ἄγγελος

ἄγγελος, -ου, ὁ,

[in LXX chiefly for מַלְאָךְ ;]

1. a messenger, one sent: Mat.11:10, Jas.22:25.

2. As in LXX, in the special sense of angel, a spiritual, heavenly being, attendant upon God and employed as his messenger to men, to make known his purposes, as Luk.1:11, or to execute them, as Mat.4:6. The ἄ. in Rev.1:20-2:1, al., is variously understood as

(1) a messenger or delegate,

(2) a bishop or ruler,

(3) a guardian angel,

(4) the prevailing spirit of each church, i.e. the Church itself. (Cf. Swete, Ap)., in l…