The Son of God and sons of God

Why is Saint Paul Going On So Long About the Distinction Between Jesus and the Angels?

In the Epistle reading today from the Letter of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews, the author continues with the line of reason, which he began in the reading last week, namely, he means to establish that there is distinction between the Son of God and the angels and that the Son is greater than the angels. In reference to this line of reasoning, we are at a disadvantage, because the point that is being made seems so obvious to us. We must understand that we read the Scriptures with the benefit of twenty centuries of interpretation, which the apostles and those that followed them handed down to the Church. What seems obvious to us was far from obvious for the first Christians, especially Jewish Christians, who were just emerging from Second Temple Judaism to a new understanding of the fullness of Divine Revelation.

So, why does the author of the Letter to the Hebrews have to insist so strongly on the distinction between the Son of God and the angels? Because of the Old Testament, actually. The Old Testament, again and again refers to the angels as "the sons of God." There are too many references, in fact, to make mention in any detail. To make the problem even more apparent, El Elyon, God Most High is very frequently depicted as a father god, who has multiple children, who are referred to as "the holy ones," "the host of Heaven" and many other names. Still further, Yahweh, the sacred name of God revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai, is depicted in many places as one of "the holy ones." True to the extremely local and geographical character of Semitic religion, each individual place and nation was considered to have its own "holy one." For this reason, the Scriptures tell us that, at the beginning, God divided up the nations among "the sons of God." Nevertheless, Yahweh, Who is considered the greatest of "the holy ones," is referred to as "the Holy One of Israel."

Added to all of this is the fact that Yahweh is very frequently referred to in the Old Testament as an angel. No one who is familiar with the Hebrew Bible doubts that "the Angel of Yahweh" is, in fact, Yahweh.

The Angelic World–Ministering Spirits For Our Benefit

Therefore, Saint Paul in writing this letter has to insist upon the special position and authority of a unique Son of God, One Who is worthy to be called Lord in every sense that the Father is worthy of the same name. In contrast, the angels, although they are sons of God by analogy, are, in reality only "ministering spirits" who exercise their ministry for the sake of those who are inheriting salvation. 

In others words, the angelic world is solely and completely dedicated to implementing the Will of God in regard to the Church, the Body of Christ. They are responsible for the strengthening, upbuilding and defense of that Body from the malign forces trying to destroy it.

The Church Should Seek the Angels' Intercession

As spiritual beings that operate only according to the Will of God for the benefit of the Church, the angels are in constant communication with the Church and its members. The Church always seeks the intercession of the angels as a support in all its needs. This intercession is similar to the intercession that the Church also seeks from the saints, those human beings who have passed from this life and have inherited the Kingdom of Heaven. Because human beings and angels are both spiritual beings, they have an equal ability to mediate with God in behalf of others. Angels and human beings, in fact, come together in Christ to form one Church. There is no "discrimination" so to speak on the basis of some members of that Church being spirits only, while other members are composite beings having both spirit and body.

During the entire year, the Church sets aside Monday of every week to commemorate the angelic armies of Heaven and ask for their aid. In particular, the Church gives a prominent role to the angels in the Great Compline service, which is offered every night during Great Lent from Monday evening to Thursday evening, before retiring to sleep.

Great Lent is the perfect time for us to remember our spiritual resources in general. Let us remember in particular those "ministering spirits" upon whose aid we can call to defend us from the activities of the enemies that want to destroy us. We should not forget those spiritual resources even in material and physical needs. Matter is directed and governed by spirit, just as the whole world, every material thing and every spirit, is ruled by the One Holy Spirit.