Jesus as the Archangel

The word "archangel" is found only twice in Scripture, and both times in the singular (1 Thess. 4:16; Jude 9). Biblical and linguistic evidence supports our belief that there is only one Archangel. The word literally means the "first messenger" or the "chief messenger."

The Greek word for "gospel" is euangelion, from which we get the words evangelism, evangelist, etc. The word literally means "good message." Understanding more about the gospel will clarify a whole lot about its first messenger.

The first words in the book of Mark (which was most likely the first of the four gospels to be written) are, arche tou euaggeliou iesou christou uiou tou theou, which are translated, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark 1:1). Notice whose gospel it really is. It is literally "Jesus Christ's good message" in the Greek. The gospel is first and foremost the mesage that Jesus Himself proclaimed. He is the first messenger. Nine of the 15 times the word "gospel" appears in the four Gospels, it refers to the preaching of Jesus Himself. Each Gospel's list begins with Jesus preaching, followed by the commissioning of His followers to do the same. The good message they are to proclaim is none other than "Christ's gospel." 2 Corinthians 2:12.

Now back to Mark 1:1. We noticed earlier that Mark's first words were, arche tou euaggeliou, "the beginning of the good message". Those words are simply an amplification of the word "archangel" in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, archaggelou, "the first messenger." As the "messenger of the covenant" (Malachi 3:1), Jesus was the One who in the Garden of Eden presented the very first gospel message (Genesis 3:15).

Notice how the apostle John described his own mission, "That which we have seen and heard [from Jesus], declare we unto you.... This then is the message (angelia) which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you" (1 John 1:3, 5). So evangelism is nothing more than spreading the very message that Jesus, the first messenger, proclaimed.

When Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel, He said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). And when His personal ministry on earth was ending, He instructed us "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations" (Luke 24:47).

The gospel is the message of "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16). "That God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.... If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:5-9). That's Jesus' good news.

English Word Greek Words English Meaning
Gospel eu Good, well (as in euphoria)
angelia Message
Archangel arche (noun) Beginning, first, chief, ruler
archo (verb) To be first, to rule or reign, to begin
angelos Messenger