I am curious about the origin of certain superstitious ideas that Christians have about angels.

The first is the idea that when good people die, they go to heaven and become angels. This is actually a fairly common folk belief, unless I miss my guess. Does anyone know where this originated? Venturing a guess, I'm thinking it might have something to do with a bad reading of Matthew 22:30: "In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."

The second is a peculiar one that I just ran across not too long ago (I read it in an obituary in the paper, written by the son or daughter of the deceased). It is the belief that either 1) the souls of children are angels in heaven prior to being born or 2) the souls of children simply live in heaven prior to being born. I know that Origen believed in the pre-existence of the soul, but this belief seems to be a bit different (and more sentimental in nature than anything else).

Any ideas? And have any of you come across these beliefs in your congregations?

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Tim Phillips
Pastor, Midlane Park Presbyterian Church (ARP)
Louisville, KY
Husband of Scottish Lass
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"Wherever the gospel is preached, it is as if God Himself came into the midst of us." ~ John Calvin

Was the obituary for a Mormon?

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Edward
Deacon
PCA
Texas

Good question, but actually no -- an Episcopalian.

That covers a wide range of possible theology or lack thereof. No telling what kind of bad teaching they might have been exposed to. Anything from charismatic to Roman to New Age to off the chart.

I have heard of both. I believe that Hollywood is, in part, responsible for keeping the second myth alive. I know I have seen this idea presented in at least two movies (neither of which I can recall the name of at the moment).

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James Helbert, Wytheville, VA
Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCUS
TheBibleAlone.com / The Edinburgh Inn
"Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” - Zechariah 3:2

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Not to divert from your other questions, but also: How did the view of angels as beings with wings and halos originate? Is there any credence to that in the first place?

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Ben Maas. . . . .Facebook
In college, attending First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), Ada, OH, and
Belle Center Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCNA), Belle Center, OH
When at home, attending Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC), Mansfield, OH

“Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is of life.”
-Jonathan Edwards-

I would say that the origin of such isuperstitious ideas is probably gnosticism of some form.

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Steven J. Carr (Sven)
http://beholdingthebeauty.blogspot.com/
Eagan, MN
PCA
"Weak is the effort of my heart / And cold my warmest thought / But when I see thee as thou art / I'll praise thee as I ought."--John Newton
Trophy Wife/Arm Candy: Crystal Ann Children: Steven Jr. and Hannah Grace

You mean they don't have wings and halos?

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Richard T. Zuelch, M.Div
Ruling Elder, OPC (not currently serving)
Westminster Presbyterian Church, CA (OPC)
www.alexandermaclaren.wordpress.com
www.reiterations.wordpress.com
www.spurgeonswords.wordpress.com

Devout souls do not take offence at the depths and difficulties of God's Word, but are, thereby, drawn to intenser contemplation of them. - Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910)

The use of the halo is an old painting technique to lighten up the face. Look at some old paintings and you'll notice that it's lighter around the person's head. That's a "halo".

I'm guessing that's where the angelic halo comes from.

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Jonathan
College Student
Grace Family Fellowship {SBC}
Kentucky

... yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

1 Corinthians 8:6

Actually from what I understand the "halos" were "borrowed" (like a lot of Christian practices that do not originate from Scripture, i.e.- "holy days") from the practice of the Greeks and Romans to put them around their god's and heroes.

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Benjamin P. Glaser, M. Div, Licentiate, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Member Fairmount ARP Church
Pittsburgh, PA

Deo Vindice

Touche

The wings come from Daniel, where the angelic beings are pictured as having six wings.

I've heard that angels played a big part in some Jewish mythologies, even being worshipped... that might be a place to start.

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Jonathan
Audio Engineer
Reformed Anabaptist
Ohio

Moroni's magical glasses of proper interpretation:

Yes, I agree, it is a reminiscence of Sun worship, but the Byzantine painting gave it a lot of visibility, as it was a very convenient way to highlight a saint, and it passed to most Sacred Art through the centuries.

I wonder about the alleged Book of Enoch with all its Angelic activity, any thoughts?

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César Proença

there is no will nor running by which we can prepare the way for our salvation, it is wholly of the Divine Mercy Jean Calvin Institutes II . V. 17

Reformed Churches in The Netherlands (liberated) http://www.gkv.nl/main.asp?intTreeviewID=954

Igreja Reformada em Massamá Portugal http://www.igrejareformada.pt

I think you have a better chance for good theology from a Mormon.

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Jim
Elder
First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu
at Ko'olau (PCUSA)
Honolulu, Hawaii
http://www.fpchawaii.org/
"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." II Corinthians 12:9

Maybe these ideas originated during one of these meetings.
Free Marijuana Church of Honolulu

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Rich Koster
1689'er
Browns Mills NJ USA
Often Goofy Reformed Eccentric
Romans 7:14-25

"Special Sunday Service (SSS) is available from 8:00 AM to noon for anyone over the age of eighteen with a good mental presence."

I'll bet no RPW there.

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Norm
IA PCA

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:4-5

I would say art in general down through the ages.

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Jon Peters
Member, Reformation Fellowship (OPC) (Roseville, CA)
Folsom, CA

Talk about "special"...yikes!

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Seeking Godly Wisdom,

Melissa
Baptist>Seeking Reformed Church Home
Louisville, Ky

The one about children might be a perversion of Matthew 18:10.

As far as where these things started.... probably the middle ages, and probably due to nothing more than the fact that the bible was not read, or preached, and so people were comforted with these little myths.

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Louis DiBiase
Louisville, KY

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven."

That's very interesting, Louis. Thanks for pointing that possibility (i.e., possible misreading of the verse) out!