CHRIST AS AN ANGEL BEFORE NICEA

GREEK TEXT: "...Ὅπερ ἔργον ἦν τοῦ, ὡς ὠνόμασεν ἡ περὶ αὐτοῦ προφητεία, οὐχ ἁπαξαπλῶς ἀγγέλου ἀλλὰ τοῦ τῆς «μεγάλης βουλῆς» ἀγγέλου· ἤγγελλε γὰρ ἀνθρώποις τὴν μεγάλην τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πατρὸς τῶν ὅλων περὶ αὐτῶν βουλήν..." - (Against Celsus Book 5. Chapter 53. MPG.)

ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA (circa 185-253 C.E.): "...saying of the Saviour, "Let him appear to be really an angel," we reply that we do not accept of such a concession from Celsus; but we look to the work of Him who came to visit the whole human race in His word and teaching, as each one of His adherents was capable of receiving Him. And this was the work of one who, as the prophecy regarding Him said, was NOT SIMPLY AN ANGEL, BUT THE "ANGEL OF THE GREAT COUNSEL": for He announced to men the great counsel of the God and Father of all things regarding them, ... And he thinks he can meet either of these dilemmas at great length, although there is not a single real Christian who asserts that Christ was the only being that visited the human race..." - (Against Celsus Book V. Chapter 53, Roberts & Donaldson ANF.)

[FOOTNOTE]: Cf. VIII.27.

ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA (circa 185-253 C.E.): "...This was the work of one who, as the prophecy about him gives him the name, not of an Angel in general, but thee "Angel of His Great Purpose". For he bears the message to man-kind of the great purpose from the ( definitive ) God and Father of the entire universe concerning his counsel..." - (Against Celsus Book 5. Chapter 53. translated by Matt13weedhacker 29/08/11)

[FOOTNOTE]: Gk., ( ἁπαξαπλῶς ) "...in general..."

[FOOTNOTE]: Gk., ( τοῦ τῆς «μεγάλης βουλῆς» ἀγγέλου ) or "...thee Angel of Great Counsel..." or "...the Angel of the "Great Purpose"..." compare Isaiah 9:6 LXX.

[FOOTNOTE]: Gk., ( ἤγγελλε ) "...to bear a message or report..."