Angel-天使

AngelAnangelisgenerallyasupernaturalbeingfoundinvariousreligionsandmythologies.InAbrahamicreligionsandZoroastrianism,angelsareoftendepictedasbenevolentcelestialbeingswhoactasintermediariesbetweenGodorHeavenandEarth.[1][2]Otherrolesofangelsincludeprotectingandguidinghumanbeings,andcarryingoutGod'stasks.[3]WithinAbrahamicreligions,angelsareoftenorganizedintohierarchies,althoughsuchrankingsmayvarybetweensectsineachreligion,andaregivenspecificnamesortitles,suchasGabrielor"Destroyingangel".Theterm"angel"hasalsobeenexpandedtovariousnotionsofspiritsorfiguresfoundinotherreligioustraditions.Thetheologicalstudyofangelsisknownas"angelology".Infineart,angelsareusuallydepictedashavingtheshapeofhumanbeingsofextraordinarybeauty;[4][5]theyareoftenidentifiedusingthesymbolsofbirdwings,[6]halos,[7]andlight.EtymologyZoroastrianismNeoplatonismAbrahamicreligionsJudaismJewishangelichierarchyIndividualangelsChristianityInteractionwithangelsTheNewChurchLatterDaySaintsIslamBahá'íFaithSikhismEsotericismHermeticQabalahTheosophyBrahmaKumarisInartSeealsoReferencesFurtherreadingExternallinksTheArchangelMichaelwearsalateRomanmilitarycloakandcuirassinthis17th-centurydepictionbyGuidoReniSchutzengel(English:"GuardianAngel")byBernhardPlockhorstdepictsaguardianangelwatchingovertwochildren.ContentsEtymologyThewordangel(pronounced/ˈeɪn.dʒəl/)inEnglishisablendofOldEnglishengel(withahardg)andOldFrenchangele.[8]BothderivefromLateLatinangelus"messenger",whichinturnwasborrowedfromLateGreekἄγγελοςaggelos,[9]commonlytransliteratedbynonGreekspeakersinitsphoneticformángelos.AccordingtoR.S.P.Beekes,ángelositselfmaybe"anOrientalloan,likeἄγγαρος[ángaros,'Persianmountedcourier']."[10]Theword'searliestformisMycenaeana-ke-ro,attestedinLinearBsyllabicscript.[11][12]TheángelosistheSeptuagint'sdefaulttranslationoftheBiblicalHebrewtermmal’ākh,denotingsimply"messenger"withoutspecifyingitsnature.IntheLatinVulgate,themeaningbecomesbifurcated:whenmal’ākhorángelosissupposedtodenoteahumanmessenger,wordslikenuntiusorlegatusareapplied.Ifthewordreferstosomesupernaturalbeing,thewordangelusappears.SuchdifferentiationhasbeentakenoverbylatervernaculartranslationsoftheBible,earlyChristianandJewishexegetesandeventuallymodernscholars.[13]InZoroastrianismtherearedifferentangel-likefigures.Forexample,eachpersonhasoneguardianangel,calledFravashi.Theypatronizehumanbeingsandothercreatures,andalsomanifestGod'senergy.TheAmeshaSpentashaveoftenbeenregardedasangels,althoughthereisnodirectreferencetothemconveyingmessages,[14]butareratheremanationsofAhuraMazda("WiseLord",God);theyinitiallyappearedinanabstractfashionandthenlaterbecamepersonalized,associatedwithdiverseaspectsofthedivinecreation.[15]InthecommentariesofProclus(4thcentury,underChristianrule)ontheTimaeusofPlato,Proclususestheterminologyof"angelic"(aggelikos)and"angel"(aggelos)inrelationtometaphysicalbeings.AccordingtoAristotle,justasthereisaFirstMover,[16]so,too,musttherebespiritualsecondarymovers.[17]TheTorahusesthe(Hebrew)termsמלאךאלהים(mal'āk̠'ĕlōhîm;messengerofGod),יהוהאלהים,(mal'āk̠YHWH;messengeroftheLord)מלאךbənē)בני'ĕlōhîm;sonsofGod)andהקודשים(haqqôd̠əšîm;theholyones)torefertobeingstraditionallyinterpretedasangels.Latertextsuseotherterms,suchasהעליונים(hā'elyônîm;theupperones).Thetermמלאך(mal'āk̠)isalsousedinotherbooksoftheTanakh.Dependingonthecontext,theHebrewwordmayrefertoahumanmessengerortoasupernaturalmessenger.Ahumanmessengermightbeaprophetorpriest,suchasMalachi,"mymessenger";theGreeksuperscriptionintheSeptuaginttranslationstatestheBookofMalachiwaswritten"bythehandofhismessenger"ἀγγέλουangélu.Examplesofasupernaturalmessenger[18]arethe"MalakYHWH,"whoiseitheramessengerfromGod,[19]anaspectofGod(suchastheLogos),[20]orGodhimselfasthemessenger(the"theophanicangel.")[18][21]TheHarmonybetweenReligionandScience,aceilingfrescooftheMarbleHallatSeitenstettenAbbey(LowerAustria)byPaulTroger,1735AnallegoryofpoetrybyFrançoisBoucherJacobWrestlingwiththeAngel,byGustaveDoréin1855ZoroastrianismNeoplatonismAbrahamicreligionsJudaismScholarMichaelD.Coogannotesthatitisonlyinthelatebooksthattheterms"cometomeanthebenevolentsemi-divinebeingsfamiliarfromlatermythologyandart."[22]Danielisthefirstbiblicalfiguretorefertoindividualangelsbyname,[23]mentioningGabriel(God'sprimarymessenger)inDaniel9:21andMichael(theholyfighter)inDaniel10:13.TheseangelsarepartofDaniel'sapocalypticvisionsandareanimportantpartofallapocalypticliterature.[22][24]InDaniel7,Danielreceivesadream-visionfromGod.[...]AsDanielwatches,theAncientofDaystakeshisseatonthethroneofheavenandsitsinjudgementinthemidstoftheheavenlycourt[...]an[angel]likeasonofmanapproachestheAncientOneinthecloudsofheavenandisgiveneverlastingkingship.[25]Cooganexplainsthedevelopmentofthisconceptofangels:"Inthepostexilicperiod,withthedevelopmentofexplicitmonotheism,thesedivinebeings—the'sonsofGod'whoweremembersoftheDivineCouncil—wereineffectdemotedtowhatarenowknownas'angels',understoodasbeingscreatedbyGod,butimmortalandthussuperiortohumans."[22]Thisconceptionofangelsisbestunderstoodincontrasttodemonsandisoftenthoughttobe"influencedbytheancientPersianreligioustraditionofZoroastrianism,whichviewedtheworldasabattlegroundbetweenforcesofgoodandforcesofevil,betweenlightanddarkness."[22]Oneoftheseishāšāṭān,afiguredepictedin(amongotherplaces)theBookofJob.PhiloofAlexandriaidentifiestheangelwiththeLogosinasmuchastheangelistheimmaterialvoiceofGod.TheangelissomethingdifferentfromGodhimself,butisconceivedasGod'sinstrument.[26]Inpost-BiblicalJudaism,certainangelstookonparticularsignificanceanddevelopeduniquepersonalitiesandroles.Althoughthesearchangelswerebelievedtorankamongtheheavenlyhost,nosystematichierarchyeverdeveloped.MetatronisconsideredoneofthehighestoftheangelsinMerkabahandKabbalistmysticismandoftenservesasascribe;heisbrieflymentionedintheTalmud[27]andfiguresprominentlyinMerkabahmysticaltexts.Michael,whoservesasawarrior[28]andadvocateforIsrael(Daniel10:13),islookeduponparticularlyfondly.[29]GabrielismentionedintheBookofDaniel(Daniel8:15–17)andbrieflyintheTalmud,[30]aswellasinmanyMerkabahmysticaltexts.ThereisnoevidenceinJudaismfortheworshipofangels,butthereisevidencefortheinvocationandsometimesevenconjurationofangels.[23]AccordingtoKabbalah,therearefourworldsandourworldisthelastworld:theworldofaction(Assiyah).Angelsexistintheworldsaboveasa'task'ofGod.TheyareanextensionofGodtoproduceeffectsinthisworld.Afteranangelhascompleteditstask,itceasestoexist.Theangelisineffectthetask.ThisisderivedfromthebookofGenesiswhenAbrahammeetswiththreeangelsandLotmeetswithtwo.ThetaskofoneoftheangelswastoinformAbrahamofhiscomingchild.TheothertwoweretosaveLotandtodestroySodomandGomorrah.[23]JewishphilosopherMaimonidesexplainedhisviewofangelsinhisGuideforthePerplexedII:4andII...ThisleadsAristotleinturntothedemonstratedfactthatGod,gloryandmajestytoHim,doesnotdothingsbydirectcontact.Godburnsthingsbymeansoffire;fireismovedbythemotionofthesphere;thesphereismovedbymeansofadisembodiedintellect,theseintellectsbeingthe'angelswhichareneartoHim',throughwhosemediationthespheresmove...thustotallydisembodiedmindsexistwhichemanatefromGodandaretheintermediariesbetweenGodandallthebodies[objects]hereinthisworld.ThreeangelshostedbyAbraham,LudovicoCarracci(1555–1619),Bologna,PinacotecaNazionale.TobiasandtheAngelbyFilippinoLippi,createdbetweencirca1472andcirca1482.—GuideforthePerplexedII:4,MaimonidesMaimonideshadaneo-AristotelianinterpretationoftheBible.Maimonideswritesthattothewiseman,oneseesthatwhattheBibleandTalmudrefertoas"angels"areactuallyallusionstothevariouslawsofnature;theyaretheprinciplesbywhichthephysicaluniverseoperates.Forallforcesareangels!Howblind,howperniciouslyblindarethenaive?!IfyoutoldsomeonewhopurportstobeasageofIsraelthattheDeitysendsanangelwhoentersawoman'swombandthereformsanembryo,hewouldthinkthisamiracleandacceptitasamarkofthemajestyandpoweroftheDeity,despitethefactthathebelievesanangeltobeabodyoffireonethirdthesizeoftheentireworld.Allthis,hethinks,ispossibleforGod.ButifyoutellhimthatGodplacedinthespermthepowerofforminganddemarcatingtheseorgans,andthatthisistheangel,orthatallformsareproducedbytheActiveIntellect;thathereistheangel,the"vice-regentoftheworld"constantlymentionedbythesages,thenhewillrecoil.–GuideforthePerplexedII:4Maimonides,inhisYadha-Chazakah:Yesodeiha-Torah,countstenranksofangelsintheJewishangelichierarchy,beginningfromthehighest:RankAngelNotes1ChayotHaKodeshSeeBookofEzekielchs.1and102OphanimSeeEzekielchs.1and103ErelimSeeIsaiah33:74HashmallimSeeEzekiel1:45SeraphimSeeIsaiah66MalakimMessengers,angels7Elohim"Godlybeings"8BeneElohim"SonsofGodlybeings"9CherubimSeeHagigah13b10Ishim"manlikebeings",seeGenesis18:2,Daniel10:5FromtheJewishEncyclopedia,entry"Angelology".[23]Michael(archangel)(translation:whoislikeGod?),kindnessofGod,andstandsupforthechildrenofmankindGabriel(archangel)(translation:Godismystrength),performsactsofjusticeandpower(OnlythesetwoangelsarementionedbynameintheHebrewBible;therestarefromextra-biblicaltradition.)Jophiel(translation:BeautyofGod),expelledAdamandEvefromtheGardenofEdenholdingaflamingswordandpunishesthosewhotransgressagainstGod.Raphael(archangel)(translation:ItisGodwhoheals),God'shealingforceUriel(archangel)(translation:Godismylight),leadsustodestinySamael(archangel)(translation:VenomofGod),angelofdeath—seealsoMalachHaMavet(translation:theangelofdeath)Sandalphon(archangel)(translation:bringingtogether),battlesSamaelandbringsmankindtogetherOneofMelozzo'smusician(seraphim)angelsfromtheBasilicadeiSantiApostoli,nowinthesacristyofSt.Peter'sBasilicaJewishangelichierarchyIndividualangelsChristianityLaterChristiansinheritedJewishunderstandingsofangels,whichinturnmayhavebeenpartlyinheritedfromtheEgyptians.[31]Intheearlystage,theChristianconceptofanangelcharacterizedtheangelasamessengerofGod.Latercameidentificationofindividualangelicmessengers:Gabriel,Michael,Raphael,andUriel.Then,inthespaceoflittlemorethantwocenturies(fromthe3rdtothe5th)theimageofangelstookondefinitecharacteristicsbothintheologyandinart.[32]AccordingtoSt.Augustine,"'Angel'isthenameoftheiroffice,notoftheirnature.Ifyouseekthenameoftheirnature,itis'spirit';ifyouseekthenameoftheiroffice,itis'angel':fromwhattheyare,'spirit',fromwhattheydo,'angel'."[33]BasilianFatherThomasRosicasays,"Angelsareveryimportant,becausetheyprovidepeoplewithanarticulationoftheconvictionthatGodisintimatelyinvolvedinhumanlife."[34]Bythelate4thcentury,theChurchFathersagreedthatthereweredifferentcategoriesofangels,withappropriatemissionsandactivitiesassignedtothem.Therewas,however,somedisagreementregardingthenatureofangels.Somearguedthatangelshadphysicalbodies,[35]whilesomemaintainedthattheywereentirelyspiritual.SometheologianshadproposedthatangelswerenotdivinebutonthelevelofimmaterialbeingssubordinatetotheTrinity.TheresolutionofthisTrinitariandisputeincludedthedevelopmentofdoctrineaboutangels.[36]TheangelsarerepresentedthroughouttheChristianBibleasspiritualbeingsintermediatebetweenGodandmen:"Youhavemadehim[man]alittlelessthantheangels..."(Psalms8:4-5).TheBibledescribesthefunctionofangelsas"messengers"butdoesnotindicatewhenthecreationofangelsoccurred.[37]Christiansbelievethatangelsarecreatedbeings,basedon(Psalms148:2-5;Colossians1:16):"praiseyeHim,allHisangels:praiseyeHim,allHishosts...forHespokeandtheyweremade.Hecommandedandtheywerecreated...".TheFortyGospelHomiliesbyPopeGregoryInotedangelsandarchangels.[38]TheFourthLateranCouncil(1215)declaredthattheangelswerecreatedbeings.TheCouncil'sdecreeFirmitercredimus(issuedagainsttheAlbigenses)declaredboththatangelswerecreatedandthatmenwerecreatedafterthem.TheFirstVaticanCouncil(1869)repeatedthisdeclarationinDeiFilius,the"DogmaticconstitutionontheCatholicfaith".ThomasAquinas(13thcentury)relatesangelstoAristotle'smetaphysicsinhisSummacontraGentiles,[39]SummaTheologica,[40]andinDesubstantiisseparatis,[41]atreatiseonangelology.Althoughangelshavegreaterknowledgethanmen,theyarenotomniscient,asMatthew24:36pointsout.[42]“Forgetnottoshowloveuntostrangers:fortherebysomehaveentertainedangelsunawares.—Hebrews13:2”TheNewTestamentincludesmanyinteractionsandconversationsbetweenangelsandhumans.Forinstance,threeseparatecasesofangelicinteractiondealwiththebirthsofJohntheBaptistandJesusChrist.InLuke1:11,anangelappearstoZechariahtoinformhimthathewillhaveachilddespitehisoldage,thusproclaimingthebirthofJohntheBaptist.InLuke1:26theArchangelGabrielvisitstheVirginMaryintheAnnunciationtoforetellthebirthofJesusChrist.AngelsthenproclaimthebirthofJesusintheAdorationoftheshepherdsinLuke2:10.[43]AngeloftheRevelationbyWilliamBlake,betweencirca1803andcirca1805ThesonsofGodsawtheDaughtersofMenthattheywerefairbyMauriceGreiffenhagenInteractionwithangelsAccordingtoMatthew4:11,afterJesusspent40daysinthedesert,"...thedevillefthimand,behold,angelscameandministeredtohim."InLuke22:43anangelcomfortsJesusChristduringtheAgonyintheGarden.[44]InMatthew28:5anangelspeaksattheemptytomb,followingtheResurrectionofJesusandtherollingbackofthestonebyangels.[43]In1851PopePiusIXapprovedtheChapletofSaintMichaelbasedonthe1751reportedprivaterevelationfromarchangelMichaeltotheCarmelitenunAntoniad'Astonac.[45]InabiographyofSaintGemmaGalganiwrittenbyVenerableGermanusRuoppolo,Galganistatedthatshehadspokenwithherguardianangel.PopeJohnPaulIIemphasizedtheroleofangelsinCatholicteachingsinhis1986addresstitled"AngelsParticipateInHistoryOfSalvation",inwhichhesuggestedthatmodernmentalityshouldcometoseetheimportanceofangels.[46]AccordingtotheVatican'sCongregationforDivineWorshipandDisciplineoftheSacraments,"ThepracticeofassigningnamestotheHolyAngelsshouldbediscouraged,exceptinthecasesofGabriel,RaphaelandMichaelwhosenamesarecontainedinHolyScripture."[47]IntheNewChurch,extensiveinformationisprovidedconcerningangelsandthespiritualworldinwhichtheydwellfrommanyyearsofspiritualexperiencesrecountedinthewritingsofEmanuelSwedenborg.Allangelsareinhumanformwithaspiritualbody,andarenotjustmindswithoutform.[48]Therearedifferentordersofangelsaccordingtothethreeheavens,[49]andeachangeldwellsinoneofinnumerablesocietiesofangels.Suchasocietyofangelscanappearasoneangelasawhole.[50]Allangelsoriginatefromthehumanrace,andthereisnotoneangelinheavenwhofirstdidnotliveinamaterialbody.[51]Moreover,allchildrenwhodienotonlyenterheavenbuteventuallybecomeangels.[52]Thelifeofangelsisthatofusefulness,andtheirfunctionsaresomanythattheycannotbeenumerated.Howevereachangelwillenteraserviceaccordingtotheusethattheyhadperformedintheirearthlylife.[53]Namesofangels,suchasMichael,Gabriel,andRaphael,signifyaparticularangelicfunctionratherthananindividualbeing.[54]Whilelivinginone'sbodyanindividualhasconjunctionwithheaventhroughtheangels,[55]andwitheachperson,thereareatleasttwoevilspiritsandtwoangels.[56]Temptationorpainsofconscienceoriginatesfromaconflictbetweenevilspiritsandangels.[57]Duetoman'ssinfulnatureitisdangeroustohaveopendirectcommunicationwithangels[58]andcanonlybeseenwhenone'sspiritualsighthasbeenopened.[59]Thusfrommomenttomomentangelsattempttoleadeachpersontowhatisgoodtacitlyusingtheperson'sownthoughts.[60]AdherentsofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints(LDSChurch)viewangelsasthemessengersofGod.Theyaresenttomankindtodelivermessages,ministertohumanity,teachdoctrinesofsalvation,callmankindtorepentance,givepriesthoodkeys,saveindividualsinperiloustimes,andguidehumankind.[61]LatterDaySaintsbelievethatangelseitherarethespiritsofhumanswhoaredeceasedorwhohaveyettobeborn,orarehumanswhohavebeenresurrectedortranslatedandhavephysicalbodiesoffleshandbones,[62]andaccordinglyJosephSmithtaughtthat"therearenoangelswhoministertothisearthbutthosethatdobelongorhavebelongedtoit."[63]Assuch,LatterDaySaintsalsobelievethatAdam,thefirstman,wasandisnowthearchangelMichael,[64][65][66]andthatGabriellivedontheearthasNoah.[62]LikewisetheAngelMoronifirstlivedinapre-ColumbianAmericancivilizationasthe5th-centuryprophet-warriornamedMoroni.JosephSmith,Jr.describedhisfirstangelicencounterthus:[67]KristusiGetsemane,anangelcomfortingJesusbeforehisarrestintheGardenofGethsemane,byCarlHeinrichBloch,1865–1890.TheNewChurchLatterDaySaints"WhileIwasthusintheactofcallinguponGod,Idiscoveredalightappearinginmyroom,whichcontinuedtoincreaseuntiltheroomwaslighterthanatnoonday,whenimmediatelyapersonageappearedatmybedside,standingintheair,forhisfeetdidnottouchthefloor.Hehadonalooserobeofmostexquisitewhiteness.ItwasawhitenessbeyondanythingearthlyIhadeverseen;nordoIbelievethatanyearthlythingcouldbemadetoappearsoexceedinglywhiteandbrilliant...Notonlywashisrobeexceedinglywhite,buthiswholepersonwasgloriousbeyonddescription,andhiscountenancetrulylikelightning.Theroomwasexceedinglylight,butnotsoverybrightasimmediatelyaroundhisperson.WhenIfirstlookeduponhim,Iwasafraid;butthefearsoonleftme."MostangelicvisitationsintheearlyLatterDaySaintmovementwerewitnessedbyJosephSmithandOliverCowdery,whobothclaimed(priortotheestablishmentofthechurchin1830)tohavebeenvisitedbytheprophetMoroni,JohntheBaptist,andtheapostlesPeter,James,andJohn.Later,afterthededicationoftheKirtlandTemple,SmithandCowderyclaimedtohavebeenvisitedbyJesus,andsubsequentlybyMoses,Elias,andElijah.[68]PeoplewhoclaimedtohavereceivedavisitbyanangelincludetheothertwooftheThreeWitnesses:DavidWhitmerandMartinHarris.ManyotherLatterDaySaints,bothintheearlyandmodernchurch,haveclaimedtohaveseenangels,thoughSmithpositedthat,exceptinextenuatingcircumstancessuchastherestoration,mortalsteachmortals,spiritsteachspirits,andresurrectedbeingsteachotherresurrectedbeings.[69]Angels(Arabic:مالئكة,Malāʾikah)arementionedmanytimesintheQur'anandHadith.IslamisclearonthenatureofangelsinthattheyaremessengersofGod.TheyareentrustedwithvarioustasksbyGodandonlyfollowHisinstructions.[70]Anexampleofatasktheycarryoutisthatoftestingindividualsbygrantingthemabundantwealthandcuringtheirillness.[71]BelievinginangelsisoneofthesixArticlesofFaithinIslam.SomeexamplesofangelsinIslam:Jibrail:thearchangelGabriel(Jibra'ilorJibril)isanarchangelwhoservesasamessengerfromGod.Michael(archangel):orMikail,theangelofnature.Israfil(Arabic:إسرافيل,translit.Isrāfīl,AlternateSpelling:IsrafelorSeraphim,Meaning:TheBurningOne[72]),istheangelofthetrumpetinIslam,[73]thoughunnamedintheQur'an.AlongwithMikhail,JibrailandIzra'il,heisoneofthefourIslamicarchangels.[72]IsrafilwillblowthetrumpetfromaholyrockinJerusalemtoannouncetheDayofResurrection.[74]Thetrumpetisconstantlypoisedathislips,readytobeblownwhenGodsoorders.AzraelisAzraa-eelعزرائيلorIzrail:theAngelofDeath.Takesthesoulofthedeceasedawayfromthebody.InQuranonlyreferencedasangelofdeathorملكالموت.Darda'il:theangelswhotravelintheearthsearchingoutassemblieswherepeoplerememberGod'sname.KiramanKatibin:thetwoangelswhorecordaperson'sgoodandbaddeeds.Mu'aqqibat:aclassofguardianangelswhokeeppeoplefromdeathuntiltheirdecreedtime.MunkarandNakir:theangelswhotestthefaithofthedeadintheirgraves.Theyaskthesoulofthedeadpersonquestions.Ifthepersonfailsthequestions,theangelsmakethemansufferuntiltheDayofJudgement.Ifthesoulpassesthequestions,hewillhaveapleasanttimeinthegraveuntiltheDayofJudgement.Ridwan:theangelinchargeofmaintainingJannahorParadise.TemplestatueoftheAngelMoroni,Bern,SwitzerlandTheDivineComedy,Paradise(Paradiso),illustrationbyGustaveDoréIslamMaalik:theangelwhokeepsorguardshellfire.HarutandMarut(Arabic:هاروتوماروت)aretwoangelsmentionedinthesecondSurahoftheQur'an,whoweresentdowntotestthepeopleatBabelorBabylo