INC's ANGEL DOCTRINE PART 2- WHICH IS THE CORRECT TRANSLATION? ANGEL OR MESSENGER?

INC in an attempt to justify that their FYM is an Angel uses verse in the Bible to show that FYM can be called as such.

The most prominent verse I think is from Douay-Rheims Version of the Bible:

"For this is he whom it is written: BEHOLD: I SEND MY ANGEL BEFORE THY FACE, WHO SHALL PREPARE THY WAY FOR THEE" (Mt. 11:7-10, Douay-Rheims Version, emphasis INC’s)

Gods Message, May 2000, pp.11, 28

The verse in question is a direct quote from the book of Malachi:

Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me…

All agrees that the Greek word Aggelos can be translated in two ways namely
1. Angel- a spiritual being e.g. Gabriel or Michael
2. Messenger- which can be a function

(Side Note: Translations that translated Aggelos as ANGEL: DRB, Translations that translated Aggelos as MESSENGER: Lamsa, Moffat, NKJV, NIV, NAB, NASB, NET -basically modern translations)

This same Greek word, Aggelos is used in Mat 11:10:

ουτος γαρ εστιν περι ου γεγραπται ιδου εγω αποστελλω τον αγγελον μου προ προσωπου σου ος κατασκευασει την οδον σου εμπροσθεν σου

Now we may ask, in Matt 11:10 which the correct translation between the two meaning of the Greek word Aggelos? Is it Messenger or Angel?

CONSULTING THE BIBLE ITSELF

We may read in the book of Hebrews:

Heb 1:13-14 KJVA But to which of the angels (AGGELOS) said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? (14) Are they (AGGELOS) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

The same Greek word is used here in Hebrew 1:13 when compared to Mat 11:10. Only this time- the Scripture is very clear-

ALL AGGELOS ARE MINISTERING SPIRITS.

Now of the two meaning we know for the Greek word Aggelos (ie Angel or Messenger), which is appropriate translation for this Greek word?

The other meaning of the Greek word which is Messenger is definitely not applicable here for we obviously know that there are messengers that are not spirit in nature. We say that English word Angel, MUST be used here for we know that as has been said, there are messengers that are not spirit in nature.

The implication of this verse may be stated as follows: The Greek word Aggelos when used as Angel in English language STRICTLY refers to created being which are spirit in nature. Again this is because of what we are told in Heb 1:13-14:

But to which of the angels (AGGELOS) said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? (14) Are they (AGGELOS) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

This is a rhetorical question expressing what is the nature of ALL angels- they are all spirit in nature.

To say therefore that there is an Angel that is human in nature is an utter contradiction for we know not any human being which is NOT spirit in nature or to call any man an angel in a biblical sense is inappropriate.

CONSULTING THE SCHOLARS THEMSELVES

Lamsa and Moffat Version of the Bible, INC’s choice of translation to prove their other doctrines also translated it as messenger.

ALL of the latest translation of the Bible which was translated from original languages translated Aggelos in Mat 11:10 as Messenger.

Also, the Jewish Translation of the Old Testament- JPS (1917) into English by Jewish Publication Society of America translated Malachi 3:1 (from which the book of Matthew) referred to as follows

Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me…

Again, the word Messenger is used.

THE USE OF ANGEL IN MAT 11:10

The t English translations which is used by INC that translated Aggelos in Mat 11:10 as Angel is the Douai-Rheims translation of the Bible. This English translation of the Bible is translated from other translation also. The DRB is translated from Latin Vulgate. It is not translated from ORIGINAL LANGUAGES.
In all of INC’s attempt to prove that FYM can be called an “Angel” they uses the DRB translation. They are seemingly unaware that this Bible is a mere translation from another translation. Again, the translation used by INC to prove that that FYM can be called an Angel is a translation not from original languages.

It is typical for INC to use different Bible translation to prove their claim. They have they translation of choice to prove their doctrines. Below are some examples:

1. Angel Doctrine- DRB
2. Far East Doctrine- Moffatt
3. Name of the Church - Lamsa

And this author doubts- notwithstanding the fact of the facts we already shown- whether INC believes that DRB is an accurate translation of the Bible. Haven’t they said:

We should not be surprised at the number of churches today that are not of Christ. It is not Christ who established them but the enemy or the devil (Mt.13:24-30, 36-39 NKJV). These churches thatdo not belong to Christ are the Catholic Church and her offspring’s, the various Protestant denominations and sects. We should not be deceived. Only one Church belongs to Christ, the Church of Christ."

Fundamental Beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ), Erano G. Manalo,1989,p.28

And

“Kaya sa wakas ng lathalaing ito, dapat na nating itakwil and mga paring katoliko at mga pastor protestante, sapagka’t sila’y mga ministro ni Satanas! Dapat din nating itakwil ang Iglesia Katolika at ang iba’t ibang iglesia Protestante, sapagka’t sila’y hindi sa Diyos, kundi sila’y kay Satanas, o sa demonyo.”

Pasugo -August 1961

Which makes me wonder : Why are they using Bible translated by the allies of Satan himself? Why don’t they have their own translation to prove their claim?