The Creation-The Angelic Connection

by Anthony Florio

In the process of doing my research for a book I am currently trying to finish about angels, I came across several translations of words in the Book of Genesis that I found quite fascinating. The conclusions I reached from interpreting these words, although logical, are, of course, my opinions and are not to be considered factual. However, if, as I do, you view them as logical interpretations of the biblical passages analyzed, you may enjoy my book.

My method is similar to a minister, rabbi or priest trying to write a sermon, searching the scriptures for meaning to apply to the topic suitable for his/her synagogue or church. In this case, I was looking for passages describing the role albels have played in the boble compared to their role in current dogma of the major Western religions. The following analysis evidences the method I use in my fichtional account of the Creation story.

The word "angel" is a translation of a Greek work translating the Hebrew word, "mal'akh". This translation's meaning has focused upon the minor role angels have in the few references made to them in the Old Testament of the Bible. But, this interpretation was based upon early translations of certain words that are memorialized from generation to generation. Rabbinical scholars and Christian theologians today, because of the computerized disseminaiton of i8nformation, the revelations in the Dead Sea Scrolls and generally increased language skills, could produce a new Bible correcting ancient mistakes in the translation process. Until they do, people will continue to challenge stories such as Genesis, because it conflicts with scientific knowledge. The problem is compounded when modern, streamlined versions of the Bible simplify the stories for easy reading. Often, it is these simplified versions that are challenged by the inquiring minds. What if the true translations of the oldest biblical accounts were revealed to be harmonious with modern scientific fact, history and archeological discoveries? I propose that there are countless examples supporting this possibility.

For some time, "mal'akh" has been interpreted as "messenger". Angels may be far more than mere messengers ofGod, or even more than our guardians here on earth. They do not exist to just be part of the choir surrounding god to exalt in the Trisagion chant, "Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh", "Holy, Holy, Holy"! In Genesis 1, 26-27, God states, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...". This account is perhaps the cornerstone of all Western religions. Who was God speaking to? Who was there, "in the beginning", to even listen or hear these significant words? Logically, one can answer this inquiry: Angels were there! "Let us", must mean, "Let you, (the angels) and I, (God) make man in our image."

Next, let's look at the phrase, "in our image". The Hebrew work for "our" is "nu". "Nu" can require a singular object or a plural object in a sentence, such as "our book" or "our books". So, was "image" singular or plural in this phrase? First of all, "image" may have been translated incorrectly altogether! The Hebrew word translated as "image" is "tzelem". there is considerable authority for this word to be "form", not "image". The Hebrew work, "nasseh" is also found in the phrase we are translating. It may be significant in that it makes the word, "form" plural, not singular; i.e., man was made in the "mutual form" or God and the angels. In summation, what the experts are translating here becomes, "Let us. (God and the angels) make man in our mutual form." the consequence of this simplified interpretation of one phrase can lead to all sorts of wonderful interpretations for the writer.

For those who cannot get past the unscientific account of the first impression they receive while reading Genesis, look how this interpretation can begin to melt away the conflict between the Big Bang Theory and Evolution and Genesis.

It is not until Genesis 2, that a name for man appears. there he is called, "Adam". "Adam" is not a Hebrew word. Hebrew's closest word is, "adamah" for, "ground". In the ancient Phoenician and Sabinean languages, "Atam" means, "creatures" and "living things". Even more interesting is an ancient Akkadian inscription found predating the Bible, stating, "atam numunia". "Adam" was not a proper name then either. It meant, "a community of men". It may well indicate that Genesis is authority for the proposition that God and His angels, when He had finished creating the universe, created a mutual form in their likeness for a community of men already evolved. We do not know what this mutual form looks like, we are only told that it is in their likeness.

I submit to you that at that moment, before God rested after creating the universe, and mankind having evolved into a creature with intellect, capable of knowing right from wrong, God and the angels created the soul as a receptacle for their mutual form. Only a soul could contain their "likeness". If there is only one other planet or moon in the universe amont the pruported billion, trillion galaxies the Hubble Telescope has thus far found that supports an intellighent, living creature, would they not be given souls too?

If there is life in other galaxies, they cannot look like humans of Earth. That would really be an absured possibility. If they look like reptiles or dolphons, or even dinosaurs, I'd like to think their physical appearance is not, "in our image". If all humans contain the mutual form of God and His angels, contained in a receptacle, the soul, could we not then all be part of His creation formed from a single hydrogen atom, evolving from the Big Bang He created?

I conclude this account with theproposition that we may have already been given the "Word" scientifically explaining creation. It is my theory that it is our soul that was created, separating us from the animals.

If you believe this interpretation, one thing is certain; nothing could be more incorrect than to reduce the angels to mere messengers of God, or mere servants of mankind! If you believe that you have a soul created by God and His angels, you obviously owe them for our very existence. Perhaps this logic can give us the meaning of life, because withour a soul, we cannot differentiate ourselves from the animals or prehistoric man, whose genetic code we carry in our own genes. We may have their genetic code, but we can receive the spiritual likeness of God and His angels and contain it within our soul. Perhaps on ohter planets, lifeforms ponder the "Word" too.

Perhaps, as the scriptures state, there is a "God of Souls" in Heaven, sending recepticles throughout the universe, wherever free-willed beigns exist. That, however, involves another chapter in my book, and that, of course, is fictional too.