ἀγγελία (angelia)
angelia
message
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun angelia refers to a message, announcement, or piece of news. Derived from the word for messenger (angelos), it denotes the content carried by that messenger rather than the person themselves. In the New Testament, this term appears only twice, both within the First Epistle of John.
In 1 John 1:5 and 3:11, angelia describes the divine report received from God. The sources note that in the Greek Old Testament (LXX), it often translates the Hebrew shmuah, meaning a report or tidings. Here, it signifies the authoritative proclamation of God’s truth—specifically that God is light and love—which believers are called to share with one another.
Unlike terms for personal witness, angelia emphasizes the objective nature of the communication. It is the news itself that has been delivered. This usage highlights the importance of faithful transmission in early Christian communities, where the message stood as a distinct entity entrusted to those who heard it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word angelia points to a specific kind of news—an announcement carried by a messenger. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in the First Letter of John. It shifts our focus from the person delivering the news to the content itself. This is not personal opinion or subjective feeling; it is the objective truth that has been entrusted to us.
John uses this term to describe what he heard directly from Jesus and now shares with others. The message is simple yet profound: God is light, and we are called to love one another. When you read these verses, remember that you are holding the same core report. It is a gift passed down, not invented by us.
This stability offers comfort. Your faith rests on a clear announcement, not shifting cultural trends. You can trust the foundation because it comes from God Himself. Let this assurance anchor your heart as you navigate daily life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- message2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀγγελία2×
Key Verses
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I John 1:5
This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
This verse defines the core content of the angelia, identifying God as light and establishing the objective truth believers are to announce.
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I John 3:11
For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another—
Here the message is linked directly to ethical action, showing that the divine report requires us to love one another as we heard from the beginning.