Skip to main content

There has been debate in the comments box on Lucifer vs. Saint Michael over whether there really are nine choirs of angels.

 

Here’s the theological evidence to settle the issue that there are nine celestial orders of angels (from lowest to highest):

 

Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Throne, Cherubim, Seraphim

 

In my free book Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages, I explain the cosmic responsibilities of each order.

St. Gregory the Great teaches, based on Saint Paul’s writings, that there are nine orders of angels:

 

We know on the authority of Scripture that there are nine orders of angels, viz., Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Throne, Cherubim and Seraphim. That there are Angels and Archangels nearly every page of the Bible tell us, and the books of the Prophets talk of Cherubim and Seraphim. St. Paul, too, writing to the Ephesians enumerates four orders when he says: ‘above all Principality, and Power, and Virtue, and Domination’; and again, writing to the Colossians he says: ‘whether Thrones, or Dominations, or Principalities, or Powers’. If we now join these two lists together we have five Orders, and adding Angels and Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim, we find nine Orders of Angels.” (Hom. 34, In Evang.)

 

St. Thomas Aquinas teaches the same ninefold pattern at Summa theologica I, q. 108.

 

St. Paul teaches speaks of angels and archangels and refers to the orders of “principality, and power, and virtue, and dominion” in Ephesians 1:21. He also mentions “thrones, dominations, principalities or powers” at Colossians 1:16.

 

The term archangel occurs only in St. Jude and 1 Thessalonians 4:15; but St. Paul has furnished us with two other lists of names of the heavenly cohorts. He tells us (Ephesians 1:21) that Christ is raised up “above all principality, and power, and virtue, and dominion”; and, writing to the Colossians (1:16), he says: “In Him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominations, or principalities or powers.”

 

Paul gives us the middle five orders and we add to it, “angels, archangels, cherubim, and seraphim” from his writings and the rest of Scripture. So that bring us to nine orders or choirs of angels.

 

http://taylormarshall.com/2014...pture-tradition.html

 

 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

As but one example of the absurdity of all that angel taxonomy, I would point out that the  "principalities, and powers’" of Colossians 1:16 are again mentioned in Colossians 2:15, which says that Christ  "...having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."   By your reckoning, then Jack, and the reckoning of your cut-and-paste source, Christ  would be said here to have spoiled angels, to have made a show of them and to have triumphed over them. Do you really think Christ beat up on the angels this way?

 

Neither the Colossians nor the Ephesians passages cited in the fantasy piece you provided  will support the notion that the apostolic writer was describing diverse orders of angels. 

Originally Posted by Contendahh:

As but one example of the absurdity of all that angel taxonomy, I would point out that the  "principalities, and powers’" of Colossians 1:16 are again mentioned in Colossians 2:15, which says that Christ  "...having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."   By your reckoning, then Jack, and the reckoning of your cut-and-paste source, Christ  would be said here to have spoiled angels, to have made a show of them and to have triumphed over them. Do you really think Christ beat up on the angels this way?

 

Neither the Colossians nor the Ephesians passages cited in the fantasy piece you provided  will support the notion that the apostolic writer was describing diverse orders of angels. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Colossians 2: 15

And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them

confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself.

 

The question is, do you think Christ beat up the Angels in the way you describe

in your post above.? You seem to believe it. Does your analysis provide your

notion for just what the apostolic writer was describing if not Angels.?

Originally Posted by Jack Flash:

I may be wrong, but I thought if someone declared themself Christian, they

would also have a belief in the creation of angels. If so, there should also 

be a belief for what scripture tells us about angels.  

___

Having a belief in angels does not equate to having a belief in someone's wacky concept of the 9 or 10 or however many "kinds"of angels he thinks he can identify. 

Originally Posted by Jack Flash:
Originally Posted by Contendahh:

As but one example of the absurdity of all that angel taxonomy, I would point out that the  "principalities, and powers’" of Colossians 1:16 are again mentioned in Colossians 2:15, which says that Christ  "...having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."   By your reckoning, then Jack, and the reckoning of your cut-and-paste source, Christ  would be said here to have spoiled angels, to have made a show of them and to have triumphed over them. Do you really think Christ beat up on the angels this way?

 

Neither the Colossians nor the Ephesians passages cited in the fantasy piece you provided  will support the notion that the apostolic writer was describing diverse orders of angels. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Colossians 2: 15

And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them

confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself.

 

The question is, do you think Christ beat up the Angels in the way you describe

in your post above.? You seem to believe it. Does your analysis provide your

notion for just what the apostolic writer was describing if not Angels.?

______________________

That is a fair question, Jack. Consider:

 

The scriptures mention "virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominions, Thrones", but there is no reason to interpret these terms as referring with particularity to angels. The picture Paul paints is one of Christ as supreme, ranked far above all other authorities. The principle is further elaborated upon in Colossians 2:15: "Having disarmed principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." "Triumphing," (Greek thriambeusas) is an ancient term used to describe the practice of a victorious king leading a public procession of captives his armies have defeated. Just so, all the defeated enemies of Christ, however powerful they once might have been, and whoever they might have been, ultimately will be subdued and exposed for their unrepentant evils. That does not sound like something that is projected to happen to angels now, does it, Jack?

Last edited by Contendahh
Originally Posted by Contendahh:
Originally Posted by Jack Flash:
Originally Posted by Contendahh:

As but one example of the absurdity of all that angel taxonomy, I would point out that the  "principalities, and powers’" of Colossians 1:16 are again mentioned in Colossians 2:15, which says that Christ  "...having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."   By your reckoning, then Jack, and the reckoning of your cut-and-paste source, Christ  would be said here to have spoiled angels, to have made a show of them and to have triumphed over them. Do you really think Christ beat up on the angels this way?

 

Neither the Colossians nor the Ephesians passages cited in the fantasy piece you provided  will support the notion that the apostolic writer was describing diverse orders of angels. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Colossians 2: 15

And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them

confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself.

 

The question is, do you think Christ beat up the Angels in the way you describe

in your post above.? You seem to believe it. Does your analysis provide your

notion for just what the apostolic writer was describing if not Angels.?

______________________

That is a fair question, Jack. Consider:

 

The scriptures mention "virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominions, Thrones", but there is no reason to interpret these terms as referring with particularity to angels. The picture Paul paints is one of Christ as supreme, ranked far above all other authorities. The principle is further elaborated upon in Colossians 2:15: "Having disarmed principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." "Triumphing," (Greek thriambeusas) is an ancient term used to describe the practice of a victorious king leading a public procession of captives his armies have defeated. Just so, all the defeated enemies of Christ, however powerful they once might have been, and whoever they might have been, ultimately will be subdued and exposed for their unrepentant evils. That does not sound like something that is projected to happen to angels now, does it, Jack?

Well it's out of my hands now contendah, I'm compelled to throw the "It's 

Official Card" on you. Your comprehension for some subjects of the Bible

just ain't there. billiiee je was right, you're wrong about much of the Book.

I'm not taken billiiee's side, I just remember some things he said about it.

Of course you both threw my azz into the wood chipper, but me being the

only true Christian, I forgive you both. Sending all my love.............

когда свиньи летают

Originally Posted by Jack Flash:
Originally Posted by Contendahh:
Originally Posted by Jack Flash:
Originally Posted by Contendahh:

As but one example of the absurdity of all that angel taxonomy, I would point out that the  "principalities, and powers’" of Colossians 1:16 are again mentioned in Colossians 2:15, which says that Christ  "...having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."   By your reckoning, then Jack, and the reckoning of your cut-and-paste source, Christ  would be said here to have spoiled angels, to have made a show of them and to have triumphed over them. Do you really think Christ beat up on the angels this way?

 

Neither the Colossians nor the Ephesians passages cited in the fantasy piece you provided  will support the notion that the apostolic writer was describing diverse orders of angels. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Colossians 2: 15

And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them

confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself.

 

The question is, do you think Christ beat up the Angels in the way you describe

in your post above.? You seem to believe it. Does your analysis provide your

notion for just what the apostolic writer was describing if not Angels.?

______________________

That is a fair question, Jack. Consider:

 

The scriptures mention "virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominions, Thrones", but there is no reason to interpret these terms as referring with particularity to angels. The picture Paul paints is one of Christ as supreme, ranked far above all other authorities. The principle is further elaborated upon in Colossians 2:15: "Having disarmed principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." "Triumphing," (Greek thriambeusas) is an ancient term used to describe the practice of a victorious king leading a public procession of captives his armies have defeated. Just so, all the defeated enemies of Christ, however powerful they once might have been, and whoever they might have been, ultimately will be subdued and exposed for their unrepentant evils. That does not sound like something that is projected to happen to angels now, does it, Jack?

Well it's out of my hands now contendah, I'm compelled to throw the "It's 

Official Card" on you. Your comprehension for some subjects of the Bible

just ain't there. billiiee je was right, you're wrong about much of the Book.

I'm not taken billiiee's side, I just remember some things he said about it.

Of course you both threw my azz into the wood chipper, but me being the

only true Christian, I forgive you both. Sending all my love.............

когда свиньи летают

_____

What's "official," Jack, with that weak, irrelevant and evasive reply of yours, is that you can't handle what I posted and thus are resorting to generalized and meaningless insults.

This may be something to consider.......

 

Colossians 2:15

Must be the deed which excluded us is the law of Moses, but doesn't

separate Jew and Gentile any longer.

 

Eph 2: 15-16

15 He has put an end to the law with its decrees, so as to make peace, remaking

the two human creatures as one in himself; 16 both sides, united in a single body,

he would reconcile to God through his cross, inflicting death, in his own person,

upon the feud.

 

Gal. 3.19-20

Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed

should come, to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in

the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one.

 

These Angels, were worshipped by the false teachers as dominions and

powers, are represented as having been relieved of their duties as it's

custodians, and appointed to attend instead on the triumphal progress of

the risen Christ. (or through the cross, as sometines shown.)

 

Originally Posted by Jack Flash:

This may be something to consider.......

 

Colossians 2:15

Must be the deed which excluded us is the law of Moses, but doesn't

separate Jew and Gentile any longer.

 

Eph 2: 15-16

15 He has put an end to the law with its decrees, so as to make peace, remaking

the two human creatures as one in himself; 16 both sides, united in a single body,

he would reconcile to God through his cross, inflicting death, in his own person,

upon the feud.

 

Gal. 3.19-20

Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed

should come, to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in

the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one.

 

These Angels, were worshipped by the false teachers as dominions and

powers, are represented as having been relieved of their duties as it's

custodians, and appointed to attend instead on the triumphal progress of

the risen Christ. (or through the cross, as sometines shown.)

____

Perhaps there is some cryptographer  somewhere who could decipher that jangled, inchoate jibberish you posted. 

 

Last edited by Contendahh

Add Reply

Post

Untitled Document
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×