 | This article'slead sectionmay be too short to adequatelysummarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead toprovide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(July 2024) |
InChristianity,angels are the messengers ofGod, and take on varying roles throughout theChristian Bible. They serve primarily as messengers, but also as counsellors and guides throughout the Old and New Testaments.
Psalms 91:11–12 attributes theguardianship of men to the angels.[1]
InMatthew 18:10 Jesus warns not to despise children because "their angels inheaven always see theface of myFather in heaven."Luke 20:34–36 affirms that, like the angels, "those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in theresurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die."
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion with: A general view of angels according to Christians in Antiquity. You can help byadding to it.(February 2023) |
In chapter V ofIgnatius of Antioch'sLetter to the Trallians, the bishop gives a listing of angels not unlike that later proposed by Pseudo-Dionysius. In hisFirst Epistle of Clement,Clement of Rome exhorts his listeners to join the angels in praising God.Clement of Alexandria wrote that angels "breathe" in men's thoughts and reasonings, and "puts in" their hearts "strength" and a keener perception.[2]Evagrius Ponticus spoke of the concept of angelic companions and angels as models for behavior.[3]
Augustine of Hippo remarks, the angels were experiencing something new as thecreation of God unfolded.[4] Augustine also considers that the 'good' angels seek at all times, to direct us towards the true source of happiness, God; that they encourage us inworship of God.[5]
According toPseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite'sDe Coelesti Hierarchia (On the Celestial Hierarchy), there are three levels ("sphere") of angels, inside each of which there are three orders.
Various works ofChristian theology have devisedhierarchies of angelic beings. The most influential Christian angelic hierarchy was put forward around the turn of the 6th century CE by Pseudo-Dionysius in his workDe Coelesti Hierarchia. He claimed to be an important figure who was converted byPaul the Apostle, and the Pseudo-Dionysius enjoyed greater influence than he would have if he had used his actual name, untilErasmus publicised doubts about the age of the work in the early 16th century.[6]
According to theCatechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) paragraph 328, "the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings thatSacred Scripture usually calls 'angels' isa truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity ofTradition."[7] The samecatechism states: "The whole life of the church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of the angels [...] From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession."[8] It also states, "Christ is the center of the angelic world. They areHis angels [...] They belong to Him because they were created through and for Him".[9]
TheNew Church denominations that arose from the writings of theologianEmanuel Swedenborg have distinct ideas about angels and the spiritual world in which they dwell. Adherents believe that all angels are in human form with a spiritual body, and are not just minds without form.[10] There are different orders of angels according to the three heavens,[11] and each angel dwells in one of innumerable societies of angels. Such a society of angels can appear as one angel as a whole.[12]
All angels originate from the human race, and there is not one angel in heaven who first did not live in a material body.[13] Moreover, all children who die not only enter heaven but eventually become angels.[14] The life of angels is that of usefulness, and their functions are so many that they cannot be enumerated. However each angel will enter a service according to the use that they had performed in their earthly life.[15] Names of angels, such as Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, signify a particular angelic function rather than an individual being.[16]
While living in one's body an individual has conjunction with heaven through the angels,[17] and with each person, there are at least two evil spirits and two angels.[18] Temptation or pains of conscience originates from a conflict between evil spirits and angels.[19] Due to man's sinful nature it is dangerous to have open direct communication with angels[20] and they can only be seen when one's spiritual sight has been opened.[21] Thus from moment to moment angels attempt to lead each person to what is good tacitly using the person's own thoughts.[22]
TheLatter Day Saint movement views angels as the messengers of God. They are sent to mankind to deliver messages, minister to humanity, teach doctrines of salvation, call mankind to repentance, givepriesthood keys, save individuals in perilous times, and guide humankind.[23]
Latter Day Saints believe that angels either are the spirits of humans who are deceased or whohave yet to be born, or are humans who have beenresurrected ortranslated and have physical bodies of flesh and bones.[24]Joseph Smith taught that "there are no angels who minister to this earth but those that do belong or have belonged to it."[25] As such, Latter Day Saints also believe thatAdam, the first man, was and is now the archangelMichael,[26][27][28] and thatGabriel lived on the earth asNoah.[24] Likewise theAngel Moroni first lived in apre-Columbian American civilization as the 5th-century prophet-warrior namedMoroni.
Smith described his first angelic encounter in the following manner:
While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.
He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant ...
Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me.[29]
Most angelic visitations in the early Latter Day Saint movement were witnessed by Smith andOliver Cowdery, who both said (prior to the establishment of the church in 1830) they had been visited by the prophetMoroni,John the Baptist, and the apostlesPeter,James, andJohn. Later, after the dedication of theKirtland Temple, Smith and Cowdery said they had been visited byJesus, and subsequently byMoses, Elias, andElijah.[30]
Others who said they received a visit by an angel include the other two of theThree Witnesses:David Whitmer andMartin Harris. Many other Latter Day Saints, both in the early and modern church, have said they had seen angels, although Smith posited that, except in extenuating circumstances such as therestoration, mortals teach mortals, spirits teach spirits, and resurrected beings teach other resurrected beings.[31]
Tradition places seraphim in a rank in Christian angelology, based onIsaiah's use of the word. Seraphim angels are the closest to God and lead worship in heaven by singing endless praises to him.[32]
In theBook of Ezekiel, and in some Christian icons, thecherub is depicted as having two pairs of wings, and four faces: that of alion (representative of allwild animals), anox (domestic animals), ahuman (humanity), and aneagle (birds).[33] Their legs were straight, the soles of their feet like the hooves of a bull, gleaming like polished brass. Later tradition ascribes to them a variety of physical appearances.[33] In Western Christian tradition, cherubim have become associated with theputto (derived from classicalCupid/Eros), resulting in depictions of cherubim as small, plump, winged boys.[34]
Theophanim refer to the wheels seen inEzekiel's vision of the chariot (Hebrewmerkabah) inEzekiel 1:15–21. One of theDead Sea scrolls (4Q405) construes them as angels.[35]
The Dominions (lat.dominatio, pluraldominationes, also translated from the Greek termkyriotētes,pl. ofkyriotēs, as "Lordships")[36] are traditionally held to govern the movement of stars, planets, and other celestial objects.[37]
According toThe Etymologies of Isidore of Seville, the Virtues are known for their control of the elements. In addition to being the spirits of motion, they also assist in governing elements of nature, such as storms.[37] They also assist with miracles, as well as encourage humans to strengthen their faith in God.[38]
InThe Etymologies of Isidore of Seville, the Powers (lat.potestas (f), pl.potestates; Greek: ἐξουσίαι,exousiai) are given their name because they are angels who have power over evil forces, which the angels are able to restrain to keep them from doing harm.[38] Powers also oversee the power which human beings—such as kings—have been given in the world.[37]
According toThe Etymologies of Isidore of Seville, the Principalities (Latin:principatus), also translated as "Princedoms" and "Rulers", from the Greekarchai,pl. ofarchē (see Greek root inEph 3:10), are the angels that guide and protect nations, or groups of peoples, and institutions such as the Church. The Principalities preside over the bands of angels and charge them with fulfilling the divine ministry. There are some who administer and some who assist.[38][needs update]
An example of a Principality angel with a specificcultus is theAngel of Portugal.
The wordarchangel is used twice in theNew Testament: in1 Thessalonians 4:16 andJude 1:9.
In most Christian traditions,Gabriel is also considered an archangel, but there is no direct literary support for this assumption. The termarchangel appears only in the singular, never plural, and only in specific reference toMichael.
The name of thearchangel Raphael appears only in theBook of Tobit (Tobias).
TheHoly See's 2001Directory on popular piety states: "The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are contained inHoly Scripture".[39]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(August 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
A guardian angel is a type ofangel that is assigned to protect and guide a particular person, group or nation. Belief intutelary beings can be traced throughout all antiquity. The idea of angels that guard over people played a major role inAncient Judaism. InChristianity, thehierarchy of angels was extensively developed in the 5th century byPseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. Thetheology of angels and tutelary spirits has undergone many changes since the 5th century. The belief is that guardian angels serve to protect whichever personGod assigns them to. The Watchers were of this class of angels.
| First Sphere |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Second Sphere | ||
| Third Sphere | ||
