Welcome back to Critical Thinking Aloud and our series on Spiritual Beings as one of the Bibles main characters. This is part of our ongoing foundation What is the Bible series.
Context is key to all content including ours. The material we will be covering today will be building off of our other installments in the What is the Bible Series. If you haven’t been able to go over the other teachings yet, you can do so now by clicking here.
How we are going to learn
In this teaching we will be looking at the topic of spiritual beings as one of the Bibles main characters through the worldview of the ancient Near Eastern biblical authors. As I have done in the past with other teachings I want to quote from scholarly sources to make my point. I do this in hope that you will see this isn’t just my interpretation of the Scriptures but that this view is steeped in acadeemia.
We will be using two amazing sources which we highly recommend.
- Faithlife Study Bible: This is an amazing resource that is free if you download the app or use it online. To download the app or use this resource online visit their website here. This resource is also available in print which you can purchase here.
- The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: This is my favorite resource for gaining a better understanding for the ancient Near Eastern worldview of the Biblical authors. This is available in a multitude of variations all of which you can find on our resource page here.
Lets gets started
The Divine Council
Over the past weeks we have been using the concept of how the ancient Near Eastern cultures viewed the gods residing in a council and learning more about how this idea was not abandoned by the Israelites but transformed. This notion has been the base for our teachings about spiritual beings as one of the Bibles main characters .
Here is a quote that we have been using to help ground us in the biblical authors worldview
“The idea that the gods operated in community, however, posed serious problems for the theology of Israel, in which only one being had divine authority. This theology did not eradicate the divine council from the Israelite thinking; instead the council was transformed. Rather than being comprised of various gods, the council featured the “sons of God” over whom Yahweh presided and whose activities he delegated… These council members were not gods who had autonomous divine authority on a par with Yahweh’s, but they were spirit beings given a role in Yahweh’s governance of the world.”
The NIV Culture Backgrounds Study Bible: Article on the Divine Council on Pg. 615
Other Spiritual Beings serving on Gods Council is not in conflict with the Biblical authors ancient Near Eastern worldview. Even though they believed that other spiritual beings exist, Yahweh alone is sovereign over everything including these other deities.
Here on Critical Thinking Aloud we defined Sovereignty not as meticulous control but that of the ability to rule as one pleases. Yahweh has seen fit to rule by sharing His authority with His Council not by control. This is what Yahweh wants!
Yahweh wants a big blended family of loyal Spiritual and Human Beings who He shares His authority with to spread His Kingdom, and He accomplishes this in the spiritual realm through His Council.
What are they?
The divine council is made up of spiritual beings known in the Biblical narrative as the sons of god. The translation of the Hebrew word בני האלהים, romanized: bənê haĕlōhîm, the sons of god informs us that these are beings are spiritual by nature.
All Elohim inhabit the spiritual realm, for they are spiritual beings. Here is a saying that I love that has helped me a ton to understand all this
“all spiritual beings are elohim including Yahweh, but no other elohim is Yahweh.”
There are many different members who are present on the council all of which differ in role and status.
Job Descriptions
In one of our past installments we covered some of the roles of the spiritual beings on Yahwehs Mountain.
For example:
Cherubim/ Seraphim- who’s role on Gods Council is His “body guards”, guardians and transportation specialist.
To review that material click here
All members found on Yahwehs Divine Abode fulfill certain tasks given to them by the Creator to help govern creation.
We aren’t going to go over all of the roles which are found on Yahweh’s council here, but if these studies have interested you on this subject, check out this book to get a more in-depth study.
Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host by Michael Heiser- Get it now by clicking here.
How are these Beings Described?
In another of our past installments we studied some different ways that the Bible describes these beings.
For example
“when the morning stars (ko.khav) sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
Job 38:7
Spirits, Holy Ones, Heavenly Host, and Stars are a few of the way the Biblical Authors describe Spiritual Beings through out the Bible.
To review that material click here
How does the Council operate?
In this installment we are going to study they way in which the Council of God works. There are places in the Bible where we get to see Yahweh’s council in action. This not only helps us to see how the council operates but also helps us to develop sound theology based in the scriptures.
Lets take a look at some places this occurs and what we can glean from these texts.
Genesis 1
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Genesis 1:26
In this study we are going to suggest that the tradition view of “Lets us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” is not an example of the Trinity on display.
I know, I know, I can here you all out there saying; “What are you talking about I have always been taught (or thought) that this is a reference to the Trinity!”. But not so fast! Remember we don’t want to read a first century christian view back into the ancient Near Eastern Old Testament authors writings. I’ll break it down for you.
Not What You Think
First off the concept of a Trinity (as most of us understand it, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is developed in the New Testament writings.
That is not saying that there is not a trinitarian concept in the Old Testament. We spent 5-6 installment covering this topic. Click here to check those out.
What we are trying to communicate here is that this passage is not addressing the Trinity.
Yahweh as the Trinity is One. That meaning He is one in thought. One in desire, and will. Yahweh would have no need to tell the other members of the Trinity what He is going to do because they are Yahweh themselves and would already know, or they wouldn’t be Yahweh.
Yahweh, in the passage stated above, is addressing His council who would not be privy to this information and are present wherever Yahweh is.
Here is an excerpt from Michael Heiser book which we referenced above
Referring to Genesis 1:26:
“That language isn’t a cryptic reference to the Trinity. God is speaking to his heavenly host. He is sharing a decision with them—decreeing his will, as it were. If he were speaking to the members of the Trinity, they would already know what’s in God’s mind, because they are coequal and coeternal with him. Instead, the plural language of Genesis 1:26 intentionally connects humanity, God, and the members of the heavenly host with respect to an important biblical concept: imaging God.”
Heiser, Michael S.. Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host (Kindle Locations 160-163). Kindle Edition.
So we see that by correctly identifying who Yahweh is addressing teaches us not only about how the council operates but reveals the important theological notion that Spiritual Beings, and Humans both are made in the same image of God.
This is just too cool!
Chronicles
Check out this passage of scripture that shows us how Yahwehs desire is fulfilled in Spiritual realm through His council.
18 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing on his right and on his left. 19 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that. 20 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked. 21 “‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’ 22 “So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.”
2 Chronicle 18:18-22
Yahweh could have killed Ahab any which way He wanted. He is Yahweh, and He can do what ever He wants. This scene gives us a behind the curtain look into the heart of our maximum that God loves family and wants to rule in a community.
This text in which Yahweh lets His council decide the means by which Ahab would go to his death and then decreed the disaster, shows us explicitly that God loves His family and for those loyal to Him. To these He grants authority to help make decisions.
This peek into Yahwehs council has profound implications on our theology.
Some Theological Points
We teach constantly on Critical Thinking Aloud about the fact that, Yahweh wants a big family that He shares His authority with to rule creation. But how do we know this is true and not other opposing views taught in some Christian circles? That answer is rudimentary: for the Bible tells us so!
We just reviewed some examples and can see this truth for our selves being played out in the scriptures.
True meaning of Sovereignty
If in order for Yahweh to be Sovereign He needed to “meticulously control” all things, as many Christian Pastors teach, how would one explain what is going on in the passage above? They would have to exchange the plain and strait forward reading of the text (that Yahweh shares His authority) to proclaim something that is not there (that Yahweh had subsequently made these beings do what they did by some secret will).
God doesn’t need to control everything to be sovereign, this is a faulty, unbiblical, way to describe Sovereignty. Yahweh is sovereign because He alone chooses the way in which He governs.
God has chosen to rule in community the very antithesis of meticulous control other wise know as predestination.
Autonomy
We stated above that these spiritual beings do not have autonomy on par with Yahweh which is correct. That is not to say that these beings are not autonomous, which they surely are. By being made in Yahweh’s Image, God has granted Spiritual Beings autonomy so that He can share His authority with those who remain loyal to Him.
With out this God granted autonomy, Yahweh would be left with only slaves (or puppets) which are under His complete control. The Biblical account never teaches this and unfortunately while many well meaning Christians believe this to be true, we are here to tell you that this is bunk. Again bad theology which can be corrected with the truth of scripture.
The text above describes a scene where autonomous Spiritual Beings on Gods Council come forward at His request and suggest their plan of action. It is only after Yahweh accepted this spiritual beings suggestion that He decreed Ahab destruction. To twist this excerpt to suggest that these beings do not have autonomy but are really only doing what God has secretly decreed beforehand by His meticulous control (defined as sovereignty) would be a gross misappropriation of the text.
Hence changing the clear teaching point provided by these scriptures, that God wants to involve His family in the decision making process of ruling over creation.
Hopefully this has been helpful to see how studying the council of God is beneficial for exposing bad theology and help foster sound theology.
God Wanted It
We must remember that God put these passages of Scripture in the Bible for a reason. I have heard people say before that knowing about the Council isn’t important and that we should concentrate our teachings to that of Jesus. We love Jesus and He is the most important but this is faulty thinking now let me explain why.
If Yahweh chose to place the concepts of the Council of God (or any topic) into the Bible, we should think them worthy to spend time studying them. Further more I would say that with out an adequate study of Spiritual Beings as one of the Bibles main characters you will have a handicapped view of Jesus.
For example
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor 8 and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2
This passages is amazing, and mentions a lot of concepts that we love covering on Critical Thinking Aloud. This New Testament text references the Old Testament verse where it says that Humans are made a little lower than the angels.
Are we to believe as my well intending friend stated that we should ignore whatever God is trying to communicate through these authors, and focus solely on Jesus’ life death and resurrection? As the text goes on to link angels, the council and Jesus together would this even be possible?
Jesus the Angels and Believers
This New Testament author picks up on the Old Testament reference and extrapolates its truths to Jesus. Now it is Jesus thought the incarnation who is made for a time a little lower than the angels. So that by His life, death and resurrection Jesus is not only exalted in glory and honor, but does the same for his brother and sister (that is us).
Quoting again from the Old Testament the author places Jesus “in the assembly” declaring our name. What assembly and who are the brother and sisters He is declaring to? I would suggest this is the assembly/ the council of God where Yahweh and His spiritual and physical family live together.
You can choose to ignore the study of Spiritual Beings if you want. Critical Thinking Aloud exists to equip others with the information to critical think for themselves. We believe that, if it is in the Bible, it is import to Yahweh, and as His children it is by extension important to us.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2 Tim 3:16
In the end seeing our loyal Spiritual family members holding positions of authority on Gods council should at the very least encourage us to do the same.
Check out this short video series on Spiritual beings by our friends over at The Bible Project by clicking here. They are amazing and super helpful to better grasp what we will be covering in this series.
Biblical doctrine derives from the Biblical Text
Citations:
NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible Grand Rapids, Michigan USA Zondervan 2016
Heiser, Michael S.. Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host (Kindle Locations 368-371). Kindle Edition.
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Check out the book referenced above Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host by Michael Heiser for a more in-depth study on these Spiritual Beings who are on Gods council. Get it now by clicking here.
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