Theology

Darrell D. Hannah

Michael and Christ: Michael Traditions and Angel Christology in Early Christianity

[Michael und Christus. Erzengel Michael-Traditionen und Engel-Christologie im Frühen Christentum. Von Darrell D. Hannah.]

1999. XVI, 289 pages.

Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2. Reihe 109

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Darrell D. Hannah engages the current debate over 'angelomorphic Christology'. He shows that more than one form of angel or angelomorphic Christology was current in early Christianity and that Michael traditions in particular provided a conceptual framework in which Christ's heavenly significance was understood.
In recent years a number of New Testament scholars have argued that Jewish beliefs and traditions about the principal angel hold the key to understanding why early Christians came to make such exalted claims about Jesus of Nazareth. Jewish and early Christian traditions about the archangel Michael provide a ready test for this thesis. For Michael is very often the principal figure in Jewish and early Christian angelology. Darrell D. Hannah examines Michael traditions from the Old Testament, Jewish apocalyptic, Qumran, Philo, the Rabbis, Merkabah mysticism, the New Testament, Christian apocalyptic, the New Testament Apocrypha, and the Fathers of the second century. From this mass of literature three forms of angelic Christology are evidenced. First, some early 'orthodox' Christians developed an 'theophanic angel Christology'. That is, they interpreted Old Testament passages about the 'angel of the Lord' as 'pre-incarnate manifestations' of Christ. Secondly, some 'heretical' forms of Jewish Christianity identified Christ as an incarnation of the highest archangel. Finally, some Christians found in Jewish speculations about the Principal Angel (Michael, Metatron, Yahoel, etc.) a conceptual framework within which to place a second divine figure. Principal angel traditions, particularly those about the archangel Michael, were useful for elucidating the significance of Christ. However, 'orthodox' Christians who made use of these traditions were very careful to avoid any implication that Christ possessed an angelic nature. 'Orthodox' Christians never regarded Christ merely as an angel, not even as the angel. The Shepherd of Hermas identified Christ with Michael, but would seem to have been unique in this.
Authors/Editors

Darrell D. Hannah Born 1962; 1989 Master of Divinity at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; 1992 Master of Theology at Regent College; 1992 PhD at the University of Cambridge; 1996–98 Sir Henry Stephenson Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield; since 1998 New Testament Research Fellow at Westhill College.

Reviews

The following reviews are known:

In: New Testament Abstracts — 44, (2000), Nr. 2, S. 406–407
In: Nederlands Theologisch Tijdschrift — Jg.56 (2002), H.1, S. 70 (P.W.van der Horst)
In: Journal of Theological Studies — Jg. 52 (2001), H.2, S. 781ff (Christopher Rowland)
In: Journal for the Study of Judaism — Jg.32 (2001) S. 97ff.
In: International Review of Biblical Studies — Jg.46 (1999/2000)
In: De Stem van het Boek — Jg.12 (2001) No.2, S. 18 (PJT)
In: Revista Biblica Brasileira — 17, 2000, S. 687 (?)
In: Scripta Theologica — Jg.32 (2001), H.3, S. 961 (Jose Miguel Odero)
In: Theologie der Gegenwart — Jg.45 (2002), H.4, S. 293f (Heinz Giesen)
In: Revue d'histoire et de Philosophie Religieuses — Jg.81 (2001) Nr.2, S. 203 (Ch. Grappe)
In: Theologische Rundschau — Jg. 66 (2001), H.4, S. 498ff (Jürgen Wehnert)
In: Theologische Rundschau — 77 (2012), S. 54–87 (Michael Tilly)
In: Theology Digest — Jg.47 (2000), Nr.3, S. 269f.
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