Seven Archangels The concept of the Seven Archangels is found in some works of early Jewish literature. Bible The term archangel itself is not found equivalent in the Hebrew Bible, and in the Greek New Testament the term archangel only occurs in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and the Epistle of Jude 1:9, where it is used of...
Hierarchy Of Angels A hierarchy of angels is a belief or tradition found in the angelology of different religions, which holds that there are different levels or ranks of angels. Higher ranks may be asserted to have greater power or authority over lower ranks, and different ranks have differences in...
Cherub or Cherubim A cherub (cherubim; כְּרוּב kərūv, כְּרוּבִים kərūvîm) is one of the unearthly beings who directly attend to God according to Abrahamic religions. The numerous depictions of cherubim assign to them many different roles; their original duty having been the protection of the Garden of Eden In Jewish angelic hierarchy, cherubim have the ninth (second-lowest)...
Seraph or Seraphim A seraph (“the burning one”; seraphs or seraphim, in the King James Version also seraphims (plural); שָׂרָף śārāf, plural שְׂרָפִים śərāfîm; seraphim and seraphin (plural), also seraphus (-i, m.); σεραφείμ serapheím; مشرفين Musharifin) is a Hebrew-origin word referring to a type of celestial or heavenly being originating in Ancient Judaism. The term plays a role in subsequent Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The singular...
Christian Angelology This article covers Christian Angelology in detail. In Christianity, angels are agents of God, based on angels in Judaism. The most influential Christian angelic hierarchy was that put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the 4th or 5th century in his book De Coelesti Hierarchia (On the Celestial Hierarchy). During the Middle Ages, many schemes were proposed...
Saint Michael In The Catholic Church This article covers the importance of Saint Michael in The Catholic Church. Saint Michael the Archangel is referenced in the Old Testament and has been part of Christian teachings since the earliest times. In Catholic writings and traditions, he acts as the defender of the Church...
Archangel Michael Saint Michael the Archangel (Mîkhā’ēl, ‘Who is like God?’; Mikhaḗl; Latin: Michahel; Mīkhā’īl) is an archangel in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions, he is called “Saint Michael the Archangel” and “Saint Michael”. In the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox religions, he is called “Saint...
Guardian Angel A guardian angel is an angel that is assigned to protect and guide a particular person, group, kingdom, or country. Belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity. The concept of angels that guard over particular people and nationalities played a common role in Ancient Judaism, while a theory of tutelary angels and their...
Archangel An archangel is an angel of high rank. The word “archangel” itself is usually associated with the Abrahamic religions, but beings that are very similar to archangels are found in a number of religious traditions. The English word archangel is derived from the Greek ἀρχάγγελος (arch- + angel, literally “chief angel” or “angel of origin”). It appears only twice...
Angel Of God Angel of God is a Roman Catholic traditional prayer for the intercession of the guardian angel, often taught to young children as the first prayer learned. It serves as a reminder of God’s love, and by enjoining the guardian angel to support the child in a loving way, the prayer echoes God’s abiding...
Angels In Judaism In Judaism, angels (מַלְאָךְ mal’akh, plural: מלאכים mal’akhim) are supernatural beings that appear throughout the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), rabbinic literature, apocrypha and pseudepigrapha, and traditional Jewish liturgy. They are categorized in different hierarchies and act as messengers of God, angelic envoys, or general agents of God. Etymology Hebrew mal’akh (מַלְאָךְ) is the...
Angel Angels are generally supernatural being found in various religions and mythologies. In Abrahamic religions, angels are often depicted as benevolent celestial beings who act as intermediaries between God or Heaven and humanity. Other roles of angels include protecting and guiding human beings and carrying out God’s tasks. Within Abrahamic religions,...
Jewish Principles Of Faith There is no established formulation of Jewish principles of faith that are recognized by all branches of Judaism. Central authority in Judaism is not vested in any one person or group – although the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish religious court, would fulfill this role when it...
What Is Destiny? Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate, is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often used interchangeably, the words “fate” and “destiny” have distinct connotations. Traditional usage defines fate as a power or agency that...
The Book Of Life In Christianity and Judaism, the Book of Life (Sefer HaChaim; Biblíon tēs Zōēs) is the book in which God records the names of every person who is destined for Heaven or the World to Come. According to the Talmud it is open on Rosh Hashanah, as is...
Free Will In Theology Free will in theology is an important part of the debate on free will in general. Religions vary greatly in their response to the standard argument against free will and thus might appeal to any number of responses to the paradox of free will, the claim that omniscience and free will are...
What Is Theological Determinism? Theological determinism is a form of predeterminism which states that all events that happen are pre-ordained, or/and predestined to happen, by a God/gods, or that they are destined to occur given its omniscience. Theological determinism exists in a number of religions, including Jainism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is also supported by proponents of Classical pantheism such as the Stoics and Baruch Spinoza....
Divine Decree And Destiny This article covers the answer to the question: “What is Divine Decree and Destiny?“ Divine Knowledge God is completely beyond our abilities of comparison and conception, and so we can acquire only some knowledge of His Attributes and Names, not of His Divine Essence, by meditating...
Yeshua, Torah And The Tree of Life Torah is also called the “Tree of Life,” as it points us to God as He reveals Himself in the Sephirot, and thus His salvation. Going back to the time of Moses, God Himself states that His Torah is the way of “life.”...
Finding Wisdom, Faith and Comfort in the Tanach The following is one in a series of columns in which local community members write about their favorite Jewish books. This week’s column is by Larry Hurwitz, M.D., a senior editor for Torah Productions, Inc. My favorite book is the Tanach, the...