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dado
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I heard a preacher (non-Catholic) expressing the theological opinion that the ‘angel of the Lord’ referenced in Psalms 34 and 35 is really a reference to Jesus Christ. Is this taught in Catholic Theology?
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Todd_Easton
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Yes, it can be. St. Justin Martyr, in his First Apology, written about A.D. 155, indicates that at least some Old Testament passages that mention the Angel of the Lord refer to Christ. Use the link above to see a few examples of this, beginning down at Chapter LXIII.Now the Word of God is His Son, as we have before said. And He is called Angel and Apostle; for He declares whatever we ought to know, and is sent forth to declare whatever is revealed; as our Lord Himself says, “He that heareth Me, heareth Him that sent Me.” (Chapter LXIII.)
In his Exposition on Psalm XXXIV, St. Augustine of Hippo identifies the angel of the Lord mentioned there as Christ:
“The Angel of the Lord shall send round about them that fear Him, and shall deliver them.” Whom called He here the Angel of the Lord, who shall send round about them that fear Him, and shall deliver them? Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself is called in Prophecy, the Angel of the great Counsel, the Messenger of the great Counsel; so the Prophets called Him. Even He then, the Angel of the great Counsel, that is, the Messenger, shall send unto them that fear the Lord, and shall deliver them. Fear not then lest thou be hid: wheresoever thou hast feared the Lord, there doth that Angel know thee, who shall send to succour thee, and shall deliver thee. (Paragraph 10.)
However, in his Exposition of Psalm XXXV, St. Augustine does not explicitly identify the angel of the Lord mentioned there as Christ.
In his Exposition on Psalm XXXIV, St. Augustine of Hippo identifies the angel of the Lord mentioned there as Christ:
“The Angel of the Lord shall send round about them that fear Him, and shall deliver them.” Whom called He here the Angel of the Lord, who shall send round about them that fear Him, and shall deliver them? Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself is called in Prophecy, the Angel of the great Counsel, the Messenger of the great Counsel; so the Prophets called Him. Even He then, the Angel of the great Counsel, that is, the Messenger, shall send unto them that fear the Lord, and shall deliver them. Fear not then lest thou be hid: wheresoever thou hast feared the Lord, there doth that Angel know thee, who shall send to succour thee, and shall deliver thee. (Paragraph 10.)
However, in his Exposition of Psalm XXXV, St. Augustine does not explicitly identify the angel of the Lord mentioned there as Christ.
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Todd_Easton
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Just wanted to add…
The Catholic Church rarely, if ever, teaches that a particular Scripture passage must be interpreted in only one particular way. So, although this is a permissible interpretation of the passage mentioned, it should not be considered the only possible interpretation of the passage.
The Catholic Church rarely, if ever, teaches that a particular Scripture passage must be interpreted in only one particular way. So, although this is a permissible interpretation of the passage mentioned, it should not be considered the only possible interpretation of the passage.
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BayCityRickL
Guest
The word “angel” or “angel of the Lord” is the translation of a word that might just as well be translated “messenger” or “messenger of the Lord” – I’ve been told.
So, maybe the messenger is an angel, actually, or it might be a reference to Jesus.
I think it’s the Seventh Day Adventists who put a lot of currency in the equivalence of angel and Jesus.
So, maybe the messenger is an angel, actually, or it might be a reference to Jesus.
I think it’s the Seventh Day Adventists who put a lot of currency in the equivalence of angel and Jesus.
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