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Angels: Elect and Evil
What are angels like? How many kinds are there? Are mental disorders caused by their influence? Long favored by scholars, this classic has now been rewritten to give us accessible scriptural answers to our questions about the spirit world.
227 pages
First published January 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 12, 2022
Dated, but useful resource for a biblical understanding of angels and demons.
The challenge with any book on angels and demons is the lack of Biblical information. This eventually leads to other sources of our information to answer our nagging questions. This book does its best to avoid this trap but still falls in it from time to time. The book is well organized into small chapters and is probably more useful as a reference instead of being read cover to cover. I read it cover to cover, but found it often repetitive and it took some logical leaps at points.
Some OT appearances of Christ are interpreted as angels in this work, which affects some of his conclusions. But if you don't affirm Christophanies in the OT, like in Daniel 10, then you will be fine.
His conclusions on the possibility of demonic possession for Christians will probably rub some the wrong way. While I did not agree with his conclusion, I did have to admit that it was Biblical founded and appears to be a valid option.
One of the big cons is that this book shows its age when it references occult and demonic possession. It was originally written in the '70s and that comes through in this part of the book. Much of the conclusions around demonic possession and how to deal with it are taken from experience instead of only Scripture. There is also little interaction with historical Christian thought or even other theologians. This weakens the argument significantly in places.
Should you read this book? Probably if you are interested in learning more about what the Bible says about angels and demons. I honestly do not know of many resources that touch on this topic at all without going off the rails. I think it is a useful, but flawed book. The lack of other alternatives makes this the best option in my mind.
The challenge with any book on angels and demons is the lack of Biblical information. This eventually leads to other sources of our information to answer our nagging questions. This book does its best to avoid this trap but still falls in it from time to time. The book is well organized into small chapters and is probably more useful as a reference instead of being read cover to cover. I read it cover to cover, but found it often repetitive and it took some logical leaps at points.
Some OT appearances of Christ are interpreted as angels in this work, which affects some of his conclusions. But if you don't affirm Christophanies in the OT, like in Daniel 10, then you will be fine.
His conclusions on the possibility of demonic possession for Christians will probably rub some the wrong way. While I did not agree with his conclusion, I did have to admit that it was Biblical founded and appears to be a valid option.
One of the big cons is that this book shows its age when it references occult and demonic possession. It was originally written in the '70s and that comes through in this part of the book. Much of the conclusions around demonic possession and how to deal with it are taken from experience instead of only Scripture. There is also little interaction with historical Christian thought or even other theologians. This weakens the argument significantly in places.
Should you read this book? Probably if you are interested in learning more about what the Bible says about angels and demons. I honestly do not know of many resources that touch on this topic at all without going off the rails. I think it is a useful, but flawed book. The lack of other alternatives makes this the best option in my mind.
May 12, 2021
An extremely valuable first cut at this important Bible topic. I recommend the book highly and find nothing presented by the author that I have any issue with. Also an interesting read.
January 20, 2021
Good info on the biblical teaching of angels. Wish I could give it 5 stars, but his view on demon possession is totally not biblical.
April 6, 2024
I've read several books pertaining to angelogy this year and this one is the best one I have found so far. Even though I didnt agree with everything in this book I appreciated his desire to stick with the Biblical text and for that he gets 5 stars.
The weakest part for me was his section on demonology. I disagreed with his conclusions on believers potentially being able to be possessed however I still give him five stars for how he attempted to argue for that.
Angelology is category of theology often prone to speculation but I appreciated his overall methodology in seeking to stick to scripture.
The weakest part for me was his section on demonology. I disagreed with his conclusions on believers potentially being able to be possessed however I still give him five stars for how he attempted to argue for that.
Angelology is category of theology often prone to speculation but I appreciated his overall methodology in seeking to stick to scripture.
September 20, 2019
Wanted to fully like this book, but ended up having to force myself to finish it. First of all, it is quite repetitive. It could have been a lot shorter with no loss of content. Second, it is written with a classical Dispensationalist framework assumed, so there's that. Third, many of the scripture references given as proof texts do not speak to the point being made. And finally, many of the points made (especially regarding demons) are only supported anecdotally, rather than by Scripture or even by sound academic sources.
March 22, 2021
A thorough examination of what the Bible has to say about angels and demons and their interactions with people in the Bible and a little about interactions with people today. Dickason's presentation is readable but not riveting. In places it is a bit dry, and may be better used as a reference than a book to be read from cover to cover. Also, it assumes dispensationalism and cessationism without explanation. Apart from these shortcomings I found it quite helpful.
April 7, 2019
Angels — Do You Really Know Who They Are?
This is an excellent resource on Angels—Elect, Fallen, Satan and Demons from their creation to their final eternal state.
Dickason provides a comprehensive and biblical explanation of angels. Since the majority of Christians have a “Hollywood understanding” of angels, I can not recommend this book enough.
This is an excellent resource on Angels—Elect, Fallen, Satan and Demons from their creation to their final eternal state.
Dickason provides a comprehensive and biblical explanation of angels. Since the majority of Christians have a “Hollywood understanding” of angels, I can not recommend this book enough.
June 30, 2018
Learned some things that are in the bible but it doesn't mean I believe all of it.
November 5, 2018
Very informative. Some of the information I didn't agree with 100%, but the author concedes there are varying opinions. Overall, though, well-researched and well put-together.
October 19, 2019
What an amazing book on "Angels Elect and Evil" for Angelology & Demonology at Trinity College of the Bible & Theological Seminary. I learned a lot!
April 5, 2022
A decent insight into a very complicated and always changing subject.
May 2, 2023
review coming
August 10, 2011
Very repetative book which makes sense since angels is not the primary focus of the bible, so he finds himself repeating himself over and over again. I wish he would have engaged psychology more when discussing demon possession. I was hoping for more coecive integration between the spiritual and the psychological.
September 8, 2009
Easy read with a good treatment of the topic of angels.
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March 23, 2010Informative
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February 10, 2013Evangelical take on demons by a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.
January 12, 2016
It gets a little too deep for me during the last quarter of the book. Interesting and informative.
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January 10, 2018Helpful book I read in college for a class.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews