Archangel
Archangels (/ˌɑːrkˈeɪndʒəls/) are the second-lowest rank of angel in the Christian hierarchy of angels, put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the 5th or 6th century in his book De Coelesti Hierarchia (On the Celestial Hierarchy).[1][2][3] The word "archangel" itself is usually associated with the Abrahamic religions, but beings that are very similar to archangels are found in a number of other religious traditions.
The English word archangel is derived from Greek ἀρχάγγελος (arkhángelos), the Greek prefix "arch-" meaning "chief". A common misconception is that archangels are the highest rank of angel in Christianity. This misconception stems from John Milton's Paradise Lost and likely confusion over the "arch-" prefix.[4]
In Judaism however, the highest ranking angels such as Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel, who are usually referred to as archangels in English, are given the title of śārīm (Hebrew: שָׂרִים, sing. שָׂר, śār), meaning "princes", to show their superior rank and status.[5] Two examples of this can be seen in Daniel 10:13 and 12:1, where Michael, Chief of the Heavenly Host, is referred to as ʾaḥaḏ haśśārīm hārišōnīm (Hebrew: אַחַד הַשָּׂרִים הָרִאשֹׁנִים) in the former, meaning "one of the first/chief princes", and haśśar haggāḏōl (Hebrew: הַשַּׂר הַגָּדוֹל) in the latter, meaning "the great prince".[6][7][8][9]
Description
Some branches of the faiths mentioned have identified a group of
In Zoroastrianism
An increasing number of experts in anthropology, theology and philosophy believe that Zoroastrianism contains the earliest distillation of prehistoric belief in angels.[15]
The
To maintain equilibrium, Ahura Mazda engaged in the first act of creation, distinguishing his Holy Spirit Spenta Mainyu, the Archangel of righteousness. Ahura Mazda also distinguished from himself six more Amesha Spentas, who, along with Spenta Mainyu, aided in the creation of the physical universe. Then he oversaw the development of sixteen lands, each imbued with a unique cultural catalyst calculated to encourage the formation of distinct human populations. The Amesha Spentas were charged with protecting these holy lands and through their emanation, also believed to align each respective population in service to God.[17]
The Amesha Spentas as attributes of God are:
- Spenta Mainyu (Pahlavi:[18] Spenamino): lit. "Bountiful Spirit"
- Asha Vahishta (Phl. Ardwahisht): lit. "Highest Truth"
- Vohu Mano (Phl. Vohuman): lit. "Righteous Mind"
- Khshathra Vairya (Phl. Shahrewar): lit. "Desirable Dominion"
- Spenta Armaiti (Phl. Spandarmad): lit. "Holy Devotion"
- Haurvatat (Phl. Hordad): lit. "Perfection or Health"
- Ameretat (Phl. Amurdad): lit. "Immortality"
In Judaism
The
There are no explicit references to archangels in the
In the
In Christianity
The New Testament makes over a hundred references to angels, but uses the word "archangel" only twice, in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 ("For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first", KJV) and Jude 1:9 ("Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee", KJV).
Catholic
In Catholicism, three are mentioned by name:
- Gabriel
- Michael
- Raphael
These three are commemorated together liturgically on September 29. Each formerly had his own feast.
The latter of these identifies himself in Tobit 12:15(NAB) thus: "I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord."
The
The Catholic Church gives no official recognition to the names given in some apocryphal sources, such as
- Uriel : God's divine justice
- Jophiel
- Azrael
- Ariel
In 1851
Eastern Orthodox
- Michael in the Hebrew language means "Who is like God?" or "Who is equal to God?" Michael has been depicted from earliest Christian times as a commander, who holds in his right hand a spear with which he attacks Lucifer/Satan, and in his left hand a green palm branch. At the top of the spear, there is a linen ribbon with a red cross. The Archangel Michael is especially considered to be the Guardian of the Orthodox Faith and a fighter against heresies.
- Gabriel in Hebrew means "God is my strength" or "Might of God". He is the herald of the mysteries of God, especially the Incarnation of God and all other mysteries related to it. He is depicted as follows: In his right hand, he holds a lantern with a lighted taper inside, and in his left hand, a mirror of green jasper. The mirror signifies the wisdom of God as a hidden mystery.
- alabaster jarin his left hand.
- Uriel in the Hebrew language means "God is my light", or "Light of God" (II Esdras 4:1, 5:20). He is depicted holding a sword in his right hand, and a flame in his left.
- Sealtielmeans "Intercessor of God". He is depicted with his face and eyes lowered, holding his hands on his bosom in prayer.
- Jegudiel means "Glorifier of God". He is depicted bearing a golden wreath in his right hand and a triple-thonged whip in his left hand.
- Barachiel means "Blessed by God". He is depicted holding a white rose in his hand against his breast.
- Jerahmeel means "God's exaltation". He is venerated as an inspirer and awakener of exalted thoughts that raise a person toward God (2 Esdras 4:36). As an eighth, he is sometimes included as an archangel.
Coptic Orthodox
In addition to Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the
- Surielmeans "Prince of God"
- Sadakiel means "Grace of God"
- Sarathiel (Unknown)
- Ananiel means "Rain of God"
Ethiopian Orthodox
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church venerates the four archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel, as well as:[38][39]
In the canon of the
Protestant
The
In the view of the Baptist evangelist Billy Graham, Sacred Scripture explicitly described one being as an archangel—Michael—in Jude 1:9.[43][44]
-
The Archangel Jeremiel holding a book, depicted in a stained-glass window at St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church, Hughenden
Restorationist
Jehovah's Witnesses, citing a reference to "the voice of the archangel" at 1 Thessalonians 4:16, also believe that "Michael" is another name for Jesus in heaven. They believe Jesus is an archangel in the true sense of the word—the supreme leader of angels.[46]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) interprets the term "archangel" as meaning "Chief Angel",[47] Michael is the only individual so designated in the Latter Day Saints canon.[48] It is believed that he is the head of all of the angels.[47] LDS Church doctrine also states that the archangel Michael was the first man, Adam.[49] Though no other being is identified as an "archangel", Joseph Smith taught that the angel Gabriel was known in mortality as Noah[50] and the angel Raphael is a being of significant standing, even though he has never been identified with any mortal prophet.[51]
In Islam
In Islam, the mentioned archangels[52] (Karubiyin)[53] in the Islamic exegetical traditions are:
- Gabriel (Jibrāʾīl or Jibrīl in Arabic). Gabriel is said to be the archangel responsible for transmitting God's revelations to all prophets, including revealing the Quran to Muhammad and inducing him to recite it. Various hadiths (traditions) mention his role in delivering messages from "God the Almighty" to the prophets.
- Michael (Mīkāʾīl or Mīkāl in Arabic). Michael is often depicted as the archangel of mercy who is responsible for bringing rain and thunder to Earth.[54]
- Raphael (Isrāfīl or Rafāʾīl in Arabic). The name is not mentioned in the Quran. Considered in Islam by some to be the angel of the trumpet responsible for signalling the coming of Judgment Day.[55]
- Azrael (ʿAzrāʾīl in Arabic, also called Malak al-Mawt, literally “angel of death”). Taking the soul of the dead to heaven or hell in the intermediary realm (Barzakh).
In Gnosticism
In the
Other traditions
Occultists sometimes associate archangels in Kabbalistic fashion with various seasons or elements, or even colours. In some Kabbalah-based systems of ceremonial magic, all four of the main archangels (Gabriel, Michael, Raphael and Uriel) are invoked as guarding the four quarters, or directions, and their corresponding colours are associated with magical properties.[58] In the lesser ritual of the pentagram, the invocation includes the words "Before me Raphael; Behind me Gabriel; On my right hand Michael; On my left hand Auriel [Uriel]..."[59]
Cultural references
In art, archangels are sometimes depicted with larger wings. Some of the more commonly represented archangels are Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, and Uriel.[60]
See also
- Angels in art
- Angel of the Lord
- Archdemon
- Bene Elohim
- Fallen angels
- List of angels in theology
- Kami
- Olympian spirits
- Saint Michael in the Catholic Church
- Seven Archangels
- Sopo Archangels, Colombian Baroque paintings
- Yazata
References
Notes
- ^ The Book of Tobit is considered to be part of the Old Testament in the Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Persian Churches; in the Catholic Church, it is deemed one of the deuterocanonical books. In traditional Protestantism, such as the Lutheran Churches, Anglican Churches and Anabaptist Churches, the Book of Tobit is an intertestamental book, being a part of the Apocrypha.[10][11]
- ^ 2 Esdras is considered to be part of the Old Testament canon in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, while in traditional Protestantism, such as the Lutheran Churches, Anglican Churches and Anabaptist Churches, 2 Esdras is an intertestamental book, being a part of the Apocrypha.
Citations
- ISBN 978-0-8091-3948-4.
- ISBN 978-0-14-043632-7.
- OCLC 15282383.
- ^ The Methodist New Connexion Magazine and Evangelical Repository, Volume XXXV., Third Series. London: William Cooke. 1867. p. 493.
- ^ "Strong's Hebrew Concordance - 8269. sar".
- ^ "Daniel 10:13". Sefaria.
- ^ "Daniel 10:13, Westminster Leningrad Codex, Hebrew Text Analysis". Bible Hub.
- ^ "Daniel 12:1". Sefaria.
- ^ "Daniel 12:1, Westminster Leningrad Codex, Hebrew Text Analysis". Bible Hub.
- ^ Quaker Life, Volume 11. Friends United Press. 1970. p. 141.
Even though they were not placed on the same level as the canonical books, still they were useful for instruction ... These– and others that total fourteen or fifteen altogether- are the books known as the Apocrypha.
- ^ Wesner, Erik J. (8 April 2015). "The Bible". Amish America. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d Blersch, Jeffrey (21 September 2019). "St. Michael and All Angels". Pacific Hills Lutheran Church. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-631-18966-4.
- ^ "First Enoch - Chapter XX / Chapter 20 - Book of 1 Enoch, Parallel 1912 Charles & 1883 Laurence, Pseudepigrapha Online Parallel Bible Study". Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ a b Boyce, Mary (1975). A History of Zoroastrianism Volume One: The Early Period. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
- ^ "Encyclopædia Britannica, "amesha spenta"". Britannica.com. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ISBN 9004088474.
- ^ "Glossary and Standardized spelling of Zoroastrian terms". avesta.org. Archived from the original on 3 March 2000. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ Davidson, Baruch S. "What Are Angels?". Chabad.org. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ DEATH, ANGEL OF "the "destroying angel" ("mal'ak ha-mashḥit")" Jewish Encyclopedia
- ^ Ludwig Blau; Kaufmann Kohler (1908). "ANGELOLOGY". Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ "Judaism: The Postexilic Period", International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences
- ^ Sanhedrin 38b and Avodah Zarah 3b.
- ^ Daniel 10:13
- ^ Daniel 8:15–17
- ^ cf. Sanhedrin 95b
- ^ Kessler, Dr. Samuel J. "Above Sinai: Midrashim on the Conversations in Heaven". Sefaria.
- ISBN 9780199743919
- ^ "Souvay, Charles. "Esdras." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 5 Aug. 2013". Newadvent.org. 1 May 1909. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ "Driscoll, James F. "St. Raphael." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 5 Aug. 2013". Newadvent.org. 1 June 1911. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ISBN 0-87973-910-Xpage 123
- ^ Chaplet of Saint Michael the Archangel in Latin and English, Geoffrey W. M. P. Lopes Da Silva, Domina Nostra Publishing, 2020.
- St. John Chrysostom
- ^ The World of The Angels Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Church, Baltimore MD
- ^ Velimirovic, Nicholai. "The Prologue from Ohrid: November 8". Western American Diocese. Archived from the originalon 7 December 2008.
- ^ Tobit 3:17, 12:15
- ^ Meinardus, Otto F. A. (3 July 2015). "The Heavenly Host in the Coptic Tradition". becomeorthodox.org. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ^ "Theology: ANGELS". dgmedhanealem.org. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
The notable seven Archangels are: St. Mikael, St. Gebriel, St. Rufael, St. Uriel, St. Ramuel, St. Phanuel, St. Raguel.
- ^ a b "Devotions: The Invocation of Angels". ethiopianorthodox.org. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
Devoutly are kept the feasts of all Angels including St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael. […] Uriel, Regel, Remiel and Phanuel are other revered angels.
- ISBN 9780898697018.
- ^ a b "Truss Carvings: Heroes of the Faith". Trinity Lutheran Church. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ Kershaw, Simon. "Exciting Holiness: 29 September". Canterbury Press Norwich. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ISBN 9780849938719. p. PT31.
- ^ Graham (1995) p. PT32
- ^ "Questions on Doctrine: Christ, and Michael and Archangel". SDAnet. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ What Does the Bible Really Teach?. Watch Tower Society. pp. 218–219.
- ^ a b "Archangel". Guide to the Scriptures. LDS Church.
- ^ Jude 1:9 KJV (LDS)
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 128:20–21; Petersen, Mark E. (November 1980). "Adam, the Archangel". Ensign..
- OCLC 24502140, archived from the originalon 17 September 2016, retrieved 10 September 2012.
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 128:21
- ISBN 9780810843059.
Works cited
- Boyce, Mary (1984). Textual Sources for the Study of Zoroastrianism. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press.
- Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D., eds. (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504645-5.