Are we equal, lower, or higher than the angels?

Bible Question:

There is a scripture that says that God made us a little lower than the angels. There is another that states that when we die, we are equal to the angels. There is another scripture that implies we are higher than the angels because God made us in His image. Are we equal, lower, or higher than the angels?

Bible Answer:

Some Bibles, including the King James Bible (KJV), state in Luke 20:36 that men are equal to angels. Other Bibles translate this verse so that it says men are like angels. So, are men equal to or like angels? There are two important points that we must consider to arrive at the correct answer.

Are we equal, lower, or higher than the angels?

The first point or question to be answered is, “Are men lower than angels and not equal to or superior to angels?” The book of Hebrews answers the questions. It says that Jesus Christ, who became a man, was made lower than the angels.

YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS . . . Hebrews 2:7 (NASB)

In the first chapter of Hebrews, we are told that Jesus was above the angels since He was and is God. But Hebrews 2:7-9 explains that when Jesus became a man, He was made lower than the angels in the sense that He took on human flesh. He was still God. He was God in human flesh. He was temporarily lower than the angels because He took on human form. Therefore, Hebrews 2:7-9 teaches that humans are made lower than the angels.

Second, we must note that Luke 20:36 does say that men are equal to angels in the KJV Bible.

. . . for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Luke 20:36 (NASB)

But that is not true to the Greek text. The Greek word that is translated as “equal” in this verse is isangelos. The ultimate Greek lexicon is Kittel’s Greek Lexicon, It translates isangelos as “like angels”,

This rare word corresponds to such analogous constructions as ἰσόθεος and ἰσοβασιλεύς. It is found in Iambl., Περὶ ψυχῆς; Stob. Ecl., I, p. 457, 9 W; Hierocles Carm. Aur., 49, p. 44, 9, Mullach; Christian epitaph, Kaibel, 542, 6 f. Materially equivalent are ἴσος ἀγγέλοις γεγονώς (Abraham after his death), Philo Sacr. AC., 5; ὥσπερ ἄγγελος θεοῦ, P. Greci et Latini, I, 26, 10, cf. 18 (5th century A.D.).

In the NT the only occurrence is in Lk. 20:36, which tells us that the resurrected will know neither mortality nor sexual intercourse, since they are like angels (Mt. 22:30; Mk. 12:25: ὡς ἄγγελοι ἐν τ. οὐρ.). But cf. also Ac. 6:15: ὡσεὶ πρόσωπον ἀγγέλου.¹

Bietenhard in the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, defines isangelos as “like angels”,

isangelos, like an angel, is found only in Lk. 20:36 (cf. Matt. 22:30; Mk. 12:25). The word describes the condition of those who have been raised from the dead, who are no longer subject to the natural conditions of earthly life, including marriage.²

These two Greek lexicons define isangelos in Luke 20:36 as “like angels.”

It is important to note that Scripture never says that we are equal to the angels. Scripture only reveals that we are lower than the angels while we live here on this earth. Yet, those who go to heaven will some day judge angels.

Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 1 Corinthians 6:3 (NASB)

Someday those who believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him will judge the angels. The saints of the ages will judge the angels. This will occur not while we are made of flesh and bone. It will occur only after we receive our new heavenly bodies. This is a future event that will occur during the millennial kingdom which is the time that Christ will rule and reign as king (Zechariah 14:9-21). In the sense that Christians will judge angels, they will be greater than the angels.

Conclusion:

Those who conclude that Hebrews 1:14 teaches that Christians are superior to angels because the verse teaches that the holy angels minister to Christians have missed two important points. 1) The passage never says Christians are superior to angels and 2) Scripture teaches that those who are greatest are those who serve others (Matthew 20:24-28). That would mean the angels are greater than Christians. Yet, we can conclude that Christians will have a higher rank than angels in the millennial kingdom because they will judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3). But having a higher rank does not mean that Christians will be superior in capability.

References:

1. Kittel. (Walter Grundmann, Gerhard von Rad, and Gerhard Kittel, “Ἄγγελος, Ἀρχάγγελος, Ἰσάγγελος,” in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 87).
2. H. Bietenhard, “Angel, Messenger, Gabriel, Michael,” in New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, ed. Lothar Coenen, Erich Beyreuther, and Hans Bietenhard (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986), 103.