Unless otherwise noted, scripture citations are from the World English Bible translation. References and links to other works does not necessarily mean that we endorse all that other authors state, nor that these authors necessarily agree with our presentation.

Paul is talking about the high office that the church is striving for, to be joint-heirs with Christ. As such, along with Christ (Hebrews 1:6), the angels would bow down to those who attain this office. He tells the Christian not to let anyone disqualify you from this office by self-debasement, claiming that we should not seek such a high office so that the angels should bow down to us, but rather we should bow down to the angels, that is, seek to be subservient to the angels, not to be exalted above them.

Nevertheless, this scripture is often quoted in reference to the usage of angelic statues, ornaments, jewelry, etc., that has greatly increased in the last few decades. Regardless of the meaning of this scripture, we know from other scriptures that idolatry is wrong, so how should we view the images of winged female and child angels?

Practically every which way we turn today, we are confronted with pictures, small and sometimes large statues of winged angels, female angels (often very sensually displayed), as well as winged child angels. These images of "angels" have been around for a long time, and many Christians purchase them and display them without knowledge of their true source or implications. We need to note that the scriptures no where speak of angels such as are being depicted, so we wonder where does all this fascination with such ornaments come from? Much of this evidently has more to do with the graven images of winged gods and goddesses of the heathen religions than the Bible. The exaltation of the supposed "innocence" of childhood is also a concept taken from heathen religions. The fallen human flesh often confuses adoration and worship of the creation with spirituality. Today "New Age" paganism appears to be behind this increase of idolatry in this connection, for many Christians have not studied the Bible well enough to realize that these "angelic" works of men's hands are actually idols. Pagans often use the Bible to their advantage, and to promote their pagan philosophies and idolatries, and many professed Christians seem to fall for their deceptions very easily.
See: http://reslight.net/idol.html
Idolatry Provokes Yahweh's Anger

One Bible Student took note of this long ago. Here is a quote:

There is no arrangement in God's Plan to have any of those on the spirit plane male and female. According to the productions of Art, there are no male angels; but according to the Scriptures, there are no female angels. Possibly the reason why so many artists have supposed that angels are females is that there are more women in the Church than men. But the entire idea is erroneous; for angels are an entirely separate order of beings from mankind. Man never was an angel and never was intended to be an angel. Man is of the earth, earthy. He fell from the position of king of the earth and became a degraded being; and the Divine intention and promise is that when Messiah shall reign humanity shall be lifted up from sin and degradation and brought back to human perfection.--Acts 3:19-21. ---- ZWT, November 1, 1911, page 414, Reprints page 4914.

Some image examples of heathen winged goddesses online:

http://www.snakeandsnake.com/wingedgoddess.htm
http://www.spiralgoddess.com/Inanna.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/hornton/21/wings.html
http://www.rainbowenterprises.com/FairyItemPages/2042470.htm http://store.yahoo.com/mysticaldragon/wingodpewand.html
http://store.yahoo.com/mysticaldragon/wingedisis.html
http://www.historylink101.net/turkey/rf-ephesus-sculpture.htm
http://tinyurl.com/8tyz8

Angels, as such, are never depicted in the Bible as having wings. Some point to Zechariah 5:9 as an example of female winged angels. There we read: "Then lifted I up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were two women, and the wind was in their wings. Now they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah basket between earth and the sky." Actually, Zechariah was seeing a vision. (In the vision just before Zechariah had seen a "flying roll." (Zechariah 5:1) The women here are not described as angels. This whole vision is of wickedness. (Zechariah 5:8) Many Bible Students believe that these two women represent two demonic religious systems/covenants (compare Isaiah 56:10-12; Galatians 4:24), receiving power (ruahh, translated "wind" in the KJV) from the demons, the power of the air. -- Ephesians 2:2; 6:12.

There are winged creatures spoken of in the Bible called seraphs (Isaiah 6:2,6) and cherubs. These have been traditionally thought of as angels, although no scripture identifies these winged creatures as angels or even as spirit beings. Regarding cherubs (Cherubim, Hebrew), Easton's Dictionary states:

They are first mentioned in connection with the expulsion of our first parents from Eden (Genesis 3:24). There is no intimation given of their shape or form. They are next mentioned when Moses was commanded to provide furniture for the tabernacle (Exodus 25:17-20; 26:1,31). God promised to commune with Moses "from between the cherubim" (25:22). This expression was afterwards used to denote the Divine abode and presence (Numbers 7:89; 1 Samuel 4:4; Isaiah 37:16; Psalms 80:1; 99:1). In Ezekiel's vision (10:1-20) they appear as living creatures supporting the throne of God. From Ezekiel's description of them (1;10; 41:18,19), they appear to have been compound figures, unlike any real object in nature; artificial images possessing the features and properties of several animals. Two cherubim were placed on the mercy-seat of the ark; two of colossal size overshadowed it in Solomon's temple. (Ezekiel 1:4-14) speaks of four; and this number of "living creatures" is mentioned in Revelation 4:6. Those on the ark are called the "cherubim of glory" (Hebrews 9:5), i.e., of the Shechinah, or cloud of glory, for on them the visible glory of God rested. They were placed one at each end of the mercy-seat, with wings stretched upward, and their faces "toward each other and toward the mercy-seat." They were anointed with holy oil, like the ark itself and the other sacred furniture.
Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for Cherub". "Easton's Bible Dictionary".
http://www.biblestudytools.net/Dictionaries/EastonBibleDictionary/ebd.cgi?number=T791.

A close examination all the scriptures in reference to cherubs will show that one cannot definitely determine what these creatures are, whether spirit beings or fleshly beings. There have been good arguments both ways. However, if we assume that they are spirit beings, we have nothing in the scriptures that would classify in the sense of "angels". The cherubs described on the ark of the covenant had wings. Thus we conclude that the cherubs were winged creatures, whatever shape or form they were. (Exodus 37:7-9; see also 1 Kings 6:27; 8:6 2 Chronicles 3:11,13; 5:7) However, angels in the Bible never appear with wings nor as females. It is possible that the cherubs of scripture were confused with the pagan gods and goddesses with wings and thus the images of these winged gods and goddesses came to be referred to angels. Many are familiar with the arguments that cherubs are angels. However, we suggest (we do not necessarily agree with all conclusions given):
http://hometown.aol.com/scheairs/UnicornSite/Booklets/Cherubim_are_not_Angels.pdf
Cherubim Are Not Angels
by Tony Warren

Seraphs (Seraphim, Hebrew) are only mentioned in Isaiah 6:2-7. This, of course, is a vision. Whether it is meant to say that in heaven there is a rank of spirit beings called "seraphs" cannot be determined from the scripture. Nor can we definitely determine from the scripture that these seraphs are considered "angels".

The following were written by authors associated with the Bible Student Movement:

Angelic Helpers
(Bible Students Congregation of New Brunswick)

Satan and the Fallen Angels
(Oakland County Bible Students)

The following articles were written by authors NOT associated with the Bible Student Movement:

Why Are There Female Angels in Art?
(Christianity Today)

Angels Unaware
Author: Mary Kay Young

Angels - A Biblical Study of the Doctrine
Dave Patterson, MDiv - Editor
South Main Street Baptist Church, Greenwood, SC

Revealing the Identity of New Age Angels