Angels and Saints

[newton3005]

Is there a difference between angels and saints? There is, in the sense that not all saints are angels and not all angels are saints. The angels that aren’t saints are those that are with Satan; the saints that aren’t angels were brought to life on earth. Saints uphold God and do His Work, whether they originated on earth or in the heavens.

Saints are appointed by God, as inferred in Romans 1:7. Psalm 16:3 says the saints that are on the land are the Lord’s delight. How do we know that angels are, or can also be, saints? The Bible doesn’t appear to directly say, but there is a Verse that may help in us believing that angels can also be saints, if we can accept that John, who represented and upheld Jesus, is a saint. Revelation 19:9–10 says, “And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I AM A FELLOW SERVANT WITH YOU and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.’...”

The person who wrote those Verses was John. Who but a saint would do God’s work? There are angels and there are angels. There are some angels we need to avoid since their work is not for God. If the angel in Revelation 19:9–10 says to John that he is a fellow servant, then it’s reasonable to believe that the angel, like John, is a saint.

 

[KevinT]

Is there a difference between angels and saints? There is, in the sense that not all saints are angels and not all angels are saints. The angels that aren’t saints are those that are with Satan; the saints that aren’t angels were brought to life on earth. Saints uphold God and do His Work, whether they originated on earth or in the heavens.

Saints are appointed by God, as inferred in Romans 1:7. Psalm 16:3 says the saints that are on the land are the Lord’s delight. How do we know that angels are, or can also be, saints? The Bible doesn’t appear to directly say, but there is a Verse that may help in us believing that angels can also be saints, if we can accept that John, who represented and upheld Jesus, is a saint. Revelation 19:9–10 says, “And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I AM A FELLOW SERVANT WITH YOU and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.’...”

The person who wrote those Verses was John. Who but a saint would do God’s work? There are angels and there are angels. There are some angels we need to avoid since their work is not for God. If the angel in Revelation 19:9–10 says to John that he is a fellow servant, then it’s reasonable to believe that the angel, like John, is a saint.

I believe that "saints", as used in the Bible, is referring to living members of God's family who are walking in God's light. It does not refer to people after their death. I just reviewed this site that claims to give "91 verses about Saints", and I didn't see any verses there to contradict my understanding.

Best wishes
KT

 

[timf]

The Greek word hagios (saints) carries with it the idea of that which was consecrated to the gods. One might infer that this included the transition from the mundane to the holy. Since angels either chose to remain faithful or not, they would not have the same idea of transition from mundane to holy.

 

[David Lamb]

Is there a difference between angels and saints? There is, in the sense that not all saints are angels and not all angels are saints. The angels that aren’t saints are those that are with Satan; the saints that aren’t angels were brought to life on earth. Saints uphold God and do His Work, whether they originated on earth or in the heavens.

Saints are appointed by God, as inferred in Romans 1:7. Psalm 16:3 says the saints that are on the land are the Lord’s delight. How do we know that angels are, or can also be, saints? The Bible doesn’t appear to directly say, but there is a Verse that may help in us believing that angels can also be saints, if we can accept that John, who represented and upheld Jesus, is a saint. Revelation 19:9–10 says, “And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I AM A FELLOW SERVANT WITH YOU and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.’...”

The person who wrote those Verses was John. Who but a saint would do God’s work? There are angels and there are angels. There are some angels we need to avoid since their work is not for God. If the angel in Revelation 19:9–10 says to John that he is a fellow servant, then it’s reasonable to believe that the angel, like John, is a saint.

The word "saint" as used in the bible means "a Christian". For example, Paul begins his letter to the Christians at Ephesus:

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:” (Eph 1:1 NKJV)

He wasn't addressing a special "rank" of Christians, and we look in vain in the bible for "saint" being used as a title, as some do today, talking of "Saint Andrew", "Saint Peter" etc.

Angels in the bible are spiritual beings, whom God uses as His messengers.

So saints and angels are not the same. You say that not all angels are saints. I say that no angels are called saints in the bible.

 

[ViaCrucis]

The term "saint" generally only applies to human beings. Specifically, it is a redeemed person. There are the saints on earth, we who are being sanctified; and there are the saints who are in heaven who have received their victor's wreath, in the presence of the Lord.

The holy angels are also, well, holy, but we do not call them "saints" generally; the word "saint" being used in reference to God's people (human beings).

In a number of traditional uses angels are spoken of with the honorific "saint" as in St. Michael the Archangel, but here it is simply a way of designating the angel as holy. In the same way when we speak of the saints who have gone before us, such as St. Paul the Apostle, or St. Augustine of Hippo, or any of the ancient Faithful, it is a term of honor.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[newton3005]

The word "saint" as used in the bible means "a Christian". For example, Paul begins his letter to the Christians at Ephesus:

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:” (Eph 1:1 NKJV)

He wasn't addressing a special "rank" of Christians, and we look in vain in the bible for "saint" being used as a title, as some do today, talking of "Saint Andrew", "Saint Peter" etc.

Angels in the bible are spiritual beings, whom God uses as His messengers.

So saints and angels are not the same. You say that not all angels are saints. I say that no angels are called saints in the bible.

The word "saint" is used in the Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 6:41 Psalm 16:3 Proverbs 2:8 are just a few Verses. Christians didn't appear until after the last word of the OT was written...