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Are angels considered God's children?
by Triple Threat » Mon Apr 23, 2018 2:35 pm
Are angels considered God's children?
- Triple Threat
Re: Are angels considered God's children?
by jimwalton » Fri May 04, 2018 4:48 pm
No. Angels are messengers and servants. They do things that God wants done.
Just to be fair, the term "sons of God" is occasionally used to describe certain spirit beings. Allow me to explain. In texts like Job 1.6, Ps. 29.1; 89.7, and Daniel 3.5, the angels are called "sons of God," but there's no notion that they are his children. In the ancient world, those who served in the king’s court were often called his sons. "Sons" can mean a wide variety of things.
- In the Bible, Hezekiah (about 700 BC) is called a "son" of David (who reigned in about 1000 BC). "Son" here means "descendent."
- In the Bible, Solomon is called a "son" of David. He was a biological child of David's.
- In the Gospels, James and John are called the "Sons of Thunder." It's a name implying something about their personality, but it has nothing to do with their heritage, biology, or ethnicity.
- In Paul's letters, wicked people are called the "sons of disobedience." It's a theological implication that they are sinners.
In these texts, they are "sons" in the sense that they are part of a divine council, a group of spiritual beings who are part of a group of elite servants of God to whom He delegates certain responsibilities. They do God's work and assemble to give their reports. God gives them assignments (Deuteronomy 32.8), He solicits them for ideas (1 Kings 22.19-22), and they do his bidding and report back to Him (Job 1.6). They don't carry their own divine authority. Whatever authority they have has been delegated to them by God.
Just to be fair, the term "sons of God" is occasionally used to describe certain spirit beings. Allow me to explain. In texts like Job 1.6, Ps. 29.1; 89.7, and Daniel 3.5, the angels are called "sons of God," but there's no notion that they are his children. In the ancient world, those who served in the king’s court were often called his sons. "Sons" can mean a wide variety of things.
- In the Bible, Hezekiah (about 700 BC) is called a "son" of David (who reigned in about 1000 BC). "Son" here means "descendent."
- In the Bible, Solomon is called a "son" of David. He was a biological child of David's.
- In the Gospels, James and John are called the "Sons of Thunder." It's a name implying something about their personality, but it has nothing to do with their heritage, biology, or ethnicity.
- In Paul's letters, wicked people are called the "sons of disobedience." It's a theological implication that they are sinners.
In these texts, they are "sons" in the sense that they are part of a divine council, a group of spiritual beings who are part of a group of elite servants of God to whom He delegates certain responsibilities. They do God's work and assemble to give their reports. God gives them assignments (Deuteronomy 32.8), He solicits them for ideas (1 Kings 22.19-22), and they do his bidding and report back to Him (Job 1.6). They don't carry their own divine authority. Whatever authority they have has been delegated to them by God.
Last bumped by Anonymous on Fri May 04, 2018 4:48 pm.
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