Daniel 3:28 - Who is the Angel?
I will be teaching Daniel 3 in my Daniel small group Wednesday night. Reading over Daniel 3:28 it talks about God sending His "Angel" to protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. I believe that it was the "Son of God". What is the best way to explain that? Any tips would be helpful.
Thanks.
Susan Murphy
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Hi Susan,
I'm not sure you can. Scripture does not definitively identify who the fourth person is in the furnace. Both times he is described it is by Nebuchadnezzar. First he says that the fourth man appears as the "son of the gods" and then he calls him an angel. However according to the College Press NIV commentary, "many commentators have conjectured that this Angel is also a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. If this conjecture is correct, then it is much more likely that the fourth being in the furnace was indeed the preincarnate Christ." MacArthur in his Study Bible says only that the "fourth person could possibly have been the second person of the Godhead." The Bible Knowledge commentary says only that it was "probably the preincarnate Christ." I lean in that general direction myself.
Philippians 2:3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
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Susan W. Murphy said:
I believe that it was the "Son of God"
- Why?
- What are the other possibilities?
- Why is "Son of God" better than the other possibilities?
If you believe that it was the "Son of God", then you should be able to answer my questions and thus answer your own question. If you cannot answer them, then what is the basis of your belief?
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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It's been a while since I read it, but check out Margaret Barker's The Great Angel: a Study of Israel's Second God. (Not available in Logos, though some of her other stuff is. https://www.logos.com/products/search?Author=10869%7CMargaret+Barker )
She's provocative, but a bit controversial.
"The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected."- G.K. Chesterton
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My opinion for what it's worth. The angel was an agent of God. It's no more specific than that. Unless there is a good contextual reason for identifying that agent, I think it's best left indefinite just as the scripture does.
Longtime Logos user (more than $30,000 in purchases) - now a second class user because I won't pay them more every month or year.
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M.J.Smith give the Key. You need to answer this Questions tonight...the only Way to prove is to study not to read Commentaries ;-) at least not yet.
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Hint: If someone in the Ancient World like Nebu or the Soldier at the Cross say:" He looks like a Son o God" or "this was realy the Son of God" he mean exactly this. They live in a World of Gods, Sons of God God/Men and Men/Animals Creatures! Sooo you might be right with Son of God the Question is witch one.
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Ben said:
It's been a while since I read it, but check out Margaret Barker's The Great Angel: a Study of Israel's Second God. (Not available in Logos, though some of her other stuff is. https://www.logos.com/products/search?Author=10869%7CMargaret+Barker )
She's provocative, but a bit controversial.
This does not look like sound doctrine...
http://confessionsofadoubtingthomas.blogspot.com/2010/12/great-angel-by-margaret-barker.html
[:|][:S]
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Sascha John said:
M.J.Smith give the Key.
Unfortunately, the way she askes is legit, but takes the entire thread directly to ChristianDiscourse.com where it belongs in the first place. So...yeah... MJ's key will open the door to that site, don't rush all at once. 😁
DAL
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just tried to help Susan I don't know this Side you post
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Sascha John said:
just tried to help Susan I don't know this Side you post
For the record, I agree with Susan. I'm just not going to explain why I believe what I believe here or in ChristianDiscourse for that matter. I just don't have the time 😁 So don't worry, we're good 👍
DAL
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Hi Susan, Daniel is a wonderful and at times perplexing book, isn't it?! :-)
I believe that Logos/FaithLife's forum rules say that this forum is for discussing Logos/FaithLife software and resources only, and that theological discussion and biblical interpretation ought to be held elsewhere (www.christiandiscourse.com, which DAL alluded to, is sometimes mentioned as a suitable venue). That said,...
For what it's worth, and in my attempt to be helpful, the Word Biblical Commentary's comment on the verse you mention is as follows:
"23–30 Apparently Nebuchadnezzar alone sees the “divine being” (v 25; cf. theophanies in 2 Kgs 6:17; Acts 9:17). בר אלהין might for Nebuchadnezzar suggest an actual god. Similarly God’s aide (מלאך, EVV. “angel,” v 28; cf. 6:23 [22]) might signify in effect God himself; cf. Yahwehs מלאך, e.g., Exod 3:2. Isa 43:1–3, indeed, has promised God’s own presence when Israel walks through the fire. Nevertheless to Jews בר אלהין would indicate a subordinate heavenly being. Cf. the supernatural watchman (עיר וקדיש) of 4:10, 14, 20 [13, 17, 23], and the humanlike heavenly interpreters and leaders of chaps. 7–12. In such a context God’s מלאך, too, will denote a nondivine heavenly being."
John E. Goldingay, Daniel, vol. 30, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 71.
I hope that this is useful, and I wish you and your study group every blessing!
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Susan W. Murphy said:
Any tips would be helpful.
Milestone search can find word(s) within Bible milestone context of Daniel 3:24-29
(four,angel) WITHIN {Milestone <Dn3.24-29>}
Keep Smiling [:)]
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Jan Krohn said:
This does not look like sound doctrine...
In these forums we do not state our opinion re: sound/unsound doctrine. Just let the recommendation stand or suggest an alternate, please.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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