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The theological conflict over angelic origins: Are celestial beings primordial spirits or redeemed humanity?
In Brief
- Theological traditions clash over angelic origins: they are either a distinct, primordial species created superior to man, or they are exclusively redeemed humans who achieved perfection.
- The radical doctrine that all angels are of human origin reframes salvation as a transformative process of spiritual development leading to the angelic state.
- Controversy exists over angelic substance, ranging from the traditional view of incorporeal spirits to assertions that angels possess material bodies of flesh and bones, or a mediating 'spiritual body'.
- Regardless of origin, angels are depicted as social beings, organized into vast celestial societies that are intricately and continuously connected to human affairs and spiritual life.
Main authors
A fundamental question regarding the celestial hierarchy persists within theological discourse: are angels a primordial, distinct order of spiritual beings, or do they represent the ultimate state of redeemed humanity? This inquiry probes the very essence of salvation and the nature of the afterlife. One school of thought holds to the traditional view of angels as having been created from the beginning, a race of pure spirits inhabiting the heavens as God's first servants [1, 2]. This perspective establishes a clear ontological distinction between the human and the angelic, positioning humanity as a separate, lesser creation [3].
In direct opposition stands a radical doctrine asserting that the entirety of heaven's populace, without exception, originates from the human race [4, 5]. According to this view, no angel was ever created as such, but rather all celestial beings were once men and women who lived on a material world [6, 7]. This theological position elevates the human form to the pinnacle of creation and reframes salvation as a transformative process of spiritual development into an angelic state [8]. The conflict extends beyond origins to the very substance of these beings, with some traditions positing incorporeal spirits and others insisting on a tangible, physical body of flesh and bone [9, 10], creating a complex and multifaceted debate about the nature of both humanity and divinity.
Primal Creations: Angels as a Separate and Superior Order
The long-standing conception of angels posits them as a distinct and superior spiritual species, created by God to occupy the highest celestial spheres and preside over the corporeal world . In this framework, angels and humans are fundamentally different orders of being [11]. Humanity is explicitly described as having been created "a little lower than the angels," implying a fixed, hierarchical structure in the cosmos . This separation is so profound that some early Christian thinkers rejected the idea of Christ having an earthly substance for fear it would render him inferior to the angels, who were not formed of terrestrial flesh [12].
These beings are characterized as "entirely Spirits pure," lacking material components such as flesh, blood, or bones . Their existence is often envisioned as one of perfection, free from the pain and evil that characterize the human condition [13]. As God's unceasing servants, they offer praise without sin or cessation, a state far removed from the frailties of human life [14]. The role of these spiritual creatures is to serve God's will, a purpose so absolute that even a mundane task, if divinely ordained, would constitute their happiness [15].
This view implicitly sets a limit on human potential. If angels are a separate and higher order of being, then humanity can never attain their state, regardless of virtue or devotion . The destiny of redeemed humans is to join the angels in heaven, but not to become them. This creates a theological landscape where two distinct intelligent species, one spiritual and one originally corporeal, coexist in the afterlife, with angels remaining a fundamentally different category of existence that humans may admire and interact with but never fully become a part of.
The Human Destiny: From Mortal to Angel
A contrary and revolutionary theological system, articulated extensively in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, dismantles the notion of angels as a separate creation. This perspective asserts unequivocally that the entirety of heaven and hell is populated by individuals from the human race . It posits that there is no form higher, purer, or holier than the human form, and therefore the ultimate purpose of creation is to produce a heaven of angels from humanity . If a heaven of angels could have been created directly, this theology questions the necessity of a physical life with all its attendant suffering .
In this model, becoming an angel is the natural end-point of a sanctified human life. The soul or spirit that continues after death is the real person, and angels are simply more fully developed, perfect humans . This process is not instantaneous but is a continual preparation by God, who guides the individual toward a specific place in the celestial societies based on their affections for good and truth [16]. Far from being a separate species, angels are humans who have successfully opened their interior spiritual degrees through the reception of divine love and wisdom, thereby achieving a state of communion with God [17]. This view suggests that even Christ's own divine nature was unified with a human form, demonstrating the capacity of the human structure to contain divinity [18].
This doctrine profoundly redefines human potential and the meaning of salvation. It is not merely about being saved from damnation, but about being elevated to a higher state of being . The redeemed are not simply guests in a heaven populated by another species; they are its sole constituents. This transforms the relationship between humanity and the celestial realm, suggesting an ultimate destiny where sanctified men and women reign over seraphs, the flesh which sinned being redeemed by the Word made flesh [19]. The human experience, with its struggles against evil, provides a moral depth that beings never subject to temptation could not possess, making a sanctified Christian's character unique even in heaven [20].
The Angelic Form: Debating Spirit and Substance
The debate over angelic origins is mirrored in the controversy surrounding their physical nature. The traditional view of angels as pure, incorporeal spirits is challenged by alternative conceptions that grant them substance and form. Thomas Hobbes notes that the term "spirit" in scripture is ambiguous, sometimes referring to thin bodies like air and at other times to visions that are not real substances [21]. This ambiguity allows for a wide range of interpretations regarding what constitutes an angelic being.
One radical interpretation, found in Mormon theology, insists that angels are resurrected personages possessing material bodies of flesh and bones, capable of physical interaction [22]. An angel, in this view, is a tangible being, and a key test to distinguish a divine messenger from a devil is to offer a handshake . This perspective closes the gap between the spiritual and the material, suggesting that the resurrected body is not merely a temporary vessel but an eternal component of an exalted being . This view finds ancient support in figures like Tertullian, who argued that angelic appearances involved a "true and solid human substance," not a merely illusory or "putative" flesh [23].
A mediating position proposes the existence of a "spiritual body" [24]. This doctrine, drawing on Pauline scripture, suggests that angels, being of human origin, retain the human form in every respect, including faces, eyes, hands, and feet [25]. However, their bodies are spiritual rather than material, perfectly adapted to the environment of the spiritual world . They possess senses, but these are spiritual senses suited to perceive spiritual realities [26]. The objects and environment of heaven itself are phenomenal, existing as an outward projection of the angels' inner states of affection and thought [27]. This perspective reconciles the human form of angels with their non-material existence, suggesting that while they lack a coarse material body, they are far from being formless ethereal breaths [28].
Celestial Society and its Connection to Humanity
Regardless of their origin or substance, angels are consistently depicted as social beings who exist in organized communities [29]. Heaven is not a monolithic entity but is divided into countless societies, each arranged according to the specific affections and loves of its inhabitants [30, 31]. This celestial organization is believed to mirror the structure of a human being, with different angelic societies corresponding to different organs and functions of a single, divine heavenly person [32]. This cosmic anatomy implies a profound and intricate connection between all of heaven's inhabitants, who are united by a common life flowing from the divine [33].
The relationship between these celestial beings and humanity is intimate and continuous. Angels are depicted as being keenly interested in human affairs, stimulating people toward salvation, while devils simultaneously seek their overthrow [34]. This spiritual influence is not abstract; it is believed that the Lord rules individual human lives through the direct influx of thoughts and actions from angels and spirits [35]. This creates a dynamic where the spiritual world is not a distant reality but an active force shaping human experience from moment to moment. The very scripture is written in such a way that it can be understood naturally by humans and spiritually by angels, thereby creating a holy union between heaven and earth [36].
This connection raises questions about the relative moral standing of angels and redeemed humans. While angels may be perfect in holiness, the journey of a Christian saved from sin and sanctified presents a unique moral aspect . They have conquered sin and been freed from the bondage of the flesh, transforming from a slave of the devil into a companion of angels [37]. Some views even suggest that humans, when they become equal to angels, will retain their fleshly substance but be freed from its limitations, just as angels were able to operate in human form without being bound by its spiritual constraints [38]. Ultimately, the entire structure of the spiritual world, with its societies of angels and spirits, is an extension of the loves and thoughts that define the inner life of every human being [39].
The theological conflict surrounding the nature of angels reveals two divergent paths for understanding human destiny. The traditional doctrine of angels as a distinct, primordial species of pure spirit establishes a cosmos with a fixed hierarchy, where humanity can be redeemed to live alongside these superior beings but can never become them . This view maintains a clear separation between the created orders and emphasizes the unique, non-human nature of God's first servants.
Conversely, the doctrine that all angels are of human origin posits a far more dynamic and aspirational universe. It suggests that the final end of creation is the elevation of humanity to an angelic state, making the human form the ultimate vessel for divine love and wisdom . Whether these glorified humans possess incorporeal spiritual bodies or resurrected material ones of flesh and bone, this perspective defines salvation not as a static state of being but as a process of becoming . The debate, therefore, is not merely a speculative exercise about celestial beings; it is a profound inquiry into the ultimate potential of the human spirit and the very meaning of its existence in the cosmic order.
