An individual whose task is to convey information from one person to another. The word “angel” derives from the Greek word for “messenger”. The word “apostle” comes from the Greek work meaning “sent”.
Messengers conveying information from one person to another
Proverbs 13:17, Proverbs 25:13 There are many references to messengers in this sense. See also Genesis 32:3; Numbers 20:14; Judges 6:35; 1 Samuel 23:27; 2 Samuel 11:22, 2 Samuel 15:13; 1 Kings 19:2, 1 Kings 22:13; 2 Kings 1:3 Elijah intercepts the messengers of Ahaziah; 2 Kings 5:10 Elisha sent a messenger with instructions for Naaman's healing; 2 Kings 6:32; Job 1:14; Isaiah 37:9 Sennacherib sends messengers to Hezekiah; Jeremiah 51:31; Daniel 3:4; Philippians 2:25
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Messengers from God to humanity
The OT prophets
Numbers 16:28; Isaiah 6:8 See also Deuteronomy 18:18; Judges 6:8; 2 Samuel 12:25; 1 Kings 16:7; 2 Kings 17:13; Ecclesiastes 5:6; Isaiah 41:27, Isaiah 42:19, Isaiah 48:16; Jeremiah 1:5 the call of JeremiahJeremiah 7:25, Jeremiah 25:4, Jeremiah 26:4–6, Jeremiah 44:4 Ezekiel 38:17; Habakkuk 2:2; Haggai 1:13; Zechariah 4:9; Malachi 1:1 “Malachi” means “my messenger”.
Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things, for it was not my own doing:
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”
The priests
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
John the Baptist
See also Matthew 11:10 parallels Luke 7:27, Mark 1:2; John 1:6; Malachi 3:1
Apostles and teachers
Galatians 1:1 See also Matthew 23:34; Mark 3:14; Luke 11:49; Romans 1:5, Romans 11:13; 1 Timothy 1:1, 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11
Paul, an apostle — sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead —
Angelic messengers
Daniel 4:13; Luke 1:19 See also Judges 6:11–12; 1 Kings 19:5; Zechariah 1:14, Zechariah 3:6MAT Zechariah 1:20, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 2:19 Luke 1:11, Luke 1:28, Luke 2:9–10 The shepherds at Bethlehem heard God's message through an angel; Acts 8:26, Acts 10:3 Cornelius receives instructions from an angel; Galatians 1:8; Hebrews 2:2–3; Revelation 1:1, Revelation 22:16
As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
Jesus Christ as God's ultimate messenger
John 7:28–29 See also John 8:42, John 9:4, John 10:36, John 13:16, John 17:8; Hebrews 1:1–2, Hebrews 3:1
Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “You know Me, and you know where I am from. I have not come of My own accord, but He who sent Me is true. You do not know Him, but I know Him, because I am from Him and He sent Me.”
A messenger of Satan
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.