Customer Reviews

Angelomorphic Christology: Antecedents and Early Evidence (Arbeiten Zur Geschichte Des Antiken Judentums Und Des Urchristentums, Bd. 42.)

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Words fail to convey how good this book is. The depth of the research and the clarity of presentation has made it one of the most cited books in the study of Christology. However, it is much more than a narrow academic treatment of a minor theological issue. Its depth and breadth gives it relevance to confessional Christians, conservative Jews as well as those strictly interested in the history of religion. Gieschen is most interested in how early - first through third century CE - Christians treated the divinity of Christ in light of the testemony of the Old Testament as well as extra-Biblical or Apocraphal material. This leads him to explore the nature of God as revealed by such terms as YHWH, Adoni, Name, Glory, Angel of YHWH, etc. He begins with the testimony of scripture to show how it appears that there are at least two Gods. He then expands his inquiry extra-Biblical sources to see how the believing culture dealt with this issue. This is relevant to Jews as it explains the rabbinical interest in the Two Powers in Heaven. It is relevant to Christians as a means of exploring how Christ can be both man and God - both one with the Father but a distinct person. For non-believers interested in the history of religion, it will provide a wealth of sources for tracing the development of both Jewish and Christian doctrines of God.

For such a weighty subject, the book is a surprisingly quick read. Gieschen writting is pithy, clear and easily understandable. I recommend this whole heartedly.

Addresses a multiplicity of aspects concerning Christology. This book is a benchmark to the study of the Person of Christ including historical research, OT appearances of Christ further substantiated by NT usage, and so much more. An excellent buy!