Messenger
Messenger
(properly , malak, SEE MALACHI, , both words often rendered angel [q.v.]; in a more general sense , , Pro 25:13; Isa 57:9, SEE APOSTLE; in a special sense for forms of , to convey good news, SEE GOSPEL, also vaguely for , to tell; , to command). It is a practice in the East to employ messengers who run on foot to convey despatches (Job 1:14), and these men sometimes go a hundred and fifty miles in less than twenty-four hours. SEE FOOTMAN. Such messengers were sent by Joab to acquaint David with the fate of his son Absalom. Ahimaaz went with such speed that he outran Cushi, and was the first to appear before the king, who sat at the gate of Mahanaim, anxiously awaiting tidings from the battle (2Ki 9:18). The common pace of travelling in the East is very slow. Camels go little more than two miles an hour; but dromedaries are often used for the purpose of conveying messages in haste, especially to a distance, as they are said to outrun the swiftest horses. To this practice Job alludes when he says, My days are swifter than a post (Job 9:25). Instead of passing away with a slowness of motion like that of a caravan, my days of prosperity have disappeared with a swiftness like that of a messenger carrying despatches.
Messer, Asa, Dd., LLd.
a noted American educator and Baptist minister, was born in Methuen, Mass., in 1769. He studied at Brown University, where he graduated in 1790. The next year he became a tutor in that institution; a professor of languages in 1796. of mathematics and natural philosophy in 1799, and president in 1802, which latter position he held until 1826. Having been licensed in 1792, and ordained in 1801, he preached occasionally, both while professor and president, for congregations of different denominations. After retiring from the presidency, he was elected to several civil offices of trust by the citizens of Providence. He died Oct. II. 1836. Dr. Messer published a number of discourses and orations. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 6:326.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Messenger
(Heb. mal’ak, Gr. angelos), an angel, a messenger who runs on foot, the bearer of despatches (Job 1:14; 1 Sam. 11:7; 2 Chr. 36:22); swift of foot (2 Kings 9:18).
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Messenger
MESSENGER.The word is formed from message with intrusive nasal. It is used as the equivalent of in its primary meaning of one sent on a message or to make an announcement. So it occurs frequently in the OT (representing of Heb. and of LXX Septuagint ), and in the Gospels in Luk 7:24; Luk 9:52. It is to be observed, however, that in messenger the emphasis is on the sending or mission, while in it is on the message or proclamation. Philologically a truer equivalent is ; and accordingly in two instances (2Co 8:23, Php 2:25), where missionary preachers are so described and where some special mission is in view, the latter is the Greek term used.
1. Towards the close of the OT the term seems to have acquired the meaning of a special or inspired teacher. Thus in Hag 1:13 the prophet styles himself messenger as the bearer of Jehovahs message. A similar meaning is at least probable in Job 33:23. And this usage is in some degree paralleled in the modern tendency to seek a definite message in the literary works of distinguished poets and thinkers. The most important use of the term is in Malachi, a prophet whose name [if be, indeed, his name; cf. Mal 1:1 and the Comm. ad loc.] means my messenger. He uses the term three times and in three applications. First, it is a designation of the true priest, whose work is to conserve spiritual knowledge and teach the law of God (Mal 2:7). Secondly and thirdly, in Mal 3:1 it is applied to a forerunner, and to the messenger of the covenant, who seems to be identical with the Person styled the Lord whom you seek. These two applications are in the NT interpreted of the Baptist and the Messiah respectively. The words of the prophet with reference to the forerunner are with a change of pronoun (thee for me) repeated in identical form in each of the Synoptics (Mar 1:2, Mat 11:10, Luk 7:27). In these quotations, as in Luk 9:52, the messenger is one sent before to proclaim or to prepare. The direct application of the term to Jesus is not made in the NT, though a kindred idea is frequently expressed: in the saying which occurs in all the Gospels, He that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me (Mat 10:40, Mar 9:37, Luk 9:48; Luk 10:15, Joh 13:20; Joh 12:44); in the frequent Johannine phrase whom God hath sent, and in the commission (Joh 20:21); and even in the term gospel (), which is expressive of what Jesus described Himself as anointed of God and sent to preach (Luk 4:18). The conceptions of Christ as the Revealer of the Father and the incarnate Word are also kindred; and it might be argued that the language of Malachi was in the mind of the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews in Heb 1:2; Heb 3:1; Heb 7:22 and throughout.
R. Scott.
2. In Heb 6:20 our Lord is spoken of as our Forerunner () within the veil. This is the only place in the NT where the title is used. A (in the literal sense) was a messenger sent in front of the main army to examine the ground, clear the front of obstacles, or notify the presence of an enemy to the main body advancing behind (i.e. a scout, light-armed soldier, or spy). Here it is connected with the priestly work of our Lord. He has entered within the veil for us, as our high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek, i.e. in our interest, namely, to obtain pardon for us (Heb 9:12), to represent us in the presence of God (Heb 9:24), and to open up for us an entrance into heaven itself (Heb 10:19) (Lnemann in Meyers Com.). Probably, however, the military connotation is not to be entirely ignored. Just as an army advances securely under cover of its scouts far in front, so the army of believers moves on through the valley of the shadow of death without fear, knowing that our great Forerunner is in front. He has encountered and conquered death for us, so that we have no need to fear anything. This thought is beautifully elaborated from another point of view in Joh 14:2-3. When Jesus came back for a moment from the silent land, it was not with an air of terror or defeat, but as a conqueror, crying All hail! (Mat 28:9). There is nothing to fear in the Beyond whither Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place for us.
E. Griffith-Jones.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Messenger
There would have required no notice of the office of a messenger, by way of explaining the nature of it, being perfectly well understood, and it not been that our Lord Jesus Christ, when becoming our Redeemer, condescended to submit to this office also; but as the Lord Jesus, in his unequalled humility, vouchsafed to be the servant and messenger of JEHOVAH, every motive of affection and duty demands our attention to behold Jesus in this most gracious character. The reader will have a better apprehension of the title when he is told that the same word translated messenger is also translated angel. This in Mal 3:1 it might be read, the angel of the covenant. In like manner prophets, teachers, and ambassadors, are not unfrequently called messengers. (Mal 2:7; 2Ki 16:7) The infinite graciousness and condescension of the Lord Jesus in this character, serves therefore to recommend and endear him yet more to our heart; and blessedly Jesus speaks of it to his disciples. “Whosoever will be great among you, (saith that humble Lord) let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant; even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mat 10:27-28) And it is most blessed indeed, to behold the Lord of life and glory thus engaged in all offices, and filling all characters, relating to his mediatorship. He is the all in all of the whole covenant. At the call of his Father, he stood up from everlasting, the Head of his church and people, that he might fill all things. Hence to him the covenant of redemption was given; by him the whole covenant was fulfilled; in his almighty hand all the blessings resulting from the covenant are placed; and from him all must flow, in grace here, and glory hereafter, to his whole body the church. So that Jesus appears most lovely and engaging as JEHOVAH’S covenant in the full, and as the Surety of it, the Messenger of it, the Fulfiller of it, and the Administrator of it, both in time and to all eternity. Hail, almighty Messenger of thine own and thy Father’s will to mankind, “thou Messenger and Interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man JEHOVAH’S uprightness! Be thou all my salvation, and all my desire; for thou hast made and finished thine everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.”
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Messenger
mesen-jer: The regular Hebrew word for messenger is , mal’akh, the Greek , aggelos. This may be a human messenger or a messenger of God, an angel. The context must decide the right translation. In Hag 1:13 the prophet is called God’s messenger; Job 33:23 changes the King James Version to angel (margin messenger); and Mal 3:1 margin, suggests angel instead of messenger. Mal 2:7 and Mal 3:1 (twice) have caused a great deal of comment. See MALACHI. The Greek , apostolos, apostle, is rendered messenger in 2Co 8:23; Phi 2:25; 1Sa 4:17 translations literally, from Hebrew , basar, to tell good news, he that brought the tidings. Gen 50:16 reads message instead of messenger.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Messenger
Figurative
Hag 1:13; Mal 2:7; Mal 3:1; Mal 4:5-6; Mat 11:10; Mar 1:2; Luk 7:27
Of Satan
2Co 12:7
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Messenger
“a messenger, an angel, one sent,” is translated “messenger,” of John the Baptist, Mat 11:10; Mar 1:2; Luk 7:27; in the plural, of John’s “messengers,” Luk 7:24; of those whom Christ sent before Him when on His journey to Jerusalem, Luk 9:52; of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” “a messenger of Satan,” 2Co 12:7; of the spies as received by Rahab, Jam 2:25. See ANGEL.
“an apostle,” is translated “messengers” in 2Co 8:23 regarding Titus and “the other brethren,” whom Paul describes to the church at Corinth as “messengers of the churches,” in respect of offerings from those in Macedonia for the needy in Judea; in Phi 2:25, of Epaphroditus as the “messenger” of the church at Philippi to the Apostle in ministering to his need; RV marg. in each case, “apostle.” See APOSTLE.