For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:9-10
During the Middle Ages, Thomas Aquinas proposed a system of angelic hierarchy in his book Summa Theologica. He developed and elaborated on an idea first suggested by late fifth century Theologian, Pseudo-Dionysius. Aquinas’ aggrupation of celestial beings included three levels, or “spheres,” each with a triad of angels.
Highest Sphere: Heavenly Counselors
1. Seraphim (listed from highest to lowest)
2. Cherubim
3. Thrones
Middle Sphere: Heavenly Governors
1. Dominions
2. Virtues
3. Powers
Lowest Sphere: Messengers and Soldiers
1. Principalities
2. Archangels
3. Angels
Aquinas based his hierarchy roughly on Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 1:21. He mentioned the Cherubim guarding the tree of life, as well as Isaiah’s, Ezekiel’s, and Apostle John’s descriptions of the throne of God. Although the Roman Catholic church today still holds these levels of angelic authority as church doctrine, there is little in actual scripture to support this belief.
Although interesting, angelology is not elaborated on much in the Bible. However, one thing is very clear: Jesus Christ is God. In His body was the fullness of the Godhead. He is the Head of all Principality and Power, and anything else anyone wants to add to the list.
September 4
