Comment received:
I was convinced that Jesus could not be an angel, by Heb.1:5.
My Response:
When we in English, see the word "angel", we think of mighty spirit beings that were never human. But I learned that the original Greek word that was written, is "angelos". For some unknown reason, it is translated as "angel" but should not be. Why? Well, all the other Greek words of the New Testament, are translated into English, but "angelos" is not. The word is only Anglicized. The English translation of "angelos" is "messenger". That is the definition... not "angel" (meaning a spirit creature) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g32
If you look up the Greek word that the Bible used to describe John the Baptist (at Mark 1:2), it is "angelos". /// https://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/NTpdf/mar1.pdf
Here is Mark 1:1-4: "The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ("ANGELOS") ahead of you, who will prepare your way’ –3 ‘a voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness,preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."
It is unfortunate that when translating "angelos", translators use two different words... "messenger" (as they should), and "angel", which is not really a translation.... it is just a shortened Greek word.
To illustrate... The French word for "book", is "livre". If I am translating a letter from French to English, I should translate "livre", into "book". If I only take off the "e" and translate "livre" into "livr"... Are English readers going to know that "livr" is a "book"? No. In fact, they may even construct their own idea about what a "livr", is. They have room to assume that this source of information is an encyclopedia or computer. Yet that is not the precise meaning of "book".
That is what has happened with "angel". It is not a spirit being. It simply means, "messenger". If we think about this fact; the removal of that constraint opens the possibility that the "angels" in Revelation are human. That also opens up the fact that Jesus Christ, who according to scripture was God's messenger to the world, could therefore also be an "angelos". Here is only one of many scriptures that prove that: "For I have never spoken on My own initiative or authority, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment regarding what to say and what to speak." (John12:49) (John8:42; 1:14; Heb.1:2; 1Tim.2:5)
What then, about your verse at Heb.1:5? The context of Heb.1:1-9, explains the reason why Jesus Christ is special, in comparison to his many brothers who also become messengers of God (Matt.10:20,40; 2Cor.5:20; Jer.5:14; Rev.11:5). He is the firstborn among them (Rom.8:29; 2Cor.3:18; 2Pet.1:4) and is the means by which his bride members, receive life (Eph.5:23,25; Rev.5:9-10; John1:4; John14:6; 5:40). Jesus Christ is the only one to become God's direct Son (John3:16; Heb.1:5; John1:14). Through Jesus, others also become sons of God (John1:12-13; Gal.3:26; 4:6; Ps.45:16; Isa.9:6), just as a grandson becomes a son of his grandfather, because there is no distinction in the Bible, between direct sons and subsequent generations (Luke 3:8).
The uniqueness of Jesus as he compares to the rest of God's messengers, is explained in Heb.1:1-3,4-6,7-9,14. (Heb.2:16; Gal.3:29). Each of those verses in Heb.1:1-9 is further explained, by additional scriptures, which help to clarify what is meant...
Heb.1:"1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets (GOD'S ORIGINAL MESSENGERS) at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, (spokesman/messenger/the Word/Logos) whom he appointed heir of all things (Matt.28:18-20; 11:27; Eph.1:22), and through whom also he made the universe. (John1:3) 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being (Phil.2:5-7)(2Pet.1:4; John10:34-35; Ps.82:6), sustaining all things by his powerful word (see John5:24). After he had provided purification for sins, (Rev.5:9-10; 7:14) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Heb.1:3; Luke22:69; Ps.110:1; 1Cor.15:25) 4 *So he became as much superior* to the angels (other "MESSENGERS") as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs." (Rev.19:16; 1:5) ////[(Jesus is the foundation cornerstone to God's spiritual Temple of living stones -Eph.2:20-22; 1Pet.2:5). Jesus has "inherited" a superior name (Ps.45:7 CSB), which he shares with the faithful victors (Rev.3:12; 2:17; Isa.62:2). It is a name that champions the peerless sovereignty of God (Rev.12:7; 7:10; 15:2) in opposition to those who champion the peerlessness of the Wild Beast (Rev.13:4).] NOTE: ("Michael" means; "Who is like God?") //// 5 For to which of the angels ("messengers") did God ever say,‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’? (Matt.3:17; Ps.2:6-9; Rev.3:21; 2:26-27) Or again,'I will be his Father and he will be my Son’? (1Chron.17:10-14; 2Sam.7:13-16) 6 And again, when God brings HIS FIRSTBORN into the world, he says,‘Let all God’s angels (messengers) worship him.’ (Matt.28:9; Luke 24:52) (John1:51; Rev.19:11,14; Eph.2:6; Gen.28:12,17; Eph.2:19-20) 7 In speaking of the angels ("messengers") he says,‘He makes his angels ("messengers") spirits, (Ps.104:4; Rom.8:9; 2Cor.5:20) and his servants flames of fire.' (John5:35; Matt.5:14-15) 8 But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; (Dan.7:13-14,21-22,25-27; 1Cor.15:25-28,24) a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom. (Rev.19:11,15; John5:22; 12:48-49) 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions (Col.1:18) by anointing you with the oil of joy.’ " (Heb.12:2) (Ps.45:7; Phil.2:9).
I hope you research the scriptures I have cited, and see how they help us to understand the position of Jesus above God's other messengers, among which, Jesus was the primary and greatest... the Arch-angel (Arch, meaning: the prototype, first, greatest, original /// Angel, meaning: messenger).
Here is a search result which contains many posts and scriptures on this same topic: (https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/search?q=arch)
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