At Christmas we are bombarded with images to evoke the traditions of Christmas. These images can be secular: images of Santa Claus, northern winters, and Christmas baubles; or religious: nativity scenes of Jesus’s birth, the Three Wise Men and angels announcing the birth of Jesus to some shepherds.
Angels play a crucial role in the nativity story, as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. They serve as messengers from God guiding the players in the story. In the Gospel of Luke (1:26-38) the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, announcing that she will conceive and give birth to Jesus, the son of God. On the night of Jesus’s birth, a group of angels appears to shepherds in the fields (Luke 2:8-14) to proclaim the news of the Saviour’s birth. In the Gospel of Matthew (1:20-24), an unnamed angel appears to Joseph in a dream, reassuring him about Mary’s pregnancy and instructing him to name the child Jesus. After the birth, an angel appears to Joseph in another dream (Matthew 2:13-15) warning him to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to escape King Herod’s wrath (the Massacre of the Innocents).
The word “angel”
An “angel” is a celestial being, that acts as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God, commonly represented in human form with wings and a long robe. St Augustine (the early Christian theologian) explains that “angel” is the name of their office, not of their nature—their nature is ‘spirit’. The word “angel” originates from the Greek word angelos, meaning “messenger”. The Greeks borrowed this term from the earlier Hebrew word mal’akh, which also means “messenger”.
The concept of an angel is as an intermediary between the divine and human worlds. When early Christians translated the Bible into Greek, angelos became the standard word for these beings. Later, the word transitioned into Latin as angelus before finding its way into Old English as “engel”, eventually evolving into the modern English “angel”.
Angelology – angel taxonomy
Zoroastrianism angelology
The ordering of angels into hierarchies is known as angelology (and of their evil opposites, demons, is demonology). In the monotheistic Western religions, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, angels are classified into different types based on their roles or proximity to god.
Early Zoroastrianism (the ancient religion of Persia) believed in the heptad (grouping of seven) of the celestial “amesha spentas” (archangels) of Ahura Mazdā (the Wise Lord):
- Spenta Mainyu (the Holy Spirit)
- Vohu Mana (Good Mind)
- Asha (Truth)
- Ārmaiti (Right Mindedness)
- Khshathra (Kingdom)
- Haurvatāt (Wholeness)
- Ameretāt (Immortality).
Judaistic angelology
Angelology in Judaism became highly developed during the Israelites’ exile to Babylon (6–5th centuries BCE) in which the Israelites were influenced by Zoroastrianism. In the Hebrew Bible, God is called the Lord of Hosts. The Hosts is the heavenly army that fights against the forces of evil, guards the entrance to paradise, punishes evildoers, protects the faithful, and reveals God’s word to humans. It is led by one of the archangels. There are four archangels in Hebrew tradition:
- Michael, the warrior leader of the heavenly hosts (Hebrew scripture)
- Gabriel, the heavenly messenger (Hebrew scripture)
- Raphael, God’s healer or helper (Book of Tobit)
- Uriel the watcher over the world and the lowest part of hell (II Esdras).
In addition to the archangels, there are also the cherubim and seraphim. In Jewish tradition, an angel is a spiritual being and therefore does not have physical characteristics.
Christian angelology
Celestial beings, in the Christian New Testament, were grouped into seven ranks (choirs): angels, archangels, principalities, powers, virtues, dominions, and thrones plus the Old Testament cherubim and seraphim. This made up the nine choirs of angels in later Christian theology.
Islamic angelology
Angelology in Islam closely follows Judaism and Christianity. There are four throne bearers of Allah and four other angels:
- Jibrīl (Gabriel), the angel of revelation;
- Mīkāl (Michael), the angel of nature, providing humans with food and knowledge
- Izrāʾīl, the angel of death
- Isrāfīl, the angel who places the soul in the body and sounds the trumpet for the Last Judgment.
The angelological heirarchy of angels
Seraphim
“Seraphim” comes from the Hebrew seraph, meaning “to burn”. In the Hebrew Bible, seraphim stand in the immediate presence of God. According to Isaiah 6:2 “Above it [the Lord’s throne] stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Cherubim
“Cherubim” derives from Late Latin cherub, from Greek kheroub, from Hebrew kerubh (plural kerubhim) “winged angel”. It may be related to the Akkadian (the ancient language of Babylon) word “karibu” for one who blesses.
Cherubim are the throne bearers of God and are depicted as multi-faced beings with the features of humans, animals, and birds. God placed cherubim to guard the garden of Eden and the Tree of Life after the departure of Adam and Eve. They should not be confused with the chubby, winged toddlers depicted in neo-classical art.
Archangels
“Archangel” comes from the Greek “archangelos” meaning “chief messenger”. The archangels we mentioned before get their names from Hebrew:
- Michael derives from Mikha’el, meaning “Who is like God?”
- Gabriel comes from Gavri’el, meaning “God is my strength”
- Raphael’s name means “God has healed”, aligning with his role as a healer and guide
- Uriel’s name means Fire of God.
Thrones
Thrones are celestial beings who embody divine justice and authority. The term likely originates from the Greek “thronos” meaning “seat” or “throne,” reflecting their role as bearers of God’s justice and his majestic presence. They are beings of immense power and serenity.
Dominions
“Dominions” comes from the Latin “dominations”, meaning “lordship” or “rulership”. These administrators of divine order, oversee the lower ranks of celestial beings and keep the cosmos in harmony with God’s will.
Virtues
“Virtues” originate from the Latin “virtutes”, meaning “powers” or “excellences.” They are spirits of motion, associated with miracles and divine energy. They inspire humanity and provide strength during times of trial, representing the power of God’s intervention in the world.
Powers
“Powers” is derived from the Latin “potestates” meaning “authorities” or “forces.” The powers are warrior angels tasked with defending the cosmos from demonic forces. They are guardians of spiritual balance and protectors of humanity from evil.
Principalities
“Principalities” from the Latin “principatus” meaning “rulership” or “sovereignty”, are the guardians of nations and leaders. They guide world rulers to act in accordance with divine will and oversee the implementation of God’s plans.
Watchers
Mentioned in apocryphal texts, such as the Book of Enoch, watchers are a class of angels tasked with observing humanity. The word likely derives from the Aramaic “irin” meaning “those who watch”.
The evolution of angels
Over centuries, the depiction of angels has been shaped by religious influences. In Christian theology, angelology became highly systematised with the classification influencing art, literature, and worship practices.
Renaissance and Baroque art transformed angels into ethereal, human-like figures. While religious texts had focused on their other-worldiness, artistic interpretations characterised them as humanlike creatures of beauty and light.