Angel (A Spirit)

Angels (Hebrew malak; Greek angelos, "messenger") are personal spiritual beings who serve as God's heavenly court, messengers, and agents of his purposes throughout the biblical narrative. As spirits they are not bound by physical limitation (Heb. 1:14: "ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation"), yet they frequently appear in human form to communicate divine revelation or accomplish specific missions. The OT records angels ministering at decisive moments — announcing the birth of Samson (Judg. 13), standing at the burning bush, delivering the law at Sinai (Gal. 3:19), and protecting God's people (Ps. 91:11–12; Dan. 6). In the NT, angels announce Jesus' conception (Matt. 1:20), birth (Luke 2:10), resurrection (Matt. 28:2–7), and ascension (Acts 1:10–11), and minister to Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). Paul affirms their existence while warning against their worship (Col. 2:18). The book of Revelation depicts angels as active instruments of eschatological judgment. As created spiritual beings they are distinct from the divine, subordinate to Christ (Heb. 1:4–14), and do not marry or die (Matt. 22:30; Luke 20:36).