What's in a Word?
Ancient Greek Concepts in Modern Language

Angels

from Greek angeloi, messenger

Today, the term angel is used, rather indiscriminately, for a large variety and a great spectrum of so-called spirit-beings: archangels, guardian angels, angelic beings - we even call our beloved an angel, sometimes, for just being nice.

In a more specific sense, within Christianity, angels are merely one sub-category - and the lowest at that - of several classes (or orders) of angelic beings; quite distinct from the archangels or the (Hebrew) seraphim. Depending on whether one looks at Christianity or Hebrew mysticism, the number of angel categories in the spiritual hierarchy ranges from seven to ten - but always with the mere angels being at the bottom of the picking order.

But way before Christianity, preceding it by about 1000 years, already the Greek poet Homer (ca. 9th century BCE) wrote about angeloi and called them messengers; and they were also tasked with guiding the dead to the netherworld.

Looked at from the point of view of comparative religion, angels are the monotheistic equivalent to what is usually described - in religions other than Judaism, Christianity and Islam - as semi-divine beings or minor deities.