One Archangel, Two Archangels

But don’t some Christians believe there are three?
The Roman Catholic Church uses a slightly larger compilation of the Hebrew scriptures than Protestant churches. The Catholic Bible includes Apocrypha (books typically not included in the New Testament canon) such as the Book of Tobit. In the Apocrypha, Gabriel and Raphael are designated archangels. In addition to Michael, then, the Roman Catholic church believes there are three archangels.
Is Uriel a fourth archangel?
Uriel is sometimes called an archangel because the Apocryphal book 2 Esdras refers to him as the archangel of salvation. But 2 Esdras was dropped from the Catholic canon, and since 745 AD the Catholic Church has not officially recognized him as an archangel. But, the Coptic Church still includes the books of Esdras in their Bible and Uriel’s feast day is celebrated by the Coptic Church on July 28.

Was there a fifth archangel?
Most scholars would agree that there is Biblical ground for believing that Lucifer was an archangel before his fall, equal or perhaps superior, to Michael. But, even though the Bible refers to Lucifer as having been an angel, there are no verses that directly name him as an archangel.

Could there be more archangels?
Yes, it’s possible. Revelation 8:2 reads: "And I saw the seven angels who stand before God; and to them were given seven trumpets." Some identify the seven angels as archangels. In the Book of Tobit, Raphael identifies himself saying, “I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and enter before the glory of God.” Could this mean the seven angels in Revelation chapter are archangels? If you believe in the Apocrypha, then yes.

Could there be thousands or even millions
of archangels?
According to Catholic tradition, there is a hierarchy of angels that divides the heavenly hosts into nine divisions, or choirs, of angels. Archangels form the eighth choir are chief angels whose responsibilities include looking after the affairs of humankind. They also act as guardian angels to world leaders and command the armies of the heavenly hosts. Archangels are also the holy messengers of God and bring God’s messages to humans.

So all in all, how many archangels are there?
Only God knows....

Continued on page 2: Bill Webber's favorite angel books »