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Who They Are & Their Story
When people say “angels,” they’re referring to supernatural messengers of God described across Jewish, Christian, and Islamic sources. The English word comes from Greek angelos, “messenger.” In Hebrew the term is mal’akh, and in Arabic, malak, with the plural mala’ika. The earliest biblical references, as preserved in the Hebrew Bible, appear during the First and Second Temple periods in ancient Israel, roughly the 8th to 5th centuries BCE. Many scholars propose that contacts with the Achaemenid Persian Empire (6th–4th centuries BCE) helped shape Jewish angelology.
By the Second Temple period (516 BCE–70 CE), Jewish literature becomes rich with angelic beings: cherubim guarding sacred spaces, seraphim in Isaiah’s vision, and archangels such as Michael and Gabriel in Daniel.
Christian texts of the 1st century CE continue this development. The Gospels and Acts portray angels at the birth of Jesus, at the Resurrection, and as guides and messengers. Later, in Christian angelology, a key milestone is The Celestial Hierarchy by the late 5th–early 6th century author known as Pseudo‑Dionysius, which organizes nine “choirs” of angels—seraphim, cherubim, thrones; dominions, virtues, powers; principalities, archangels, angels—an influential scheme refined by theologians like Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274).
In Islam, beginning in the 7th century CE, the Qur’an presents angels as perfectly obedient servants of God, and hadith report that they were created from light. The angel Jibrīl (Gabriel) transmits revelation to the Prophet Muhammad from about 610 to 632 CE; Mīkā’īl (Michael) and the angel of death (later called ʿAzrā’īl in tradition) are among well‑known figures. Islamic theology sharply distinguishes angels from jinn, who are made of smokeless fire and are capable of disobedience; Iblīs, the tempter, is identified as a jinn (Qur’an 18:50), not an angel.
What They Do & Why They Matter
Across traditions, angels are understood as God’s servants who carry messages, enact divine judgment, guard sacred spaces, and participate in worship. In the Hebrew Bible, angels protect, guide, and sometimes test humans; cherubim stand at the gates of Eden, and Michael appears as a protector of Israel. In the New Testament, Gabriel announces the birth of Jesus, angels minister to Jesus, and in Revelation they mediate heavenly visions and pour out judgments. Christian theology often assigns roles by hierarchy: seraphim praise, thrones and dominions manifest divine governance, and archangels lead in protection and revelation. Catholic and Orthodox traditions also teach “guardian angels” who watch over individuals.
Key terms you will hear include, in angelology, archangel, a leading messenger; cherubim and seraphim, high orders associated with God’s throne; and the “Angel of the LORD,” a term some texts present as a unique manifestation closely associated with God’s presence. Discussions of “fallen angels” draw on interpretations of Genesis 6, the Enochic literature, and Revelation 12, with varying conclusions across traditions.
How Different Faiths See Them
Judaism emphasizes angels as God’s messengers without independent worship. Rabbinic texts caution against addressing angels in prayer, though liturgy and poetry sometimes invoke their presence. Medieval Jewish thinkers diverged: Maimonides (1138–1204) described angels as incorporeal intellects carrying out divine providence, while mystical traditions like Merkavah and later Kabbalah (notably the 13th‑century Zohar) portray complex angelic hierarchies and names within a symbolic cosmos.
Christianity affirms angels as created, non‑human spirits. Catholic and Orthodox traditions assign a guardian angel to each person, drawing on Pseudo‑Dionysius (with Catholic theology further developed by Aquinas). Many Protestants affirm angels but downplay speculative hierarchies, focusing on biblical roles and warning against angel‑focused spirituality.
Islam presents a clear doctrine: angels are created, according to hadith, from light; they do not eat, drink, or reproduce; and they do not sin. Belief in angels is one of the six articles of faith. Gabriel delivers revelation, Michael is associated with provision, and the angelic host continually glorifies God. While Islamic art can depict angels in some cultural settings, mainstream theology avoids angel veneration.
Why People Still Believe in Them
Belief in angels remains widespread. Surveys by organizations like the Pew Research Center have found that a majority of Americans report belief in angels in the 21st century. People cite sacred texts, religious teachings, and personal experiences—dreams, intuitive “nudges,” or accounts of protection. From a scholarly angle, angels also function as a way to speak about providence and moral order: intermediaries who connect transcendent purpose with daily life.
Angels have shaped art and literature, and the language of grace. For beginners, the key is to recognize both continuity and diversity: angels as messengers of the Holy in ancient Israel; ordered hierarchies in Christian thought; perfectly obedient servants in Islam; and a living symbol set that helps communities articulate justice, guidance, and hope.
