Angels

Here's a good Greek word: αγγέλος "aggelos." For pronunciation, a "g" in that position is prounced like "ng." So the pronunciation is "angelos." The word means 'herald, or messenger.' A herald in ancient Greece was a guy who went, under flag of truce, between warring parties, and was not to be harmed.

So, the English word "angel" comes from the Greek, meaning "herald" or "messenger," from God, of course.

The next word in this story is the Greek verb ευαγγελίζω "euangelizew." The ending may be a little messed up, but dont worry about that. ευ "Eu" is an adverb meaning "well." And "angelizew" is a verb meaning "to herald, to announce." Put together, in the New Testament, the verb "euangelizew" meant, "to announce the good news." At some point later on (in Roman or Medieval times), the letter "u" could be pronounced as a "v."

So, we get "evangelize." Cool, huh?

Which brings me back to the Christmas carol "Hark the herald angels sing." Now isn't that a bit redundant? "Hark the herald heralds sing?" About what? Maybe about the success of that equally redundant baseball team, the "Los Angeles Angels?" Who maybe should be called the "Los Geraldos Geraldos?"