I. The Nature, Essence, and Creation of Angels
"That there are intelligent creatures higher than man, has been a general belief. It is so consonant with the analogy of nature as to be in the highest degree probable, apart from any direct revelation on the subject." "As this is in itself probable, it is clearly revealed in the Bible to be true." "As to the nature of angels, they are described, (1.) As pure spirits, i.e., immaterial and incorporeal beings." "As such, therefore, they are invisible, incorruptible, and immortal. Their relation to space is described as an illocalitas..." [Charles Hodge - Systematic Theology]
"The name angel, under which we usually comprehend the whole class of the higher, spiritual beings, is in Scripture not a nomen naturae but a nomen officii. The Hebr. mal’ak simply means messenger, envoy..." "...the creation of the angels is clearly expressed in Col. 1:16, and is implied in the creation of all things, Gen. 1:1, Ps. 33:6, Joh. 1:3, Rom. 11:36, Ef. 3:9, Hebr. 1:2." [Herman Bavinck - Reformed Dogmatics]
"Angels being the ministers appointed to execute the commands of God, must, of course, be admitted to be his creatures (Ps. 103:20-21)..." [John Calvin - Institutes]
"Angels and the souls of men are created spirits, and depend in their being upon God; but God is an uncreated spirit, and dependeth in his being upon none." "Angels are called the sons of God; but they are sons of God by creation." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]
"The Angels and Adam before the fall are Sons of God by the grace of creation; because God created them that he might have them for sons, and that they on the other hand might acknowledge and praise him as their gracious Father." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]
II. The Distinction Between Angels and Men
"However much agreement there may be between human being and angel, there is no less great difference. There are indeed all kinds of traits of the image of God in the angels, but the human being alone is the image of God." "...the angel is spirit and as spirit complete; the human being, on the other hand, is soul and body together; the soul without the body is incomplete." "...the angels as purely spiritual beings are also not mutually bound by bonds of blood." "The angels are witnesses, human beings are objects of God’s most glorious deeds, of the works of His grace." "Even if the angel may be the more powerful spirit, the human being is nevertheless the richer spirit." [Herman Bavinck - Reformed Dogmatics]
"God has made his children, by adoption, nearer to himself than the angels. The angels are the friends of Christ: believers are his members—and this honor have all the saints." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]
"Adoption... whereby we differ... (2.) From the angels, who are God's sons by creation." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]
"Christ is the Son, not by the grace of adoption as is true of men, nor by that of creation as is true of Angels, but by nature." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]
III. Intellectual, Moral, and Powerful Attributes
"As spirits they are possessed of intelligence, will, and power... in their intellectual faculties and in the extent of their knowledge they are far superior to man. Their power also is very great, and extends over mind and matter."
"However great their power may be, it is nevertheless subject to all the limitations which belong to creatures. Angels, therefore, cannot create, they cannot change substances, they cannot alter the laws of nature, they cannot perform miracles, they cannot act without means, and they cannot search the heart; for all these are, in Scripture, declared to be prerogatives peculiar to God." [Charles Hodge - Systematic Theology]
"Angels are also called gods, in view of the dignity and excellency of their nature, power and wisdom, in which they greatly excel other creatures..." "That knowledge of God is perfect which the blessed angels and saints have in the heavenly world, by which they have a most clear perception of God, or at least as much as is necessary for the conformity of rational creatures with God." "The good angels are inclined only to that which is good, because they are good; just as the bad angels, on the other hand, are inclined only to that which is evil, because they are evil." "...yet subject to change." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]
IV. Hierarchy, Classes, and Orders of the Heavenly Host
"These holy angels are evidently not all of the same rank. This appears from the terms by which they are designated; terms which imply diversity of order and authority." [Charles Hodge - Systematic Theology]
"Wherefore, if we would be duly wise, we must renounce those vain babblings of idle men, concerning the nature, ranks, and number of angels, without any authority from the Word of God." "They are called hosts (Luke 2:13), because they surround their Prince as his court, - adorn and display his majesty, - like soldiers, have their eyes always turned to their leader's standard, and are so ready and prompt to execute his orders, that the moment he gives the nod, they prepare for, or rather are actually at work." [John Calvin - Institutes]
"Scripture then also clearly teaches that among the angels there is all manner of distinction, of rank and station, of dignity and service, of office and honour, even of class and kind." "The class of the cherubim is mentioned first in Scripture. They appear in Gen. 3:24 as guardians of the garden." "In tabernacle and temple they are depicted above the ark with faces turned toward the mercy seat, and with wings that cover the mercy seat... and between which the Lord dwells..." "Seraphim are the nobles, cherubim are the strong ones among the angels."
"Finally, with Daniel there still occur two angels with proper names, namely Gabriel... and Michael... who both, in deviation from many earlier and later interpreters... are to be regarded as created angels and may not be identified with the Son of God." [Herman Bavinck - Reformed Dogmatics]
V. The Ordinary and Extraordinary Ministry of Angels
"The Scriptures teach that the holy angels are employed, (1.) In the worship of God. (2.) In executing the will of God. (3.) And especially in ministering to the heirs of salvation." [Charles Hodge - Systematic Theology]
"But the point on which the Scriptures specially insist is that which tends most to our comfort, and to the confirmation of our faith, namely, that angels are the ministers and dispensers of the divine bounty towards us." "Accordingly, we are told how they watch for our safety, how they undertake our defence, direct our path, and take heed that no evil befall us." [John Calvin - Institutes]
"He appoints his holy angels to be a lifeguard about his children." "The angels are a numerous guard... a strong guard... a swift guard... a watchful guard..." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]
"Whether or not each believer has a single angel assigned to him for his defence, I dare not positively affirm." "This, indeed, I hold for certain, that each of us is cared for, not by one angel merely, but that all with one consent watch for our safety." "Those, again, who limit the care which God takes of each of us to a single angel, do great injury to themselves and to all the members of the Church, as if there were no value in those promises of auxiliary troops..." [John Calvin - Institutes]
"The angels not only execute the will of God in the natural world, but they also act on the minds of men. They have access to our minds and can influence them for good in accordance with the laws of our nature and in the use of appropriate means." [Charles Hodge - Systematic Theology]
"The extraordinary service of the angels thus consists in this, that they accompany the history of salvation at its turning points. They do not themselves bring that salvation to pass, but they nevertheless take part in the history of that salvation." [Herman Bavinck - Reformed Dogmatics]
"In the kingdom of heaven we shall enjoy the society of 'an innumerable company of angels.'""...the society with angels will make the delight of heaven the greater..." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]
VI. The Sin of Veneration and the Prohibition of Angel Worship
"At the same time they must not come between us and God. We are not to look to them nor to invoke their aid." [Charles Hodge - Systematic Theology]
"...the veneration of angels is not only without precept and without example in Scripture... it is also positively forbidden in it, Deut. 6:13, 10:20, Mt. 4:10, Col. 2:18, 19, Op. 19:10, 22:9. Religious honor may according to Scripture be rendered only to God and belongs to no creature." [Herman Bavinck - Reformed Dogmatics]
"It is idolatry to direct our prayers unto any creature, God being the alone object of this and all other religious worship; therefore we ought not to direct our prayers unto angels (who have refused worship), much less unto any saints." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]
"There is but one Mediator and Intercessor in heaven for us, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is an affront to him to make use of any angels or saints as our intercessors." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]
"...seeing there is but one God, we must not worship or adore any one beside him; neither must we look any where else than to this one God for all good things; and be thankful to him alone for what we have received." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]