Angels as Created Spirits
Angels are created spiritual beings.
This doctrine distinguishes traditions but is not a boundary of orthodoxy.
Who binds this (creedal)
Every affiliated congregation inherits its denomination's position. Follow a chip to see the confession's language.
Key scriptures
- 1Pet 3:22 — Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
- 1Tim 5:21 — I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
- Col 1:16 — For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
- Dan 9:21 — Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
- Ezek 28:15 — Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
- Heb 1:14 — Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
- Heb 2:7 — Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
- Isa 14:12 — How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
- Job 1:6 — Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
- Job 38:7 — When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
- Luke 20:36 — Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
- Matt 22:30 — For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
- Ps 148:2 — Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
- Ps 148:5 — Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
- Rev 12:7 — And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
- Zech 1:10 — And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
What the confessions say
Articles of the historic confessions that address this doctrine.
- Reformed Westminster Larger Catechism Q16 — How did God create angels?
- Reformed Belgic Confession Art12 — The Creation of All Things
- Reformed Baptist 1689 London Baptist Confession 3.4 — Of God's Decree
- Reformed Westminster Confession of Faith 3.4 — Of God's Eternal Decree
- Reformed Baptist 1689 London Baptist Confession 4.2 — Of Creation
- Reformed Westminster Larger Catechism Q17 — How did God create man?
The Church Fathers
The earliest Fathers who commented on the Scriptures above.
Let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us; let us esteem those who have the rule over us; let us honour the aged among us; let us train up the young men in the fear of God; let us direct our wives to that which is good. Let them exhibit the lovely habit of purity [in all their conduct]; let them show forth…
And [know ye, moreover], that He who was born of a woman was the Son of God, and He that was crucified was "the first-born of every creature," and God the Word, who also created all things. For says the apostle, "There is one God, the Father, of whom are all things; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things." And again, "For…
"Wherefore, girding up your loins," "serve the Lord in fear" and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and "believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory," and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every…
And the great and glorious angel Michael is he who has authority over this people, and governs them; for this is he who gave them the law into the hearts of believers.
The rule of truth which we hold, is, that there is one God Almighty, who made all things by His Word, and fashioned and formed, out of that which had no existence, all things which exist. Thus saith the Scripture, to that effect "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens established, and all the might of them, by the spirit of His…
Faith is then, so to speak, a comprehensive knowledge of the essentials; and knowledge is the strong and sure demonstration of what is received by faith, built upon faith by the Lord's teaching, conveying the soul on to infallibility, science, and comprehension. And, in my view, the first saving change is that from heathenism to faith,…