Thomas Goodwin: Watchers, gods, and the council of angels!

You can’t get more reformed than Thomas Goodwin!

These quotes are taken from his complete works, specifically SERMON XXXII. An exposition of the Epistle to the Ephesians:

The gods are angels, good and bad:

“You therefore find that the angels, both good and bad, are called gods…Of the devil there is an express place, 2 Cor. iv. 4, where the Apostle calleth him ' the god of this world ; ' it is all one with that in John xii. 31, where he is called 'the prince of this world.' He is by the Apostle in one place called the god of this world, and by Christ in another the prince of this world ; and you have as clear a place that the good angels are called gods too, and that in this respect ; it is in Ps. xcvii 7, ' Worship him, all ye gods ;' now look in Heb. i. 6, where the Apostle quoteth it, and interpreteth it to be meant of the good angels, “Let all the angels of God worship him ; ' they are gods, and gods because they are chief princes, as you heard before.” (page 489)

The Watchers – The Council of Angels:

“Who were the watchers? It was not the Persons in the Trinity ; they were angels, for it is said, ver. 13, 'the watchman came down from heaven.' Though one angel was the executioner more especially, yet he saith it was by the decree of the watchers ; they decreed in heaven, the council of angels did, as being of counsel to the great king, and one watcher came down to execute it. Thus, you see, angels have their hands in the great things of the world, in ruling of kingdoms and the affairs here below.” (page 492)

If you would like to learn more about the idea of the gods and the divine council, you can read my series of articles here: Is The Divine Council Biblical?