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“Elect Angels”?

By June 1, 2004November 9th, 2022No Comments

Q.

While I was studying 1 Timothy in Sunday School, the term “elect angels” came up. After searching, I could find no other use of the term in the Bible. Could you clarify who these angels might be?

A.
Two groups of angels exist: the fallen and the elect. The fallen are the ones who went with Lucifer (Satan) when he was cast out of Heaven (Isaiah 14:12–15; Revelation 12:4). The passage you cite, 1 Timothy 5:21, refers to those who didn’t go with Satan, God’s holy angels. (See also Revelation 5:11 and 12 and numerous other passages.)

The verse shows that these elect angels know what is going on among humans. They observe and watch over the affairs of mankind. Therefore, the apostle Paul admonished Timothy to obey his instructions about not judging a matter before the young pastor knew the facts, because God, the Lord Jesus, and also the holy angels are witnessing what we do; they see everything that goes on (1 Peter 1:12).

This article appeared in the “Q & A” column of the Baptist Bulletin (June 2004) by Norman A. Olson. 

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