The Angelomorphic Spirit in Early Christianity: Revelation, ...

This study investigates the concept of "angelomorphic pneumatology"—the portrayal of the Holy Spirit with angelic characteristics—in three early Christian texts: the Book of Revelation, the Shepherd of Hermas, and select writings attributed to a prominent early theologian. Building upon prior research that identified the term "spirit" as indicative of angelic presence in early Jewish literature, the analysis argues that these Christian sources depict the Spirit in a manner that merges angelic imagery with theological function. This depiction is closely linked with "Spirit Christology," wherein the Spirit is associated with the Logos or the Son, forming a binitarian theological framework. The study suggests that this framework reflects an early, quasi-Trinitarian understanding of the divine, characterized by the Father, the Son/Spirit, and the angelomorphic Spirit. By examining these texts, the research highlights a distinctive theological articulation within early Christianity that integrates Jewish traditions and angelology into its conceptualization of the Holy Spirit.