Who is the Angel of the Lord?

Lesser Deity (Ancient Polytheistic Context)
- This view suggests the Angel of the Lord comes from earlier polytheistic traditions, where the Angel was seen as a lesser god under YHWH
- Uses Psalm 82 as evidence of a "council of gods," though mainstream Judaism and Christianity reject this interpretation
Multiple Redactors
- Historical-critical scholars suggest different editorial sources combined "the LORD" and "the Angel" references
- Points to narrative shifts like Exodus 3:2 as evidence, though critics see these as intentional theological devices
Purely Literary Figure
- Views the Angel as a metaphorical device similar to personified Wisdom (Proverbs 8)
- Interprets the Angel as representing God's presence rather than a distinct being
Non-Trinitarian Theophany
- Sees the Angel as God appearing visibly without specific Trinitarian distinction
- Notes interchangeable use of Angel, LORD, and God in passages like Exodus 3:2-4
Manifestation of the Father
- Views these appearances as God the Father manifesting temporarily
- Challenged by Biblical statements that the Father is unseen
Manifestation of The Holy Spirit
- Proposes the Angel as an Old Testament appearance of the Spirit
- Less common view with limited textual support. This interpretation likely arises from the fact that angels are called spirits, while overlooking the word angel's basic meaning of messenger.
Created Angel with Special Authority
- Sees the Angel as a high-ranking created being speaking with divine authority
- Challenged by instances of the Angel receiving worship and forgiving sins
Christophony
- A preincarnate manifestation of the Son in a temporary physical form.
  - Many classical Trinitarians hold that the Angel of the LORD is the second Person of the Trinity appearing in the Old Testament before the incarnation.
  - These appearances are regarded as the Son taking on physical form, not having such form prior to or after the manifestation.
- The Eternal Son in His Eternal Physical Form.
  - This view holds that the Son of God has always been the bodily nature of God, and thus the Son came in His eternal physical form and was referred to as the Angel of the LORD.
  - This is the view that I hold and will attempt to display through the passages that follow.

The Angel of the Lord Passages

Genesis 16:7-13

KJV Excerpt (select verses)

And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness…

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael…

And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me…

Brief Synopsis

Hagar flees from Sarai and encounters “the angel of the LORD.” He addresses her troubles, promises numerous descendants, and names her unborn child Ishmael. She then refers to this being as God Himself (“Thou God seest me”). This suggests a personal presence wielding God’s authority, consistent with the view that this is no mere created being.

Genesis 22:11-18

KJV Excerpt (select verses)