In the Bible the term "god" may represent one of three entities. It could describe (1) the Almighty God, (2) a false god, or (3) a person/being that has had power and authority given or allowed to them by the Almighty God. There are only two categories that are worshipped: The Almighty God and the false idol gods of the nations. Since only one can be the True God and be worshipped as such, all other gods that are worshipped are false gods. Notice that they are worshipped as gods, but because they are not the True God, they are false gods.
As promised earlier we now will return to the Jewish thought about angels/gods. This can best be illustrated by the use of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the most important manuscript finds of the century. They have completely changed the scholarly view of ancient Jewish belief and Bible interpretation. They will also help us better understand how Biblical monotheism is better and more accurate than the strict monotheism of today.
The reason for consulting the Dead Sea Scrolls is simple. The community that prepared and preserved them is the Qumran community. These formed a religious group known as the Essenes. The Essenes were one of the most influential theological groups of their time. They were just as, if not more, influential as the sects of the Pharisees and the Saducees that you read about in the Gospel accounts, and because they were so influential to Jewish beliefs and traditions and due to the age of the community, it is only wise to see how they viewed angels.[4]
In one fragment labeled 4Q403 I i, 30-46 we read of the Song of the holocaust of the Seventh Sabbath on the sixteenth of the month."[5] In this fragment we read of how the angels are called the "high among all the gods of knowledge" and "the holy ones of the 'gods' sanctify the King of glory," and the "Princes of the praises of all the 'gods', praise the God of majestic praises" (Vermes 225). The writer of this exhalation exhorts them to "celebrate all the celebrating gods the King of majesty, for all the gods of knowledge celebrate his glory and all the spirits of righteousness celebrate his truth" (ibid.). They are also called "divine spirits" but the strongest proof we have for believing this author is talking about angels is by what he writes next.
Praise him, divine spirits, praising for ever and ever the firmament of the highest heavens, all...and its wall, all its structure, its shape. The spirits of the holy of holies, the living 'gods', the spirits of eternal holiness above all the holy ones...The divine spirits surround the dwelling of the King of truth and righteousness; all its walls (Vermes 226).[6]
We can see that the author viewed angels as "gods." To him, there was nothing in his very strict Jewish belief that angels could not be called "gods" and yet compromise his monotheism. There is more in these fragments that can help us understand monotheistic Jewish thought concerning angels. One fragment called 4Q405 19ABCD offers a great deal of help in this matter.
The figures of the 'gods' shall praise him, the most holy spirits...of glory; the floor of the marvelous innermost chambers, the spirits of the eternal gods, all...figures of the innermost chambers of the King, the spiritual works of the marvelous firmament are purified with salt, spirits of knowledge, truth and righteousness in holy of holies, forms of the living 'gods,' forms of the illuminating spirits. All their works of art are marvelously linked, many-coloured spirits, artistic figures of the 'gods,' engraved all around their glorious bricks of splendour and majesty. All their works of art are living 'gods,' and their artistic figures are holy angels. From beneath the marvelous inner most chambers comes a sound of quiet silence: the 'gods' bless...(Vermes 228).
The author here describes the Most Holy chamber of the Temple. It was in this chamber that the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This is where Jehovah dwelled (symbolically). Everything in the Most Holy was made of the finest gold. The Bible tells us that the Temple was ornamented with pictures of angels (1 Kings 6:27-32). Therefore, this description of the "gods" ministering to the Almighty fits perfectly with the Bible. The curtain that separated the Holy from the Most Holy even has pictures of angels ("gods") woven into it (2 Chron. 3:14).
In one fragment the author seems to be writing about the angels stationed before God in heaven. This seems to be the best interpretation when you compare the first line (and the rest of the fragment) to what was written in Job 1:6 and 2:1. In the fragment we read:
The 'gods' praise him when they take up their station, and all the spirits of the clear firmament rejoice in his glory...when the gods of knowledge enter by the doors of glory, and when the holy angels depart the realm, the entrance doors and the gates of exit proclaim the glory of the King...the fear of the King of 'gods' is awe-inspiring to all the 'gods,' and they undertake all his commissions by virtue of his true order (Vermes 229).
This is not just the thought of one author, because in what is called The War Rule[7] we read that "the host of warring 'gods' gird themselves for the Day of Revenge" (1QMXV, Vermes 121). We also find in the fragment titled by Vermes as The Song of Michael and the Just (4Q491 fr. II, Ma) an incomplete sentence that says that there is "a throne of strength in the congregation of 'gods' so that not a single king of old shall sit on it, neither shall their noble men...(Vermes 126). The one called Michael is also held as saying "I am reckoned with the 'gods' and my dwelling place is in the congregation of holiness" and "for I am reckoned with the 'gods,' and my glory is with the sons of the King" (Vermes 126).
As we can see from the numerous Dead Sea Scrolls quotes, the ancient Jews really had no problem with calling angels "gods." They recognized that angels were not to be worshipped, that they received their power and authority from Almighty God himself, and it is he that bestowed this title upon them. It cannot be claimed that the Jews were not monotheistic, for, they were the epitome of a monotheistic religion. They loathed any person or nation that worshipped more than one god. They did, however, understand the difference between worshipping something and giving something the respect it deserves. They worshipped God Almighty, the Only True God. They rejected idols (most of the time) and others who claimed to be gods and wanted worship as false gods. Yet at the same time they recognized that angels represented God. They had the authority from God to act as God in his place. They, therefore, rightly recognized them as "gods." A title that gave them the honor and respect they commanded and deserved, but they were also careful not to give worship to them. They knew that worship belonged only to Jehovah. Trinitarians are therefore wrong by claiming that angels could not be "gods."
See: www.deadseascrolls.org
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