepted Christ were lucky incomparably
because even the angels who are holy will not share the glorification of God that which we
will have in the future and the angels were not made in the image of God but humans are.
This reminds me of how much precious and unique we are in front of our God.

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Bibliography

Douglas, J.D. The New bible dictionary: First Edition. Singapore: Authentic Books, 1962.

Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook of theology. Hyderabad: GS Books, 2008.

Keathey, III J. Hampton. Angelology: The Doctrine of Angels. Biblical studies press: New
American standard bible, 1989.

Wood, D.R.W. New Bible Dictionary: Third edition. Hyderabad: Authentic books,
Secunderabad, 1982.

Zuck, Roy “job”. In the bible knowledge commentary, 2 vols. Wheaton III: victor, 1986.