T
TheObstinateAss
Guest
Who are the men who appear to Abraham in Genesis 18?
- Status
T
Trevor_Stamm
Guest
Ave Maria
You’ll get mixed interpretations of this chapter. One of the Catholic interpretations is that, as it says in Sacred Scripture, that it was Yah·weh who appeared to Abraham in the appearance of three men as representation of the Trinity.
Was held by many, especially by a Russian Monk, Andrei Rublev, who painted “The Icon of the Holy Trinity” or known as “The Icon of The Old Testament Trinity” or “Hospitality of Abraham” in 1425 as an interpretation of Genesis 18.
You’ll get mixed interpretations of this chapter. One of the Catholic interpretations is that, as it says in Sacred Scripture, that it was Yah·weh who appeared to Abraham in the appearance of three men as representation of the Trinity.
Was held by many, especially by a Russian Monk, Andrei Rublev, who painted “The Icon of the Holy Trinity” or known as “The Icon of The Old Testament Trinity” or “Hospitality of Abraham” in 1425 as an interpretation of Genesis 18.
P
Pfaffenhoffen
Guest
People interpret as the Holy Trinity.
C
chris62
Guest
Obstinate, almost Catholic.
Keep asking the questions here and I am sure you will get the answers and not be “almost” anymore.
God bless you.
Keep asking the questions here and I am sure you will get the answers and not be “almost” anymore.
God bless you.
T
TheObstinateAss
Guest
Okay, good to hear. I was reading a translation without any commentary last night and the Trinity is what popped out at me, but I wanted to see if anyone else would mention it, or if I was just reading something into the text that isn’t there.
Chris62, I am in RCIA right now.
Chris62, I am in RCIA right now.
R
Robbinson
Guest
I have read that as God (as a man, the “son”) and two angels. The angels continue forth to Soddom and Gemorah.
C
COPLAND_3
Guest
This is from the Aquinas Study Bible
18:1-2 St. Justin Martyr (Dia Try), Origen (Hom Gen) and Theodoret of Cyrus (Com Heb) believed the three to be two angels and the Lord Jesus, while St. Augustine (Cit God) believed them to all be angels. Philo of Alexandria (On Abr 22.113) assumed that “Abraham imagined them to be either some prophets or angels who had changed their spiritual and soul-like essence, and assumed the appearance of men.”
Abraham adored them, thinking that they were holy men sent from God. But he adored them with adoration called dulia, which is shown to saints; and he offered them food, as though they were men. (St. Thomas Aquinas Com Heb 13:2)
18:9 when they had eaten: The food taken by angels was neither changed into the assumed body, nor was the body of such a nature that food could be changed into it; consequently, it was not a true eating, but figurative of spiritual eating. This is what the angel said to Tobias: “When I was with you, I seemed indeed to eat and to drink; but I use an invisible meat and drink” (Tobit 12:19). (St. Thomas Aquinas Sum Theo 51.3)
18:1-2 St. Justin Martyr (Dia Try), Origen (Hom Gen) and Theodoret of Cyrus (Com Heb) believed the three to be two angels and the Lord Jesus, while St. Augustine (Cit God) believed them to all be angels. Philo of Alexandria (On Abr 22.113) assumed that “Abraham imagined them to be either some prophets or angels who had changed their spiritual and soul-like essence, and assumed the appearance of men.”
Abraham adored them, thinking that they were holy men sent from God. But he adored them with adoration called dulia, which is shown to saints; and he offered them food, as though they were men. (St. Thomas Aquinas Com Heb 13:2)
18:9 when they had eaten: The food taken by angels was neither changed into the assumed body, nor was the body of such a nature that food could be changed into it; consequently, it was not a true eating, but figurative of spiritual eating. This is what the angel said to Tobias: “When I was with you, I seemed indeed to eat and to drink; but I use an invisible meat and drink” (Tobit 12:19). (St. Thomas Aquinas Sum Theo 51.3)
T
TheObstinateAss
Guest
Robbinson, I have heard the suggestion that the men in question are angels, but (unless I am missing something in translation), the figures in Genesis 18 aren’t referred to as angels. Angels are mentioned at the start of chapter 19, and, to me at least, it isn’t clear that the angels spoken of at the start of chapter 19 are the same men spoken of in chapter 18. Of course, I readily admit that I’m swimming in water way above my head here.
T
thistle
Guest
D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:
Ver. 2. Men in outward appearance, but angels indeed. (Hebrews xiii. 2; St. Augustine, City of God xvi. chap. 29.) Some have supposed, that one of them was the Son of God, whom Abraham adored, and who bears throughout the chief authority. Tres vidit et unum adoravit. He saw three and adored one, as we read in the Church office. In the former supposition, which is generally adopted, this adoration was only a civil ceremony, if Abraham considered them as mere men; or it might be mixed with a degree of religious, though inferior veneration, if he imagined they were angels; or in fine, he adored God in his representatives. (Haydock)
- Status