‌God Used the Angels for the Work of Creation

Psalm 8:4–6 is a commentary on Genesis 1:26:“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels [Hebrew elohim, ‘mighty ones’], and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.”

These verses are in turn quoted in Hebrews 2:6–8. There the Greek word aggeloi is used to translate elohim from the Hebrew. Clearly the New Testament writers understood that this word elohim, which is translated as “God” in the English version of the Bible, can at times refer to the angels of God. They are His “ministering spirits”, or messengers that do His work (Psalm 104:4; cp Hebrews 1:14).

Therefore by allowing the Bible to interpret itself, we see that it was the angels who were involved in the work of creating man in their image and likeness on behalf of God Himself.

The Angels

Throughout the Bible we read of angels visiting people with a message from God, or performing various activities for God. Here are a few points that help us to understand their work.

• The word angel comes from the Greek word aggelos (pronounced angelos) which means “a messenger”. The word is often used in the New Testament when speaking about God’s messengers who visited people with a message from God. An example of this is when the angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her she was to have a son, who would be named Jesus and who would be the “Son of God” (Luke 1:26–35)

• In the Hebrew the word malak is translated angel and means “a messenger”. It is used for the messengers of God who were sent to give a message or to do a specific work on God’s behalf (2 Kings 1:15; 2 Kings 19:35; Daniel 6:22)

• Because the words malak and aggelos mean “messenger” these words are also used when speaking of mortal men who are sent as messengers (2 Kings 1:2; 5:10; Isaiah 37:9,14; James 2:25)

• Angels have the same physical shape as men and on occasions have been mistaken for men (Genesis 18:1; cp 19:1; Joshua 5:13–15; Matthew 28:5–6; cp Mark 16:5–6)

• The work of the angels is described as follows: “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure (Psalm 103:20–21), and “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire” (Psalm 104:4). From this we see that the angels of God are His servants who always do His will. They demonstrate great power, having derived this power from God Himself. God’s angels cannot sin.

• One of the works of the angels is to serve or minister to those who have obeyed the gospel and are following God’s ways (Hebrews 1:14; Psalm 34:7)

Angels are immortal, which means that they cannot die and neither do they marry. Jesus tells us this when he says that those who are found faithful will be made equal to the angels: “But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 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” (Luke 20:35–36).

Adapted from “The Exploring the Bible Course” by David Evans