Extracts of Francis Turretin
The Bible teaches that angels are real spiritual beings created by God. They are not human spirits, nor imaginary symbols, nor independent powers acting on their own. They are servants of God who carry out His will.
Sometimes in Scripture, angels became visible to human beings. These visible appearances are called “apparitions” or manifestations of angels.
Turretin carefully asks several important questions:
Can angels truly appear to men?
How do they appear if they are spirits?
Did they take real bodies?
Were those bodies permanent or temporary?
Why did God send angels visibly at certain times?
He answers these questions with careful biblical reasoning.
The Bible teaches that angels are spiritual beings.
“Who maketh his angels spirits.” — Psalm 104:4
They do not naturally possess flesh and blood like humans. They are invisible to our physical eyes unless God makes them visible.
Because angels are spirits, they are not limited by physical bodies as we are. They do not marry, reproduce, grow old, or die.
Christ Himself said:
“For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” — Matthew 22:30
So when angels appeared in the Bible, they were not becoming human beings by nature. Their essence remained spiritual.
Although angels are spirits, Scripture clearly teaches that they sometimes appeared visibly.
Examples include:
Angels appearing to Abraham (Genesis 18)
Angels visiting Lot in Sodom (Genesis 19)
The angel appearing to Manoah (Judges 13)
Gabriel appearing to Mary (Luke 1:26–38)
Angels at Christ’s tomb (John 20:12)
These were not merely dreams or imaginary visions in every case. Many were real outward appearances witnessed by human eyes.
Turretin argues that denying all real angelic appearances would contradict the plain teaching of Scripture.
Turretin carefully distinguishes between:
appearing as men,
and
becoming men.
This distinction is extremely important.
Angels sometimes appeared in human form, but they never became truly human.
Only Jesus Christ took a real human nature permanently.
“The Word was made flesh.” — John 1:14
Christ did not merely appear human; He truly became man.
Angels, however, only assumed temporary visible forms for a specific purpose. They did not unite themselves to human nature personally and permanently.
Turretin strongly protects the uniqueness of Christ’s incarnation. The incarnation belongs to Christ alone.
Turretin teaches that when angels appeared visibly, they likely used temporary bodies specially formed by God.
These were not real biological human bodies born from women. They were temporary forms fitted for the occasion.
For example, angels in Genesis ate food with Abraham. Yet this does not mean they possessed true human digestive systems like ordinary men. God enabled them to act in visible and sensible ways so humans could interact with them.
The purpose was accommodation — God adapting the appearance to human weakness and understanding.
Just as God sometimes revealed Himself through fire, clouds, or visions, He also allowed angels to appear in forms suitable for human perception.
Turretin explains that God did not send angels to draw attention to themselves, but to serve God’s redemptive purposes.
Angels appeared:
To deliver divine messages
To protect God’s people
To execute judgment
To strengthen believers
To reveal God’s providence
To prepare for important events in redemption history
For example:
Gabriel announced the birth of Christ.
Angels strengthened Christ after His temptation.
Angels announced Christ’s resurrection.
Angels ministered to the apostles.
The focus of Scripture is never the glory of angels themselves, but the glory of God who sends them.
Turretin warns against unhealthy speculation about angels.
Scripture teaches enough for faith and godliness, but not for curiosity.
Many errors arise when people go beyond Scripture:
praying to angels,
worshiping angels,
seeking visions,
trying to contact spirits,
inventing elaborate stories about angelic hierarchies.
The apostle Paul warns:
“Let no man beguile you… in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels.” — Colossians 2:18
Angels are fellow servants of God, not objects of worship.
When the apostle John fell before an angel, the angel replied:
“See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant.” — Revelation 22:9
Christ alone is Mediator, Lord, and Savior.
Turretin also reminds us that visible angelic appearances in Scripture usually occurred during extraordinary moments in redemptive history.
Believers should not live seeking visions or supernatural manifestations.
God ordinarily guides His church through:
Scripture,
the Holy Spirit,
preaching,
prayer,
and providence.
The completion of Scripture gives the church a sufficient and stable revelation.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105
Christians walk by faith in God’s Word, not by constant miraculous appearances.
Though visible apparitions are not ordinary today, angels still serve God actively.
Scripture says:
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” — Hebrews 1:14
God still uses angels in ways often unseen by us:
protecting His people,
carrying out His providence,
restraining evil,
and fulfilling His divine purposes.
Believers may take comfort that God commands His angels concerning His children.
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” — Psalm 91:11
Yet our confidence must rest not in angels, but in God Himself.
Turretin teaches a balanced and biblical doctrine of angelic apparitions.
He affirms:
angels are real spirits,
angels sometimes appeared visibly,
these appearances were temporary,
angels never became truly human,
and all angelic ministry serves God’s glory and the good of His people.
He carefully guards:
the uniqueness of Christ’s incarnation,
the sufficiency of Scripture,
and the danger of superstition.
The believer should neither deny angels nor become obsessed with them.
Instead, we should marvel at the wisdom and providence of God, who commands all His heavenly servants for the good of His church and the glory of Christ.