Angel of the Lord
Summary
A mysterious figure appearing throughout the Old Testament who speaks and acts as God Himself, often understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.
☩Appearances and Identity
The 'Angel of the LORD' appears at critical moments in Israel's history: to Hagar in the wilderness, to Abraham at Moriah, to Moses at the burning bush, to Gideon, to Manoah and his wife, and to others. The angel who appeared in the burning bush speaks as God Himself. God gave the law to Moses and appeared to the patriarchs by the mediation of angels who represented Him and spoke in His name. Often the distinction between God's action and the angel's is blurred to the point that they seem synonymous. The designation 'Angel of the Lord,' as in Gen 16:7, is considered by some one of the common titles of Christ in the Old Testament, with Ex 23:20 as a parallel.
☩Theological Significance
Theological interpretation of this figure has varied. The earlier Fathers, going by the letter of the text, maintained that it was actually God Himself who appeared. Tertullian viewed these appearances as 'preludes to the Incarnation,' and the Eastern Fathers saw Christ in them. Augustine held that 'the angel is correctly termed an angel if we consider him himself, but equally correctly is he termed the Lord because God dwells in him.' Under the general sense of messenger, the term angel is properly applied also to Christ, as the great Angel or Messenger of the covenant, Mal 3:1. The 'Angel of his Presence' in Isa 63:9 is by some supposed to denote the highest angel in heaven, as Gabriel, but others believe it refers to the incarnate Word. Jesus Christ is Himself listed as one usage of 'angel' in Scripture, with reference to Mal 3:1 and Isa 63:9.
☩Distinction from Created Angels
The Latin Fathers (Jerome, Augustine, Gregory) held that the Angel of the LORD was a created angel speaking in God's name, rather than God Himself. By New Testament times the Septuagint view had prevailed regarding the rendering of 'Angel of the Lord' versus 'the Lord.' God employed angels—both good and bad—to declare His will, to correct, teach, reprove, and comfort. Scripture contains no fully delineated angelology; the categories of heavenly beings (cherubim, seraphim) and the distinction between God's direct action and angelic mediation remain fluid.
Related Verses73 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.Charles G. Herbermann et al. (ed.), "Angel," in The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. I (Robert Appleton Company, 1907–1912).
- 2.Edwin W. Rice, "Angel," in The People's Dictionary of the Bible (American Sunday-School Union, 1893).
- 3.American Tract Society, "Angel," in American Tract Society Bible Dictionary (American Tract Society, 1859).
- 4.Richard Watson, "Angel," in A Biblical and Theological Dictionary (John Mason, 1831).
- 5.Chad Brand, Charles Draper, and Archie England (ed.), "Angel," in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Holman Bible Publishers, 2003).
- 6.Charles Buck, "Angel," in A Theological Dictionary (Charles Buck (London), 1802).