Do JWs believe Jesus is an angel?

by slimboyfat 152 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  slimboyfat

  I would suggest:

  The short answer is yes.

  The longer answer is a qualified yes, with some caveats.

  The short answer is yes because Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is Michael the archangel, their leader, eldest and most powerful, and have taught this since the very beginning of the religion. They have sometimes described Jesus an “angel” too.

  The reason a longer answer might be interesting and relevant is because it is somewhat surprising (it was surprising to me at least) just how few times Watchtower literature has stated flat out that Jesus is an “angel”, as simple as that. After some searching, I can only find a handful of examples in their entire history where they have called Jesus an angel. But maybe I’ve overlooked some! So firstly, I would be really interested and appreciative if others know of examples where Jesus is called an “angel” in Watchtower literature.

  Statements that Jesus is Michael the archangel are easy to find, but in many ways that is not as interesting, because even some Trinitarian churches (SDA) and leaders (Luther and others) can agree/d that Jesus is the archangel Michael. They would argue Michael is one of the names of Jesus, but they don’t think it makes him an angel, or subordinate to God.

  I have my own theory as to why JWs so seldom describe Jesus as an “angel”. and why, in contrast, their opponents so often highlight their belief in Jesus as an “angel”. But I’m interested to hear what others think, and especially interested in WT references that called Jesus an “angel”.
• 

  vienne

  My instant answer: I haven't a clue.

  But I have a thought or two. Witnesses see Jesus as unique among spirit beings. He is in God's exact image. Hebrews chapter one says this. He is above all the angels who are commanded to do him obeisance. He is God's ultimate message bearer. He is, as John one says, the one who explains God to us. So Jesus is in a class above angels. Hence he is the archangel. The chief one. But still in the genus Angel.

  Just how close that is to Watchtower teaching, I do not know.

  Insight vol. one: "As with the visible creation, so also in the invisible realm there is order and rank among the angels. The foremost angel, both in power and authority, is Michael, the archangel. (Da 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Re 12:7; see ARCHANGEL; MICHAEL No. 1.) Because of his preeminence and his being called “the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [God’s] people,” he is presumed to be the angel that led Israel through the wilderness. (Ex 23:20-23)"
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  stan livedeath

  isnt satan also an angel ?
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  blondie

  Note these statements, Archangel means Chief Angel

  Jehovah also appointed an angel “who was going ahead of the camp,” guiding the nation into the Promised Land. Evidently, that angel was Michael​—Jesus in his prehuman existence.​—Ex. 14:19; 32:34.

  (WT February 2024, p. 25)

  . Jesus may have been the angel who guided the ancient Israelites through the wilderness and whose voice the Israelites were strictly to obey.—Exodus 23:20-23.a

  a The Word is not the only angel through whom God spoke. For example, he used angelic sons other than his Firstborn to transmit his Law to the ancient Israelites.—Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2, 3.

  (ijwbq article 160)

  Michael is “the archangel.” (Jude 9) The title “archangel,” meaning “chief of the angels,” appears in only two Bible verses. In both cases, the word is singular, suggesting that only one angel bears that title.

  (ijwbq article 121)

  Michael is “the archangel.” (Jude 9) The title “archangel,” meaning “chief of the angels,” appears in only two Bible verses. In both cases, the word is singular, suggesting that only one angel bears that title.

  (WT 10/1/1955 p. 598)

  Michael is the only one said to be “the archangel,” meaning “chief angel,” or “principal angel.”

  · (Insight book 2, pp. 393-394)

  The archangel, Michael, is the chief angel in terms of power and authority.

  (WT public 2017 #5, p. 4-5)
• 

  Duran

  As I said on another thread, Jehovah God is a spirit being. His first creation was another spirit being. After that first spirit being was created, many more spirit beings were created. All of those spirit beings that Jehovah created are his spirit sons, Jesus being the first one of those spirit sons.

  Now the question, is Jesus an angel? What is an angel?

  Both the Hebrew mal·ʼakhʹ and the Greek agʹge·los literally mean “messenger.” - One bearing a message, either oral or written.

  minister - a person or thing used to achieve or convey something; attend to the needs of someone.

  [ 4 He (Jehovah) makes his angels spirits, His ministers a consuming fire.]

  [20 Praise Jehovah, all you his angels, mighty in power, Who carry out his word, obeying his voice. 21 Praise Jehovah, all his armies, His ministers who do his will.]

  [ 16 Jesus, in turn, answered them and said: “What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him who sent me.]
  

  [30 I cannot do a single thing of my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous because I seek, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.]

  [ 28 Just as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his life as a ransom in exchange for many.”]
  
• 

  blondie

  Just a note, when I make a post, I am not supporting WT ideas, merely reporting them, I say hang them with their own words.
• 

  slimboyfat

  I agree vienne, that’s essentially the reason: JWs believe Jesus is in a class of his own and therefore superior to the angels. He is an angel in the sense that he is a spirit creature, and “angel” is the term for a spirit creature, but he is far superior to all the other spirit creatures, both because he is the only-begotten, and because he was exalted to an even higher position after his resurrection. I think that’s the reason why JWs use term sparingly, because there is much more to be said about Jesus and more exalted descriptions that are appropriate than just the description “angel”.

  On the other hand, the reason why opponents of JWs use the term “angel” so often to describe the JW view of Jesus is because it gives the impression that JWs in some sense belittle Jesus’ position, or view him as a “mere angel” - I’ve seen that phrase used a few times in anti-JW literature, but never in the WT. In one sense it’s fair enough, from a Trinitarian perspective, because no matter how exalted JWs view Jesus, they still think he is a creature, and for Trinitarians that just doesn’t cut it. Yet, I think it would be more honest for Trinitarians, who are describing the views of JWs, to acknowledge that JWs don’t view Jesus as a “mere angel”. They believe he is totally unique and far above the other angels. It’s fair enough for Trinitarians to dispute the fact that Jesus is a creature, but it would do them credit to also acknowledge just how unique and exalted JWs view Jesus.
• 

  slimboyfat

  One of the few places in WT literature I have found where Jesus is called an “angel” is in the old pink children’s book Listening to the Great Teacher, page 16.

  Does anyone know any others?

  
  
• 

  slimboyfat

  Thanks, Blondie, for the examples, especially the 2024 up to date one. 👍
• 

  no-zombie

  I would say yes ... for these simple reason.

  In the Bible, every time we read of a regular angel, archangel, a cherub or seraph, we understand that these are role descriptors ... were only 'Michael' is used as a proper name. In either case, we have to come to the conclusion that all spirit creatures (a side from God) are all 'angels', as its a term to describe the nature of their metaphysical lifeforms.
  

  Some may vary in power, but that's ok ... just as Arnold Schwarzenegger and you are still called 'human'.