Paul and Angels
How is it that this progression or these levels of understanding of angelic beings made sense to the early Christians if Paul depicted Jesus in the earliest writings as a human-like angel (a pagan concept?), and later in the Gospels he also seemed somewhat human at first, then by the time of John he was seen as semi or fully divine, and then later on as equal to the high God? They seem to me to be reflections of pagan notions, to the original religious teachings of the pagan converts. Likewise, the church's later, more regimented doctrines seem to have their origins in paganism. At a fundamental level, the Trinity, archangels, angels, saints, and heavenly ancestors took the place of the pagan gods. I think Paul was just saying that the Galatians treated him like a “messenger of God, as Jesus Christ”, where “aggelos” can refer to simply a messenger, an envoy, a human “messenger of God."
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This is a question of interpretation and theology that does not belong in the forums It reads more like personal musings on the topic than a well-formed question.. It is also a repetition of question I answered for you last night with great detail ... okay in some detail ... okay I gave you several approaches to discovering answers for yourself and you've not taken the time to try them. I know because your pagan comment, indicates a failure to factor in the angels/God Abraham fed.
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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Christian,
There are, at a minimum, three different ways in which this portion of scripture might be interpreted by scholars. Consider the one that best matches your overall understanding of the Bible as a whole.
I know which one that I accept but sharing it would be for a completely different forum than this one.
Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. - Colossians 3:14
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I am trying to find out what those three methods are. Any advice is helpful.
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Christian Alexander said:
I am trying to find out what those three methods are. Any advice is helpful.
How many interpretative views can you find in your study Bibles, Bible commentaries, and monographs? The Passage Guide's commentaries and Collection sections should gather most of the material together.
Or ask a chatbot What are the major views on what Gal 4:14 says about the relationship between Jesus and angels?
These are basic study skills that are usually done before asking in the forums.
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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