164) The Angel-Messenger מַלְאַ֙ךְ in the Bible

About this episode

This episode explores the concept of the angel-messenger in the Hebrew Bible and its implications for understanding God's nature.

This podcast gives a few examplesof how the Messenger Malach מַלְאַ֧ךְ in the Hebrew Bible represented or “was” the One who Sent him See also, podcast #130 “Agency in the Bible: The Human Person Jesus “ was” the Father” https://youtu.be/s8FqSysuUGY Theprinciple or practice of the מַלְאַ֧ךְ malach messenger, the one sent. Understanding the Messenger principle is crucial to understanding how many “persons” God is. TheMessenger principle, both as a concept and a reality, means that a person’s messenger—theone sent—is regarded as the sender himself. The proverbialHebrew statement about the Messenger Principle is “השליח שווה לשולחו”the one sent (a messenger) is equal to his sender.” The equality of the onesent to his sender is neither an equality of essence nor of individual one-to-oneidentity. Everyone understood that the messenger was not literally the sameperson nor the same being as the sender. Rather, the messenger was given thesender's full authority to speak and act on his behalf. The messenger carried authorityfrom the sender and was therefore to be regarded as the sender himself. Old Testament scholar John Walton highlights aspects of messenger/agency in the…

People in this episode

Host: William Schlegel

Topics covered

• angel-messenger
• Hebrew Bible
• messenger principle
• God's authority
• Old Testament scholarship

Keywords

• angel
• messenger
• Malach
• Hebrew Bible
• agency
• authority
• Old Testament

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Agency in the Bible: The Human Person Jesus “was” the Father

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