A walk through any stationery store will have figurines depicting angels with wings in the female gender or as a cute little winged baby cherub (either male or female). In doing an internet search, angels are depicted the same as in the stationery stores. There is not a single reference in God’s Word that refers to angels as either female or cute little children. Modern depictions of angels tend to have very little in common with their depictions in God’s Word. Angels either the Greek word (aggelos) or the Hebrew word (mal’âk) is translated as “messenger.” Angels are messengers of God who carry out and perform God’s orders.
Where or how did this portrayal of angels veer so far from God’s description of His created beings? Ancient pagan religions depicted winged servants of their gods as females with wings. These pagan angels were also messengers who did the bidding of these pagan gods. Below is an example of an ancient winged goddess, Nike. As you can see, there is virtually no difference in this pagan portrayal of their goddess with what we see represented in Christian art depicting angels of the Lord.
Perseus Digital Library Project. Ed. Gregory R. Crane. TuftsUniversity.
Accessed on 9/7/09 http://www.perseus.tufts.edu.
(The goddess Nike of ancient Greece, goddess of or spirit of
victory, both in battle and peaceful competition).
Prior to the fourth century, angels were rarely seen in Christian art. It was during Constantine’s era that winged angels began to appear in art. These art forms were a derivative and borrowed from paganism which portrayed their god’s messengers (angels) as winged females.
Scripture details who and what angels are. While angels are spirits, they are always referred to in the masculine. They are powerful beings that are God’s messengers. On some occasions, they have taken the form as male human being, never female. Angels in the Bible have never appeared as cute, cuddly infants eliciting our response of “cuchy, cuchy.” When people in the Bible saw an angel, the typical response was to fall in their faces in fear and awe.
The only source that depicts angels in Christian art as either beautiful winged females with flowing hair and long robes with wings or cute and chubby winged children originates and is borrowed from false and pagan religions.
There is NO foundation in God’s Word to support this representation of God’s messengers, the angels.
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9 comments
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Angels
September 9, 2009 at 11:26 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Yes, I know what you mean. But does it really matter? I wonder why angels are depicted as only male in the Bible? I always thought of them as genderless and that they could possibly take any form to serve Gods will.
tishrei
September 10, 2009 at 12:20 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi, thanks for stopping by. Well, as to does it really matter, I guess I would say it does. God refers to them as male and while I would agree that they could take any form to serve Him, they have only taken the form of a man, not a woman.
Anyway, again thanks for stopping by.
Angels
September 9, 2009 at 11:33 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Thank you
oneof365
September 20, 2009 at 3:35 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I think the reason women are depicted as angels (and children as well) is because they are considered comforting, maternal, and innocent. I think a male angel would seem more intimidating and less soft and inviting. As you know, I know ZIP–ZILCH-ZERO about what the Bible says about this. BUT, that is just what I would reckon the reasoning would be. I frankly I am not into the whole angel culture (you know, angel knick-knacks that people LOVE) but understand WHY people buy them. Because they seek safety and warmth–protection. And I think, even though men are normally the protectors, women in this form, I feel when serving a God-like figure, are more powerful and have a more glowing aura about them. I could be totally off kilter here….but that’s just my 2 cents
X
tishrei
September 20, 2009 at 3:50 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would agree with you as to the reasons angels are depicted as women & children. Women are more nurturing and comforting than a man.
But those that do follow the Word of God are depicting something that is no way supported in His word. Angels are depicted by God as having the qualities of a male, not a gentle, soft and nurturing female. They made up an angel in their own image, not the image God gave.
p.s. thanks for stopping by.
Margaret
November 27, 2009 at 9:16 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Tishrei,
The subject of angels certainly does not affect our salvation, but, nevertheless, it is good to know enough to not be worshipping them in any way….. I agree that the depiction of angels as women and sweet babes is not biblical….. Some interesting references I thought of include the following:
Exodus 14:19 — “And the angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them.”….. (Here we see an ‘angel’ staying with Israel.)
1 Corinthians 10:4 — “and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.”….. (Here the spiritual rock followed them….. Might that be the same as the angel that followed them as referred to in Exodus?)
Then, as we read Revelation, in the last chapter, there are places where it seems confusing as to whether reference is being made to Jesus or an angel of some sort….. In Revelation 22:16 we read, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things…”
The main thing to remember is that an angel is a messenger of some sort….. For that reason, Paul can say in 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ… And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
So, even Satan can seem to be a good messenger — an angel….. Jesus was a messenger, even though He is also true God and true man….. and there are other verses that indicate that the Savior was with the children of Israel as they traveled through the desert….. So the question remains whether the angel with the children of Israel was some other messenger of God or Jesus giving a message.
In the end, none of that is important to our salvation, but some like to use their imaginations a bit too much….. We should not say more than God’s word actually says….. It is good to know that God stays near us.
Margaret
Tishrei
November 28, 2009 at 11:58 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I understand what you’re saying. The way I look at it is if a person is mistaken in how to deal with angels or their role or making them females, that’s a lack of knowledge. If someone who reads this post who falls in that category, it becomes incumbent upon that person to verify that my blog post is scripturally incorrect if they disagree. If they can’t refute it in their own mind via scripture, it then falls into disobedience to the Word of God if they continue.
I think we’ve all been there as far as having to change something we held to after the Word of God spoke to us.
Grace
November 28, 2009 at 9:02 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi on the topic of angels. I think it’s definitely important to keep them in proper Biblical perspective. We have a culture (and it’s nothing new) in which Christians forsake the worshiping of God for the worship of angels and dead people.
So all of this is deeply incorporated into Christianity and it is a form of idolatry that absolutely spiritually impacts the body. It’s just all part of the grand scheme by the adversary to steal glory away from God and weaken the church by incorporating counterfeit spirituality.
Tishrei
November 29, 2009 at 4:37 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
“It’s just all part of the grand scheme by the adversary to steal glory away from God and weaken the church by incorporating counterfeit spirituality.”
AND THAT’S THE TRUTH!
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