Scholars question meaning of 'angel' in Scriptures Word might refer to 'presence of God'

Much of what we know about angels comes from Scripture, but the way the Bible is interpreted can color one's belief about angels and whether they exist as separate entities or are a poetic way of speaking about God's presence, according to experts.

"Early in the Scriptures, Jacob wrestles with an angel," said John Dwyer, professor of theology at St. Bernard's Institute in Albany. "The Hebrew word used was a way of respecting the transcendence of God. Jacob was really wrestling with God, [but] it's easier to [say he was] wrestling with the messenger of God."

Prof. Dwyer explained that for the Hebrew people, there was an infinite gap between God and the people, and that distance was emphasized by using an angel as an intermediary.

Imported angels

"The notion of angels as distinct beings was imported to Israel after the [Babylonian] Captivity," Prof. Dwyer continued. "It was largely imported from Persian religion," as a way to absorb what he called "very old pagan deities" into the Hebrew tradition.

"They were able to preserve monotheism by incorporating the deities as angels," he said. "It was old pagan mythology adopted by the sacred authors.

"Angels were necessary in biblical times as a way of talking about God," Prof. Dwyer said, "but they are not necessary today. Angels and devils are both ways of talking about the mystery of God. We need to respect this, but we are not called upon to historicize these mythical beings."

Allegory

Brennan Hill, professor of religious education and theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, agrees with Prof. Dwyer.

"The Scriptures are allegorical, poetic and symbolic," Dr. Hill said. "In the Hebrew Scriptures, there is not a lot of emphasis on angels. When [angels appear], it is largely symbolic of the presence of God, the power of God. The mystery of God is not nameable; it is impossible to comprehend, so we use symbols to explain this mystery. In the Hebrew tradition, [angels] are the power and protection of God."

While Dr. Hill points out that no one knows if angels exist or not, the Scriptures do not contain definitive proof that they do.

Literary form

Literal interpretation of Scriptures has given rise to many beliefs about angels. For example, said Prof. Dwyer, the idea of "guardian angels are rooted in a literal interpretation of Scripture."

For Dr. Hill, the belief in guardian angels caused conflict for him as a child. "When I was a kid, we had guardian angels," he said. "We even had to leave room in our seats for them." But when a friend was killed when he was hit by a streetcar, Dr. Hill remembers thinking, "Hey, where was his guardian angel?"

The idea of nine choirs of angels also comes from Scripture. "In the New Testament, Paul is said to be talking about angels," Prof. Dwyer said, referring to Romans 8 when St. Paul discusses principalities and angels. One way of interpreting this passage led to the belief of the nine divisions of angels. According to Prof. Dwyer, however, St. Paul was actually speaking of spirits that should be replaced by Jesus Christ.

For contemporary Christians, Prof. Dwyer said, it is important to understand the language used in Scriptures. The presence of angels in the Bible is "a somewhat common way to describe God's presence in the world, God's loving care and unconditional acceptance. Angels are a way to talk about this."

Providence

Sister Katherine Hanley, CSJ, a spiritual director in the Albany Diocese, said it is not necessary to look for angels in our midst. Instead, "look for God's providence around you, not for angels," she advised.

She explained that in Scripture, angels are messengers of God and signs of God's presence. They are also, she said, "beings who are kindly and well disposed that are concerned with our care. In the Biblical tradition, stories with angels come from a people who recognize the workings of God after the event. When we realize God's providence, we say, `Oh, an angel.'"

According to Sister Katherine, encounters with angels are actually encounters with God's power and providence. "To love another person is to see the face of God," she said. "An angel is a little encounter with the divine."

Dr. Hill agrees with Sister Katherine in her encouragement to look for God rather than angels. "Ultimately, we don't know" about angels, he said. "Our faith is directed at God. We don't have to believe in angels; our faith should be in God."

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