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BEFORE THE MANGER
A COMMENTARY ON THE STUDY OF
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
By Rev. Dr. Steven C. Brown
Discussing the PreExistence of Jesus Christ.
Pure Christianity Series: Volume #6
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
“The Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2002 by
International Bible Society. All rights reserved. Used with permission of
Zondervan Bible Pubishers.”
“Disciple’s Study Bible Copyright 1988 by Holman Bible Publishers. All rights
reserved. International Copyright secured.”
“The Amplified Bible, Expanded Edition Copyright 1987 by the Zondervan
Corporation and the Lockman Foundation All rights reserved.”
“The Holy Bible, King James Version, Copyright 1976 by Thomas Nelson, inc.
Nashville, Tennessee.”
“The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright 1982, 1985 by
Thomas Nelson, Inc.”
DEDICATIONS:
This book is dedicated to all those who truly love the Lord, Jesus Christ. He showed us
the most excellent way and we can only strive to follow His example.
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PREFACE
It is obvious that some people believe that The Angel of the Lord is Christ, pre-
incarnate, while others are at odds with this assumption. It is not the original intent of
the author of this commentary to side with either view in that this work has been done at
the Spirit's leading to present the Holy Scripture on the subject, only. Any conclusion
that is made by the reader can, and should only be made after careful study and prayer.
Please use this commentary in addition to the Scripture quotations provided. Please feel
free to use any other Bible translations you choose to read for a thorough exegesis of
the Holy Scriptures relevant to this subject of the Angel of the Lord. Also pay careful
attention to the wording in verses involving angelic beings, i.e.: "The Angel of the Lord"
or "the angel of the Lord" refer to the same being whether capitalized in your personal
translation or not...they all say "the angel" as opposed to "an angel" or "angels". This
signifies a single Angel Who is specifically called out apart from all other angels. [Angel
in the primary sense means messenger of God. Of which, Jesus is our supreme
messenger. See also definitions.]
Jesus is truly the Supreme Messenger of God and not a created being, as were the
angels and all of the other created beings. Jesus is the Word of God.
The following is adapted from the footnote reference in THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE,
EXPANDED EDITION pg. 18; copyright 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation:
"The Angel of the Lord" or "of God," or "of His presence" is readily identified with the
Lord God (Gen. 16:11, 13; 22:11, 12; 31:11, 13; Exod. 3:16 and other passages). But it
is obvious that the Angel of the Lord is a distinct person in Himself from God the Father
(Gen. 24:7; Exod. 23:20; Zech. 1:12, 13 and other passages). Nor does the "Angel of
the Lord" appear again after Christ came in human form.
He must of necessity be One of the threeinone" Godhead. The "Angel of the Lord" is the
visible Lord God of the Old Testament, as Jesus Christ is of the New Testament. THE
CAMBRIDGE BIBLE observes: "There is a fascinating forecast of the coming Messiah,
breaking through the dimness with amazing consistency, at intervals from Genesis to
Malachi, Abraham, Moses, the slave girl Hagar, the impoverished farmer Gideon, even
to the humble parents of Samson, had seen and talked with Him centuries before the
herald angels proclaimed His birth in Bethlehem."
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