from ἴσος and ἄγγελος; like an angel, i.e. angelic:--equal unto the angels.
Transliteration:isángelos
Pronunciation:ee-sang'-el-los
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word ἰσάγγελος (isángelos, `{{G2465}}`) is a compound adjective formed from ἴσος (isos, `{{G2470}}`), meaning "equal" or "like," and ἄγγελος (angelos, `{{G32}}`), meaning "angel" or "messenger." Thus, its core meaning is "equal to angels" or "like angels." The semantic range of this term is tightly constrained by its singular occurrence in the New Testament. It does not suggest an equivalence in divine nature, power, or knowledge with angelic beings, but rather a specific likeness in certain characteristics relevant to the context in which it is used. The emphasis is on a shared state of existence, particularly concerning immortality and the absence of certain earthly conditions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἰσάγγελος appears only once in the New Testament, in the Gospel of Luke:
* **[[Luke 20:36]]**: "for they cannot even die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection."
This verse is part of Jesus' response to the Sadducees, who questioned Him about the resurrection and marriage in the age to come ([[Luke 20:27-40]]). The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, presented a hypothetical scenario involving a woman married successively to seven brothers, asking whose wife she would be in the resurrection. Jesus' reply clarifies the nature of life in the resurrected state.
In this context, being "equal to angels" (ἰσάγγελος) refers specifically to two characteristics of those who are deemed worthy of the resurrection:
1. **Immortality**: "they cannot even die anymore." Angels are understood to be immortal beings, not subject to death. Resurrected believers will share this quality.
2. **Absence of Marriage and Procreation**: Implicit in Jesus' broader statement in [[Luke 20:34-35]], "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage." While angels do not marry or procreate, this passage indicates that resurrected humans will also transcend these earthly institutions, which are designed for the propagation of the human race in a mortal world.
Therefore, ἰσάγγελος in [[Luke 20:36]] describes a transformed human existence in the eschatological age, marked by immortality and a non-procreative state, aligning with certain aspects of angelic existence, rather than a full assimilation into angelic nature.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding ἰσάγγελος benefits from examining its constituent parts and related theological concepts:
* **ἴσος (isos, `{{G2470}}`)**: "equal, like." This root emphasizes the qualitative similarity, not identity. Resurrected humans are *like* angels in specific ways, not *become* angels.
* **ἄγγελος (angelos, `{{G32}}`)**: "angel, messenger." The characteristics of angels that are relevant here are their immortality and their non-procreative nature.
* **Resurrection (ἀνάστασις, `{{G386}}`)**: The primary theological context. ἰσάγγελος describes a state *after* the resurrection, highlighting the transformative power of God.
* **"Sons of God" (υἱοὶ θεοῦ)**: In [[Luke 20:36]], being "equal to angels" is directly linked to being "sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." This signifies a new, elevated status and relationship with God, characterized by divine adoption and participation in God's eternal life.
* **Immortality (ἀθανασία, `{{G18}}`)**: A key quality implied by ἰσάγγελος, distinguishing the resurrected state from mortal life.
* **Marriage and Celibacy**: The discussion explicitly contrasts the earthly institution of marriage with the transformed state in the resurrection, where procreation is no longer necessary or relevant.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of ἰσάγγελος in [[Luke 20:36]] carries profound theological significance regarding the nature of the resurrection and eschatological human existence:
1. **Transformation of the Human Body**: It affirms that the resurrected body will be fundamentally different from its mortal counterpart. It will be immortal, not subject to decay or death, and will transcend the earthly need for procreation. This transformation is a testament to God's creative and redemptive power.
2. **Eschatological Anthropology**: It offers a glimpse into the destiny of redeemed humanity. Believers in the resurrection will participate in a higher, spiritualized mode of existence, sharing certain characteristics with celestial beings. This does not imply a loss of human identity but a perfected, glorified humanity.
3. **Divine Adoption and Sonship**: The phrase "sons of God, being sons of the resurrection" immediately following "equal to angels" underscores that this angelic likeness is a consequence of their restored relationship with God through resurrection. It highlights the believer's ultimate inheritance and status within God's eternal family.
4. **Continuity and Discontinuity**: The passage emphasizes a discontinuity with present earthly conditions (marriage, death) while affirming a continuity of personal identity and relationship with God. The future state is not merely a continuation of the present but a radical transformation.
5. **Refutation of Sadduceeism**: The use of ἰσάγγελος effectively counters the Sadducees' materialistic view of the afterlife by positing a spiritualized, immortal existence that transcends their earthly assumptions.
### Summary
The Greek word ἰσάγγελος (isángelos, `{{G2465}}`), meaning "equal to angels" or "like angels," appears uniquely in [[Luke 20:36]]. In this context, Jesus uses it to describe the state of resurrected believers, emphasizing two key characteristics: their immortality ("they cannot even die anymore") and their transcendence of earthly marriage and procreation. This angelic likeness does not imply a transformation into angels, but rather a sharing in specific qualities of angelic existence relevant to a glorified, eternal state. The term underscores the profound transformation of human existence in the resurrection, where believers become "sons of God" and enter into an immortal, non-procreative, and perfected mode of being, distinct from their mortal lives. It provides a vital insight into Christian eschatology, affirming the radical nature of God's redemptive work in the new creation.
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