So, what is a spirit being? Simply put, they are personal, intelligent, non-human beings created by God to exist in the spiritual realm. By nature they have no body, though they often appear to humans as though they did have one. Have you ever felt like there's a huge piece of the biblical story that you're missing? Many churches today focus on God's relationship with humanity, which is essential, but they often skip over the vibrant, active, and sometimes chaotic spiritual world that the Bible describes on almost every page. The truth is, God created more than just the physical world we see. He also created an invisible realm, teeming with intelligent spiritual beings, who serve God by maintaining the cosmos, caring out God's decress and ministering to human beings that would inherit salvation. They have played a crucial role in God's plan from the very beginning. There is much more to thier role in God's plan, but that is, essentially what is a spirit being.
Colossians 1:16 English Standard Version
16 For by him [Jesus Christ] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
So, what is a spirit being? They are not eternal or all-powerful like God's incommunicable attributes. God does however, share certain of His communicable attributes and abilities with His spirit beings, to empower and equip them to serve Him and also believers. The Bible describes them as “ministering spirits sent out to serve” and God “makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire”. While they are spirits and don’t have flesh and bone like us, they can and do appear in forms we can see, often looking like men.
Hebrews 1:14 English Standard Version
14 Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Psalm 104:4 English Standard Version
4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.
Luke 24:39 English Standard Version
39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
Genesis 18:2 English Standard Version
2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth
Learn the difference between angel hierarchy in the Bible and Pseudo-Dionysius's nine choirs, and how Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant views diverge. If you've ever been curious about the intricate rankings of angels, with their specific choirs and spheres, you're not alone. The idea of a celestial chain of command is fascinating. Our goal here is to dive deep into this topic and carefully untangle what the Bible actually says about an angel hierarchy in the bible, what influential thinkers wrote after the biblical period, and how those traditions have shaped what many people believe today. Let's separate the scriptural facts from the fascinating, but often extra-biblical, traditions.
The angel of Yahweh is God in human form. The God of the Hebrew Bible has a body. The biblical evidence for this is overwhelming. Ancient Jewish teaching about the Hebrew Bible revealed there were two Yahweh figures, two powers in heaven. One visible, the other invisible. The importance of this language in Exodus 23:20–22 is clear. When God describes for Moses the angel he is sending before the people to guide them to the promised land as having his Name in him, he is telling Moses that his very presence, his essence, is within this angel. The angel is the visible form of Yahweh himself. This scripture is key to understanding the identity of the visible angel of Yahweh.
Exodus 23:20-22 English Standard Version
Conquest of Canaan Promised
20 “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. 21 Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. 22 “But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
This “unseen realm” isn’t a fantasy world; it’s a reality that intersects with our own. The Apostle Paul calls it the “heavenly places” where spiritual forces are at work (Ephesians 6:12). Think of the prophet Elisha and his servant, who were terrified by an enemy army. Elisha prayed, and God opened the servant’s eyes to see the reality of the spiritual realm: “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). This invisible army was always there, just waiting to be seen.
Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and felt like you were missing something? Like you walked into the middle of a conversation? Many of us have been taught that the Bible's story is primarily about God and humanity. While that's true, it's not the whole picture. There is an entire unseen spiritual world, full of activity, that forms the backdrop for everything that happens on Earth. For many, this topic can feel a little "spooky" or strange because it's rarely discussed, but understanding it unlocks a much deeper and more exciting view of God's plan. What is the divine council?
Psalm 82:1 English Standard Version
Rescue the Weak and Needy
A Psalm of Asaph.
82 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
Have you ever been reading the Old Testament and stumbled across a phrase that just didn't seem to fit with everything you’ve been taught? Phrases like "sons of God" in the Bible, or verses that seem to talk about multiple gods can be confusing, especially when we're taught that there is only one true God. For many, this part of the Bible feels a bit spooky or is simply ignored in church. But what if understanding these spiritual entities is key to unlocking a much deeper, more epic story in the Bible? Let's pull back the curtain on the invisible realm and explore who the sons of god in Bible are, dieties or created spirit beings.
Understanding what is a spirit being and the reality of the spiritual realm isn’t just for head knowledge; it’s for use in daily life. It means we should be aware of the spiritual battle around us and put on the full armor of God. It means we should never worship or pray to angels, as they are fellow servants. And it means we can have confidence, because the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world.
Ephesians 6:10-12 English Standard Version
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Revelation 22:8-9 English Standard Version
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
1 John 4:4 English Standard Version
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
This has been a quick tour of a vast and fascinating topic, what is a spirit being and hopefully, it has answered some of your Bible questions and given you a clearer understanding of the unseen spirit world. The Bible has so much more to say, and every detail points back to the wisdom, power, and authority of the God who rules over it all. Don’t be afraid to dig deeper. The more you learn about God’s complete reality, both visible and invisible, the more you will stand in awe of the King who reigns supreme over all creation. Hopefully, you'll now understand what is a spirit being and how they serve God and believers.