Colossians: Touched by an angel 1

What does it mean to be "touched by an angel"?

The TV series of the same name ran from 1994 to 2003, but is not really relevant here.

Edward the Confessor, or, in old English, "Ēadƿeard Andettere", lived from about 1006 to 1066 and was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England, as the Normans arrived in 1066 with their consequent French influence on the developing English language. He ruled England from 1042 to 1066.

Edward developed a fame for his healing touch, especially for scrofula - a disease that often cured itself so that the King gave the impression that it was his touch that was the impetus for the cure.

In later centuries, a coin, as in the touch of a coin, sometimes on a necklace, was often substituted for the King's touch. A favorite coin had an image of the King on one side and an angel on the other side.

Edward the Confessor is mentioned several times in Shakespeare's play of Macbeth, including the King's ability "to cure someone of evil bears".

The mere despair of surgery, he cures, Hanging a golden stamp about their necks, Put on with holy prayers: and ’tis spoken, To the succeeding royalty he leaves The healing benediction. With this strange virtue, He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy, And sundry blessings hang about his throne, That speak him full of grace.

This then is the source of the phrase "touched by an angel".

One favorite verse for the occasion of creating this idea (or tradition) was Mark 16:18.

Mark 16:15

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KJV: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Greek: και ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες εις τον κοσμον απαντα κηρυξατε το ευαγγελιον παση τη κτισει

This is known as the "great commission".

Note that "creature" here is «κτισει» which appears to refer to "human" creatures and not animals in general.

Mark 16:16

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KJV: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Greek: ο πιστευσας και βαπτισθεις σωθησεται ο δε απιστησας κατακριθησεται

To be saved, one should believe and be baptized.
He that does not believe is damned. Is this the same as "not saved"?

This verse does not address the often contentious issue as to whether one can be saved without being baptized.

Mark 16:17

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KJV: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Greek: σημεια δε τοις πιστευσασιν ακολουθησει ταυτα ταυτα παρακολουθησει εν τω ονοματι μου δαιμονια εκβαλουσιν γλωσσαις λαλησουσιν καιναις

What does it mean to speak in "new tongues"?

Here is the verse that was often used with coins used to help cure individuals and from which the phrase "touched by an angel" developed.

Mark 16:18

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KJV: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Greek: και εν ταις χερσιν οφεις αρουσιν καν θανασιμον τι πιωσιν ου μη αυτους βλαψει βλαψη επι αρρωστους χειρας επιθησουσιν και καλως εξουσιν

Latin: serpentes tollent et si mortiferum quid biberint non eos nocebit super aegrotos manus inponent et bene habebunt

Wycliffe: thei schulen do awei serpentis; and if thei drynke ony venym, it schal not noye hem. Thei schulen sette her hondis on sijk men, and thei schulen wexe hoole.

Tyndale: and shall kyll serpentes. And yf they drinke eny dedly thinge yt shall not hurte the. They shall laye their hondes on ye sicke and they shall recover.

Geneva: And shall take away serpents, and if they shall drinke any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their handes on the sicke, and they shall recouer.

Luther: Schlangen vertreiben, und so sie etwas Tödliches trinken, wird's ihnen nicht schaden; auf die Kranken werden sie die Hände legen, so wird's besser mit ihnen werden.

The reference to "serpents" fit in with the side of the coin that had the angel Michael slaying a dragon. A dragon was also known as a serpent.

While the KJV (King James Version) says "shall take up serpents" the Middle English of Wycliffe says "shulen do awei seprentis" while the Tyndalle says "shall kyll seprentes". Might this interpretation have been influenced by the idea of "touched by an angel"?

Mark 16:19

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KJV: So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Greek: ο μεν ουν κυριος ιησους μετα το λαλησαι αυτοις ανεληφθη ανελημφθη εις τον ουρανον και εκαθισεν εκ δεξιων του θεου

What is an "angel"?

What does it mean to be "touched by an angel"?

Let us look at some examples from the Bible of being "touched by an angel".

2 Peter 2:6

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KJV: And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

Greek: και πολεις σοδομων και γομορρας τεφρωσας καταστροφη κατεκρινεν υποδειγμα μελλοντων ασεβειν ασεβεσιν τεθεικως

Latin: et civitates Sodomorum et Gomorraeorum in cinerem redigens eversione damnavit exemplum eorum qui impie acturi sunt ponens

Wycliffe: and he droof in to poudre the citees of men of Sodom and of men of Gommor, and dampnede bi turnyng vpsedoun, and putte hem the ensaumple of hem that weren to doynge yuele;

Luther: und hat die Städte Sodom und Gomorra zu Asche gemacht, umgekehret und verdammt, damit ein Exempel gesetzt den Gottlosen, die hernach kommen würden;

Spanish: y si condenó por destrucción las ciudades de Sodoma y de Gomorra, tornándolas en ceniza, y poniéndolas de ejemplo a los que habían de vivir impíamente,

During the reign of Hezekiah, in 2 Kings 19:35, an angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers after which the Assyrian King Sennacherib returned to Nineveh.

2 Kings 19:35

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KJV: And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Hebrew: ויהי בלילה ההוא ויצא מלאך יהוה ויך במחנה אשור מאה שמונים וחמשה אלף וישכימו בבקר והנה כלם פגרים מתים׃

Greek: και εγενετο εως νυκτος και εξηλθεν αγγελος κυριου και επαταξεν εν τη παρεμβολη των ασσυριων εκατον ογδοηκοντα πεντε χιλιαδας και ωρθρισαν το πρωι και ιδου παντες σωματα νεκρα

Latin: factum est igitur in nocte illa venit angelus Domini et percussit castra Assyriorum centum octoginta quinque milia cumque diluculo surrexisset vidit omnia corpora mortuorum et recedens abiit

Wycliffe: Therfor it was don, in that niyt the aungel of the Lord cam, and smoot in the castels of Assiryens an hundrid foure score and fyue thousynde. And whanne Sennacherib hadde rise eerli, he siy alle bodies of deed men; and he departide, and yede awei.

Luther: Und in derselben Nacht fuhr aus der Engel des Herrn und schlug im Lager von Assyrien hundertundfünfundachtzigtausend Mann. Und da sie sich des Morgens frühe aufmachten, siehe, da lag es alles eitel tote Leichname.

Spanish: Y aconteció que la misma noche salió elángel de Jehová, e hirió en el campamento de los asirios ciento ochenta y cinco mil; y cuando se levantaron por la mañana, he aquí, todo era cuerpos de muertos.

Note the use of the word "castra", from which we get the word "castle", for "camp".

2 Kings 19:36

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KJV: So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

Greek: και απηρεν και επορευθη και απεστρεψεν σενναχηριμ βασιλευς ασσυριων και ωκησεν εν νινευη

In 701 BC Hezekiah and Jerusalem miraculously escaped the conquering and destruction of Jerusalem by Sennacherib, the ruler of Assyria.
Isaiah the prophet was inside the city of Jerusalem during the siege, providing prophecies from God.

This is recorded both in the Bible and in secular history and on an ancient prism discovered and deciphered. In the Bible, an angel smites 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.

On the prism of Sennacherib, Sennacherib recounts how he had trapped Hezekiah in Jerusalem "like a caged bird" (which was true) but leaving out the overnight disaster and having to retreat. Some secular sources attribute the disaster to a sudden plague, but the two viewpoints had the same effect.
Hezekiah is mentioned by name on the prism. It was during this siege of Jerusalem that the tunnel of Hezekiah was dug to obtain water for Jerusalem.

Details are left as a future topic.

Angels can be more gentle in their actions.

Acts 12:7

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KJV: And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

Greek: και ιδου αγγελος κυριου επεστη και φως ελαμψεν εν τω οικηματι παταξας δε την πλευραν του πετρου ηγειρεν αυτον λεγων αναστα εν ταχει και εξεπεσον εξεπεσαν αυτου αι αλυσεις εκ των χειρων

Latin: et ecce angelus Domini adstitit et lumen refulsit in habitaculo percussoque latere Petri suscitavit eum dicens surge velociter et ceciderunt catenae de manibus eius

Tyndale: And beholde the angell of ye Lorde was there present and a lyght shyned in the lodge. And smote Peter on the syde and steryd him vp sayinge: aryse vp quyckly. And his cheynes fell of fro his hondes.

Spanish: Y he aquí, elángel del Señor vino, y una luz resplandeció en la cárcel; y golpeando a Pedro en el costado, le despertó, diciendo: Levántate prestamente. Y las cadenas se le cayeron de las manos.