No Ordinary Angel: Celestial Spirits and Christian Claims about Jesus

With this book on angels, the press launches its Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library. No matter what branch of Christianity you profess, it is likely that your belief system teaches that angels are at work in our lives. This thoughtful, though sometimes ponderous, study by Garrett, professor of New Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, brings forward the important place angels hold in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Angels, both good and evil, are seen as a major driving force in the divine-human encounter. They appear as helpers in time of need, or as tempters when we’re prone to do evil. They affect our present and help determine our future. And while some may dismiss the whole issue as just so much imaginative nonsense, Garrett understands the ultimate goal of angelic intervention in our lives: “Jesus is no ordinary angel, but rather, the peerless example of God’s stooping down to be present with us in our brokenness.” This thrilling thought can be a comfort and a joy to all people of faith. (Nov.)