angel of the lord in judges

The Identity of the hÎ wh y J KA aV lA m in the Book of Judges: A Model for the Usage of this Phrase Elsewhere 1 by René A. Lopez Introduction One of the most debated issues today surrounding Christology centers on how Jesus Christ is to be regarded in relation to the Old Testament (OT) phrase, the Angel of the LORD. 2 Before and after Christ’s resurrection, He set a precedence and “sanctioned the hermeneutics of using the OT as a source of information about himself and his re- demptive work (John 5:39; Luke 24:27).” 3 Many OT persons, cultic practices, holy ob- jects and prophecies, foreshadowed in typological form the coming of Christ. From a New Testament (NT) perspective, today, one can appreciate many OT passages that were perhaps ambiguous in the past. However, when it comes to reinter- preting OT passages in the light of NT passages, such as the ones including “the angel of the LORD” (NIV, NASB, RSV), 4 care must be taken not to fall prey to anachronistic interpretation. 5 It is one thing to allow Christ to clarify OT ambiguo us passages, or to allow clear NT antitypes to fulfill their OT types. Yet, as William Graham MacDonald puts it: “It is another question entirely, however, whether, under the old covenant with Israel, God chose to actually reveal himself in Christ there and then by multiple appear- ances as a human being under the form and label of an angel.” 6 Numerous interpretations have been presented including a visible manifesta- tion of God personally, a preincarnate appe arance of Christ, or a messenger of God’s heavenly assembly. 7 No wonder James C. Moyer admits, “Each interpretation has diffi- 1 This writer is indebted to Robert B. Chisholm, Jr. for his suggestions that led to this research. 2 Throughout this paper hÎwh y will be translated as LORD (outside of citations) to distinguish the OT term from NT term “Lord” applied to Jesus Christ. 3 William Graham MacDonald, “Christology and 'The Angel of the Lord',” in Current Issues in Biblical and Patristic Interpretation: Studies in Honor of Merrill C. Tenney Presented by His Former Students, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1975), 324. 4 The NKJV Bible translation will be used unless otherwise noted. 5 For instance did Manoah and wife really “know” their son’s “birth was announced by God’s preincarnate Son, the Angel of Yahweh,” as Donald K. Campbell, Judges: Leaders in Crisis Times (Wheat- on, IL: Victor Books, 1989), 116, claims? 6 MacDonald, “Christolog y and 'The Angel of the Lord',” 34. Italics are original. 7 Along with James C. Moyer, David M. Howard, Joshua, The New American Commentary: An Exegetical Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 5 (Nashville: Broad- man & Holman Publishers, 1998), 159, and J. M. Wilson, “Angel,” in International Standard Bible Ency- clopedia, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, vol. 1. 4 vols. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishi ng, 1915; reprint, 1979), 125, also acknowledge these three common views.

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