No Ordinary Angel: Celestial Spirits and Christian Claims About Jesus (Anchor Bible Reference) (Anchor Bible Reference Library (YUP))

New
Hardcover
2009
$30.17

In this provocative, intelligent, and highly original addition to the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library, Susan R. Garrett argues that angel talk has never been merely about angels. Rather, from ancient times until the present, talk about angels has served as a vehicle for reflection on other fundamental life questions, including the nature of God's presence and intervention in the world, the existence and meaning of evil, and the fate of humans after death. In No Ordinary Angel, Garrett examines how biblical and other ancient authors addressed such questions through their portrayals of angels. She compares the ancient angel talk to popular depictions of angels today and considers how the ancient and modern portraits of angels relate to Christian claims about Jesus.

No Ordinary Angel offers important insights into the development of angelology, the origins of Christology, and popular Western spirituality ranging from fundamentalist to New Age. In doing so, it provokes stimulating theological reflection on key existential questions.

Synopsis

In this provocative, intelligent, and highly original addition to the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library, Susan R. Garrett argues that angel talk has never been merely about angels. Rather, from ancient times until the present, talk about angels has served as a vehicle for reflection on other fundamental life questions, including the nature of God's presence and intervention in the world, the existence and meaning of evil, and the fate of humans after death. In No Ordinary Angel, Garrett examines how biblical and other ancient authors addressed such questions through their portrayals of angels. She compares the ancient angel talk to popular depictions of angels today and considers how the ancient and modern portraits of angels relate to Christian claims about Jesus.

No Ordinary Angel offers important insights into the development of angelology, the origins of Christology, and popular Western spirituality ranging from fundamentalist to New Age. In doing so, it provokes stimulating theological reflection on key existential questions.

$30.17

Quantity

3 in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 02 Jan 2009
ISBN 10: 0300140959
ISBN 13: 9780300140958

Media Reviews

At once magisterial and accessible, Garrett's book moves with grace between ancient and modern depictions of angels-never dismissive of popular beliefs, yet showing their indebtedness to modern ideologies. -Dale B. Martin, author of Pedagogy of the Bible

-- Dale B. Martin

Susan Garrett has written no ordinary book about angels. A supposedly esoteric or other-worldly topic turns out to be a life and death matter when Garrett illumines it with the light of her learning. -Patrick D. Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary

-- Patrick D. Miller
This marvelously readable and informative book is an authoritative contribution to the scholarly literature on angelology. Those who minister to folks who have been-or desperately want to be- touched by an angel will benefit greatly from Garrett's insights. I am immensely grateful to my own guardian angel for leading me to this book! -Richard J. Mouw, Fuller Theological Seminary -- Richard J. Mouw
Susan R. Garrett combines impeccable biblical scholarship with creative, profound theological reflection. No Ordinary Angel is far more than a book about angels. In the course of investigating ancient and modern angelologies, Garrett delves into such central matters as the nature and work of Christ and the presence and action of God in the world. Her prose is fluid, her forays into popular culture ring true, and her theology is nothing less than brilliant. This is an important book for scholars and lay persons alike. Exquisite theology born of rigorous bible-study-it doesn't get any better than this! -Serene Jones, President, Union Theological Seminary

-- Serene Jones
A wonderful new book about the enduring popularity of angels in American culture-and how these angel images in movies, TV shows and novels relate to the faith of the majority of Americans, which is Christianity. . . . Susan is exploring the blossoming of popular angel images in American media-and trying to connect the cultural dots for most Americans who look to Christianity as their faith. -David Crumm, Read the Spirit -- David Crumm * Read the Spirit *
. . . [T]akes a subject that scholars generally consider to be on the fluffy end of popular piety and integrates it into ecclesial and academic reflection. . . . exceptionally well structured . . . and very engagingly written . . . -Sam Wells, Christian Century -- Sam Wells * Christian Century *

Author Bio

Susan R. Garrett is professor of New Testament, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She is coordinator of the Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion.