“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.” (1 Timothy 5:21 (ESV)
Who are the elect angels of whom the Apostle Paul involved in his command to Timothy to keep the apostle’s instructions concerning elders without prejudging or partiality? It is wise for us to not overlook these important heavenly ministers.
The word angels (ἀγγέλων; angelon) means messenger. Angels are supernatural crated beings. The word elect (ἐκλεκτῶν; eklekton) refers to
“In many languages a term for ‘angels’ is borrowed from another dominant language, but in other instances a somewhat descriptive phrase may be employed. The most common expressions for the ‘angels of God’ are ‘messengers’ and ‘messengers from heaven.’ Sometimes these angels are called ‘spirit messengers’ and even ‘flying messengers.’ In some instances, they have been called ‘the holy servants of God,’ but an expression such as ‘servants of God’ or even ‘messengers of God’ tends to overlap in meaning with expressions used to characterize the role and function of the prophets who were sent as messengers from God. In some languages a term for ‘angels’ is contrasted with that for ‘prophets’ by calling angels ‘messengers from heaven’ and prophets ‘messengers from God.’ The ‘angels of the Devil’ are often called ‘the Devil’s servants.’[1]
Angels are:
- Attendants of Christ (2 Thess. 1:7), their exalted Head (Eph. 1:21, 22; Col. 2:10)
- Bringers of good tidings concerning our salvation, having seen the Lord not only in his birth but also in his resurrection and post-resurrection glory (see on 1 Tim. 3:16; cf. Luke 2:14; 24:4; Acts 1:11)
- Choir of heaven (1 Cor. 13:1; cf. Luke 15:10; Rev. 5:11, 12)
- Defenders of God’s children (2 Thess. 1:7–10; cf. Ps. 91:11; Dan. 6:22; 10:10, 13, 20; Matt. 18:10; Acts 5:19; Rev. 12:7), though the latter outrank them and will judge them (1 Cor. 6:3; cf. Heb. 1:14)
- Examples in obedience (1 Cor. 11:10; cf. Matt. 6:10)
- Friends of the redeemed, constantly watching them, deeply interested in their salvation, and rendering service to them in every way, also in executing the judgment of God upon the enemy (Gal. 3:19; 1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Thess. 1:7; cf. Matt. 13:41; 25:31, 32; Luke 16:22; 1 Peter 1:12; Heb. 1:14; Rev. 20:1–3).[2]
Dr. William Hendriksen explains, “Accordingly, since Timothy’s actions are scrutinized by God, by Christ Jesus (both divine, note the one article in the original) and by the angels (creatures, note repetition of the article), and this with a view to the final judgment, let him observe (stand guard over) the given instructions “without prejudice,” that is, uninfluenced by any sinful subjective considerations, guided only by the objective standard of the truth as revealed by God, and “doing nothing from partiality (or favoritism),” leaning neither toward this nor toward that side, neither toward the accuser nor toward the accused, until all the important facts in each concrete case have been fully established.”[3]
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 143.
[2] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 184–185.
[3] Ibid., 185.
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