Hebrews' angelology in the light of early Jewish apocalyptic imagery

Abstract

Hebrews’ references and allusions to angels are investigated in the light of early Jewish apocalyptic imagery and against the backdrop of similarities with a number of aspects that possibly underlie the Qumran community. It became clear that the author of Hebrews has a complex and more developed understanding of angels. Firstly, the author presents a “high” Christology in Heb 1–2, which argues about Christ’s exaltation to the right hand of God, a position as King and Judge that differs from the other “sons of God,” i.e. the angels (1:4–5). As they have inferior positions, roles and names, the angels should worship this “Firstborn” (1:6). They are made to be winds, fl ames of fi re, servants (1:7) and messengers of God to humanity (2:2). After his temporary humiliation (2:7), Christ now rules whereas the angels are still carrying out their duties through the aeons as servants of God. Secondly, Heb 12–13 takes the reader into heaven and presents an apocalyptic glimpse of a festal gathering of earthly believers and angels in the heavenly Jerusalem, sharing in an act of cultic worship within the “congregation of the Firstborn.” Thirdly, the character of Moses as a “son of God” (Heb 3) and that of Melchizedek (Heb 7), who was perceived as the archangel Michael in some circles of early Judaism, were positioned alongside the angels by the author of Hebrews. His angelology is clearly subordinate to his Christology – a picture which becomes even clearer against the backdrop of the position of angels in the early Jewish apocalyptic world. Fourthly, Christian hospitality is based on the argument that those entertained might even be angels. The appeal is rooted in the belief of the visitation of angels amongst humans in an anthropomorphic form which makes them unrecognizable to humans. This argument completes the circle of relations between Christ, the angels and humans in Hebrews: Christ occupies the ultimate position in heaven and the angels are subordinate to him. Angels are nonetheless of a higher rank than humans, being the messengers of God.