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Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons
Many Christians live as though they are effectively alone. However, there is another realm of intelligent life that plays a role in the world―angelic beings. This book explores the doctrine of angels and demons, answering key questions about their nature and the implications for Christians’ beliefs and behavior, helping readers see their place in the larger biblical plotline that includes supernatural beings. An understanding of the reality of angels and demons encourages believers to be vigilant in the light of spiritual warfare and to be confident in Christ’s victory on the cross.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published November 12, 2019
34 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 24, 2025
Well-balanced, excellent historical overview of theology of the spirit realm. Cole is quick to assess diverse views according to Scripture and humble with his own approach. His main point: we need to think about this.
April 30, 2024
2.5 stars. Solidly in the middle.
I'm unsure what to say. I read Against the Darkness expecting a dense theology book. I don't know why it bothers me that it is a dense theology book...still, I feel as though better definitions and more context would've been elucidating.
I'm unsure what to say. I read Against the Darkness expecting a dense theology book. I don't know why it bothers me that it is a dense theology book...still, I feel as though better definitions and more context would've been elucidating.
April 24, 2023
Serviceable as a reference work, nothing much new or inspired, disagreed with a number of his interpretations.
June 26, 2020
Helpful in places and thoughtful. Needed to be 2x as long to explore some issues more thoroughly. Cole wanted to be cautious about going beyond the biblical data and I respect that, but he may have been too cautious.
August 19, 2020
In a world full of thick systematic theologies this book hits an area that many of them spend little time. Cole’s writing is accessible and easy to understand as he walks through the biblical understandings of angels and demons. He does focus primarily on these and two and refuses to use conjecture in making a definition and who they are. Cole also breaks down the roles of angels and demons in the present, the life of Jesus, the day of Judgment, and in eternity. I appreciate his use of historical theology as he focuses on what the church has historically taught concerning angelology and even highlights what the Roman Catholic Church teaches. This book was very informative and my understanding of angelology is better for reading it.
June 23, 2021
This is a biblically grounded and level headed treatment of angelology and demonology. This book is a wonderfully straight laced antidote to the many speculative and imaginatively creative treatments of the same subject. Dr Cole has no interest in stepping into the realms of Pseudepigrapha, 2nd Temple Judaism, or Platonic speculations of the scholastic Church writers in order to talk about what we should believe regarding the spiritual realm. He interacts with some of that literature, though perhaps not as much as some will want to see, but in the end his treatment has both feet firmly planted in Scripture. An excellent example for all writers on the topic to emulate.
December 14, 2021
Sound and much needed!
It is frightening to learn how many “systematic theologies” in the modern Protestant world say little to nothing about angels, demons, or Satan. This work balances out that intentional ignorance, with a careful, thorough, balanced treatment of every verse that deals with non-human created intelligences.
It is frightening to learn how many “systematic theologies” in the modern Protestant world say little to nothing about angels, demons, or Satan. This work balances out that intentional ignorance, with a careful, thorough, balanced treatment of every verse that deals with non-human created intelligences.
December 30, 2023
Really interesting analysis of the doctrine of angels in scripture. I learned of this book in my research for preaching Hebrews and found it to be fascinating. This was an area of theology I had not studied much before but thoroughly enjoyed.
May 23, 2024
Really good survey, not intending to be exhaustive. Helpful application/implication sections.
December 29, 2024
An excellent presentation of biblically evidenced view points and the flaws in some common viewpoints on the spiritual realm.
May 18, 2022
Careful, balanced treatment of an often overlooked topic.
February 23, 2020
Angels and demons perplex me. At times I am embarrassed that the Bible says enough about them that I can't pretend them away, but not enough to make it clear to me why they actually matter. The lived experience of my life is not functionally impacted by the existence or nonexistence of angels and demons. The Bible doesn't really say that much about them, right? In short, I don't really think about them until I read weird passages like Michael wrestling the devil over Moses' body (Jude 9) or the dissolution of the institution of human marriage in heaven because we will "be like the angels of heaven" (Matthew 22:30). What are we to make of the Nephilim in Genesis 6? Demons are also very weird: how about the ones that get cast out of Graveyard Man and into a herd of pigs who then drown (Luke 8:26-39)? In reality, angels and demons are all over the Bible, it's just that for the most part they're extras in the background and the camera very rarely zooms in on them.
Because of my relative ignorance about angels, demons, and even Satan, I was intrigued to see Graham Cole's entry in the Foundations of Evangelical Theology series: Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons. The work is straightforwardly divided into 9 chapters: an introduction and a conclusion, two chapters on the identity and work of angels, one chapter on Satan, one on Demons, and then three chapters that cover the intersection of angels/demons with the atonement, spiritual warfare, anthropology, and eschatology. There are a few helpful appendices as well covering topics like Islamic angelology/demonology and how the subject appears throughout church history in creeds, catechisms, confessions, etc.
Well-done Systematic Theology
I'm not holding my cards any longer: I really like this book. I think it's a fine example of a more practical-oriented systematic theology done from an evangelical viewpoint. It engages different "in-house" viewpoints with irenicism instead of needless pugnacity. It engages perspectives outside the Christian faith with respect and clarity. It engages the voices of the church historical without deifying those voices.
What I appreciate most, though, is the manner with which he engages scripture. The de facto model of interacting with scripture in a systematic theology is to make a statement and then support it parenthetically with an array of verses. The upside of this method is that it is compact (and most systematics don't need to get any thicker) while still allowing you to "fact check" the work against scripture. The downside of this approach is that it implicitly puts the Bible in the role of supporting the author's ideas rather than placing the author in the role of distilling conclusions from the work of exegesis. One hopes that when theologians cite scripture, the work of exegesis did happen but not in "real time" (as it were) before the reader's eyes.
Cole consciously chooses to opt for a strategy of citing a passage at length and then articulating its meaning and significance:
The question now becomes, what does sound scriptural grounding look like? For a start, scriptural grounding means exegesis (i.e., legitimately read out of Scripture) not eisegesis (illegitimately read into Scripture). Such grounding can be hard to see in the classic method of dicta probantia (proving statements), when some doctrinal claim is made and texts from Scripture are cited, usually in parentheses at the end of a sentence.... A complementary method is that of contextualized affirmations. A key text which mentions angels is not simply cited but is quoted, placed in its context in its literary unit in its book in the canon in the light of the flow of redemptive history before doctrinal implications are considered. An advantage of this method is that it can show why the chosen text is described as a key one.1
These two approaches are not necessarily opposed to one another, but the end result of quoting the texts at length is a much more inclusive work; it's as if the author is saying, "Come, let us look at the scripture together and then discern what we can, must, and cannot conclude from it." A good example of this approach is from chapter two on the nature and identity of seraphim:
Seraphim Only one passage of Scripture refers to seraphim per se, but it is a magnificent one. In Isaiah 6:1–4 we find this description:
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"
These creatures along with the cherubim (more anon) are well described by Noll as "throne angels." They seem to be associated with the glorious presence of God and with purifying fire.2
Perhaps he is able to accomplish this only because there is not much scriptural witness to the seraphim, and it would be harder if the topic at hand were instead the NT's use of the OT. Perhaps not. Either way, it works exceedingly well toward orienting Cole around scripture rather than vice versa.
Grounded and Pastoral
Another fantastic thing about Against the Darkness is that it covers a topic where there is a great temptation to engage in speculation, and while he surveys the more speculative beliefs that some hold, he does not engage in this himself. He will explain why we must stop short of the satisfying conclusions we wish for simply because we do not have enough source material to work with, and he even explains what to make of this peculiar position of believing in angels but not always knowing much about them.
Pastorally speaking, it is not enough to mostly ignore angels because they are mostly background players in the biblical narrative: the Bible does tell us enough to counteract common beliefs like that we will become angels when we die or that each individual human being has an individual guardian angel (and a demon on the other shoulder). The secular non-Christian laughs at these notions as does the enlightened theologian, but the pastor must take them seriously and have a sincere response at the ready for it is human beings that we deal with.
Each chapter is concise, to the point, and concludes with a few words of summary and application. After a few of the chapters he provides excurses on tangential questions like the methodological question of how to read the nephilim in Genesis 6 or the question that naturally arises when we assert that angels are spirits: "What is the nature of spirit?" I deeply appreciate theologians who see the ultimate pastoral end of their work and try to speak to it. While Cole does this, he could be much more forthright about it.
For example, he helpfully asks the question, "What are we to do with contemporary angel stories?"3 Unfortunately, he equivocates when answering, saying that we should "give thanks" for the accounts of angelic experiences and "enjoy" such moving testimonies. That's a cagey, diplomatic answer, because we can respond that way whether the accounts are true or not. He eventually concludes, "Discernment is needed. On the matter of prophetic speech, Paul counsels the Thessalonians to examine all things and to hold to the good and avoid the evil (1 Thess. 5:19-22). His open but discerning approach is worthy of emulation in today's church."4 While I tend to agree with him, a clear answer would have made Against the Darkness much more rhetorically forceful, like, "Yes, angels can still work today and while discernment is needed because some will undoubtedly fabricate their tales of angelic encounters, we should give thanks and rejoice in angelic accounts when we discern them as legitimate."
Conclusion
I am glad to have Against the Darkness in my library. It is helpful, relatively concise, scripturally grounded, and non-speculative. I can easily envision referencing this when talking to others about angels, demons, and the role they play in our world. While the implications he draws could be rhetorically strengthened, I appreciate the fact that he works to get there. I heartily recommend this work.
Notes
1. Cole, Graham, Against the Darkness (Wheaton: Crossway, 2019), loc. 307.
2. loc. 703.
3. loc. 1875.
4. loc. 1893.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.
Because of my relative ignorance about angels, demons, and even Satan, I was intrigued to see Graham Cole's entry in the Foundations of Evangelical Theology series: Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons. The work is straightforwardly divided into 9 chapters: an introduction and a conclusion, two chapters on the identity and work of angels, one chapter on Satan, one on Demons, and then three chapters that cover the intersection of angels/demons with the atonement, spiritual warfare, anthropology, and eschatology. There are a few helpful appendices as well covering topics like Islamic angelology/demonology and how the subject appears throughout church history in creeds, catechisms, confessions, etc.
Well-done Systematic Theology
I'm not holding my cards any longer: I really like this book. I think it's a fine example of a more practical-oriented systematic theology done from an evangelical viewpoint. It engages different "in-house" viewpoints with irenicism instead of needless pugnacity. It engages perspectives outside the Christian faith with respect and clarity. It engages the voices of the church historical without deifying those voices.
What I appreciate most, though, is the manner with which he engages scripture. The de facto model of interacting with scripture in a systematic theology is to make a statement and then support it parenthetically with an array of verses. The upside of this method is that it is compact (and most systematics don't need to get any thicker) while still allowing you to "fact check" the work against scripture. The downside of this approach is that it implicitly puts the Bible in the role of supporting the author's ideas rather than placing the author in the role of distilling conclusions from the work of exegesis. One hopes that when theologians cite scripture, the work of exegesis did happen but not in "real time" (as it were) before the reader's eyes.
Cole consciously chooses to opt for a strategy of citing a passage at length and then articulating its meaning and significance:
The question now becomes, what does sound scriptural grounding look like? For a start, scriptural grounding means exegesis (i.e., legitimately read out of Scripture) not eisegesis (illegitimately read into Scripture). Such grounding can be hard to see in the classic method of dicta probantia (proving statements), when some doctrinal claim is made and texts from Scripture are cited, usually in parentheses at the end of a sentence.... A complementary method is that of contextualized affirmations. A key text which mentions angels is not simply cited but is quoted, placed in its context in its literary unit in its book in the canon in the light of the flow of redemptive history before doctrinal implications are considered. An advantage of this method is that it can show why the chosen text is described as a key one.1
These two approaches are not necessarily opposed to one another, but the end result of quoting the texts at length is a much more inclusive work; it's as if the author is saying, "Come, let us look at the scripture together and then discern what we can, must, and cannot conclude from it." A good example of this approach is from chapter two on the nature and identity of seraphim:
Seraphim Only one passage of Scripture refers to seraphim per se, but it is a magnificent one. In Isaiah 6:1–4 we find this description:
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"
These creatures along with the cherubim (more anon) are well described by Noll as "throne angels." They seem to be associated with the glorious presence of God and with purifying fire.2
Perhaps he is able to accomplish this only because there is not much scriptural witness to the seraphim, and it would be harder if the topic at hand were instead the NT's use of the OT. Perhaps not. Either way, it works exceedingly well toward orienting Cole around scripture rather than vice versa.
Grounded and Pastoral
Another fantastic thing about Against the Darkness is that it covers a topic where there is a great temptation to engage in speculation, and while he surveys the more speculative beliefs that some hold, he does not engage in this himself. He will explain why we must stop short of the satisfying conclusions we wish for simply because we do not have enough source material to work with, and he even explains what to make of this peculiar position of believing in angels but not always knowing much about them.
Pastorally speaking, it is not enough to mostly ignore angels because they are mostly background players in the biblical narrative: the Bible does tell us enough to counteract common beliefs like that we will become angels when we die or that each individual human being has an individual guardian angel (and a demon on the other shoulder). The secular non-Christian laughs at these notions as does the enlightened theologian, but the pastor must take them seriously and have a sincere response at the ready for it is human beings that we deal with.
Each chapter is concise, to the point, and concludes with a few words of summary and application. After a few of the chapters he provides excurses on tangential questions like the methodological question of how to read the nephilim in Genesis 6 or the question that naturally arises when we assert that angels are spirits: "What is the nature of spirit?" I deeply appreciate theologians who see the ultimate pastoral end of their work and try to speak to it. While Cole does this, he could be much more forthright about it.
For example, he helpfully asks the question, "What are we to do with contemporary angel stories?"3 Unfortunately, he equivocates when answering, saying that we should "give thanks" for the accounts of angelic experiences and "enjoy" such moving testimonies. That's a cagey, diplomatic answer, because we can respond that way whether the accounts are true or not. He eventually concludes, "Discernment is needed. On the matter of prophetic speech, Paul counsels the Thessalonians to examine all things and to hold to the good and avoid the evil (1 Thess. 5:19-22). His open but discerning approach is worthy of emulation in today's church."4 While I tend to agree with him, a clear answer would have made Against the Darkness much more rhetorically forceful, like, "Yes, angels can still work today and while discernment is needed because some will undoubtedly fabricate their tales of angelic encounters, we should give thanks and rejoice in angelic accounts when we discern them as legitimate."
Conclusion
I am glad to have Against the Darkness in my library. It is helpful, relatively concise, scripturally grounded, and non-speculative. I can easily envision referencing this when talking to others about angels, demons, and the role they play in our world. While the implications he draws could be rhetorically strengthened, I appreciate the fact that he works to get there. I heartily recommend this work.
Notes
1. Cole, Graham, Against the Darkness (Wheaton: Crossway, 2019), loc. 307.
2. loc. 703.
3. loc. 1875.
4. loc. 1893.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.
December 6, 2019
Graham Cole a systematic theologian takes a deeper study on the doctrine of Angels, Satan and Demons. The text also gives credit to church history and those in the past that have studied this doctrine. Questions like "Can believers be possessed by the demonic? Are there genuine exorcisms today? Is there a relation between demon possession and mental illness?
The doctrine of darkness also puts believers in the defense and offense as we can better understand the mission of Satan and demonic powers. What powers do they posses and how we combat and identify Satan's work. The question of what is evil and what is good changes in cultural but remains the same in the spiritual realm.
The temptation of Jesus is a great study and goes into depth on how Satan attacks the authority of the creator. Jesus response deals with the character of God vs the character of Evil. In God's essence, he is love.
The study helps me in identifying what is spiritual warfare and how relevant it is in our culture and in our daily walk. How we respond and how we turn a blind eye. Highly recommend.
A Special Thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
November 1, 2019
Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons by Graham A. Cole is the most recent installment in Crossway’s Foundations of Evangelical Theology Series, edited by John S. Feinberg. I have been reading these volumes since their inception and have thoroughly enjoyed the scholarship and depth that the authors share. Dr. Cole’s book is no exception.
Against the Darkness is targeted to pastors, church leaders, and lay scholars. It sets out to explore the subject of angelology in a biblical and comprehensive manner. No stone is left unturned in this volume as the author systematically unpacks the biblical doctrine of angels, demons, Satan, and spiritual warfare.
Cole is charitable with those he disagrees with and is gracious throughout this work. He is careful to avoid straw man arguments as he presents the views of scholars with whom he disagrees. His tone his noteworthy and should be emulated.
Against the Darkness is comprehensive in scope and is a very helpful book. I recommend it without reservation.
Against the Darkness is targeted to pastors, church leaders, and lay scholars. It sets out to explore the subject of angelology in a biblical and comprehensive manner. No stone is left unturned in this volume as the author systematically unpacks the biblical doctrine of angels, demons, Satan, and spiritual warfare.
Cole is charitable with those he disagrees with and is gracious throughout this work. He is careful to avoid straw man arguments as he presents the views of scholars with whom he disagrees. His tone his noteworthy and should be emulated.
Against the Darkness is comprehensive in scope and is a very helpful book. I recommend it without reservation.
Read
July 12, 2019A solid overview. Not wholly satisfying -- I don't know if that's because I've been reading so much theology over the last four years, or because I prefer an author to take a definitive stance on things rather than survey/punt. There's a place for the survey/punt. Also snarky footnotes.
January 14, 2020
Dr. Cole's book on angels is one that I would recommend to anyone interested in an introduction to the subject. Many modern Westerns, both religious and areligious, Christian and non-Christian, either deliberately or functionally disbelief in angels. Or if they do believe in angels, they believe in something very speculative or confused. It is still astounding to me how many people (especially those who have been in the church for decades) believe that people (especially children) become angels when they die, although the Bible knows nothing of this.
"Against the Darkness'" strengths are that it does cover the topics at hand in a systematic, organized fashion. Cole has surveyed the best of evangelical scholarship and consulted other prominent Christian traditions and experts. His commitments are the primacy and exclusive authority of the Scriptures. This means he trims a good deal of tradition from doctrine (more on this below), but also that it is a fantastic reference volume. Its strength is also in its brevity.
I think Cole's book helped me the most in considering the nature of angels as "spirit" and his analysis of seven models of spiritual warfare.
Some areas that I'd like to push back on him or would like to see more development are the following:
1. Early in the book, Cole criticizes approaches to angelology and demonology that are Western. However, he doesn't often consult those outsides of western traditions. He has the occasional footnote to explore something from an African perspective, such as in ancestor worship, but I was hoping for more.
2. As a strict evangelical, Cole's main arbiter of truth the Bible and subsequently biblical exegesis. He really presses sola scriptura and tota scriptura. This means that he doesn't accord much space to experiences (whether historical or contemporary). Also, he doesn't have a clear use and hermeneutic for how to incorporate 2nd temple Jewish literature. So while it's clear that 2nd Temple Judaism and its literature affect the NT, Cole does not permit their inclusion in his theological conclusions. To be fair, he does interact with 2nd temple literature, historical, and contemporary perspectives and is willing to entertain ideas, but will not allow them. I 90% appreciate this, but I would have appreciated more biblical-theological integration of the 2nd temple period.
3. Cole's seems limited in his ability to interact with biblical languages, especially Hebrew because he often engages in English translation comparison without using the languages to render a verdict. Also, he doesn't consult the most academic commentary series (often its the Tyndale New Testament or NIV Application Commentary). While these are fine series, I would expect more citations from series like the New International Commentary on the Old/New Testament or the New International Greek Testament Commentary. I get the Cole is a systematic theologian and not a biblical scholar, but I still would have expected a little more rigorous resources used.
Finally, this is not a criticism of the work (I really appreciate its brevity), but I'd be very interested in reading a history of angels, Satan, and demons (each separately) to determine how we have come to understand them in our contemporary context. He does mention occasionally shifts in thought (such as interpreting angels as winged human-looking beings), but this history would be helpful in teaching today.
"Against the Darkness'" strengths are that it does cover the topics at hand in a systematic, organized fashion. Cole has surveyed the best of evangelical scholarship and consulted other prominent Christian traditions and experts. His commitments are the primacy and exclusive authority of the Scriptures. This means he trims a good deal of tradition from doctrine (more on this below), but also that it is a fantastic reference volume. Its strength is also in its brevity.
I think Cole's book helped me the most in considering the nature of angels as "spirit" and his analysis of seven models of spiritual warfare.
Some areas that I'd like to push back on him or would like to see more development are the following:
1. Early in the book, Cole criticizes approaches to angelology and demonology that are Western. However, he doesn't often consult those outsides of western traditions. He has the occasional footnote to explore something from an African perspective, such as in ancestor worship, but I was hoping for more.
2. As a strict evangelical, Cole's main arbiter of truth the Bible and subsequently biblical exegesis. He really presses sola scriptura and tota scriptura. This means that he doesn't accord much space to experiences (whether historical or contemporary). Also, he doesn't have a clear use and hermeneutic for how to incorporate 2nd temple Jewish literature. So while it's clear that 2nd Temple Judaism and its literature affect the NT, Cole does not permit their inclusion in his theological conclusions. To be fair, he does interact with 2nd temple literature, historical, and contemporary perspectives and is willing to entertain ideas, but will not allow them. I 90% appreciate this, but I would have appreciated more biblical-theological integration of the 2nd temple period.
3. Cole's seems limited in his ability to interact with biblical languages, especially Hebrew because he often engages in English translation comparison without using the languages to render a verdict. Also, he doesn't consult the most academic commentary series (often its the Tyndale New Testament or NIV Application Commentary). While these are fine series, I would expect more citations from series like the New International Commentary on the Old/New Testament or the New International Greek Testament Commentary. I get the Cole is a systematic theologian and not a biblical scholar, but I still would have expected a little more rigorous resources used.
Finally, this is not a criticism of the work (I really appreciate its brevity), but I'd be very interested in reading a history of angels, Satan, and demons (each separately) to determine how we have come to understand them in our contemporary context. He does mention occasionally shifts in thought (such as interpreting angels as winged human-looking beings), but this history would be helpful in teaching today.
December 30, 2019
The book is challenging: Angels, demons and Satan. We have mistakenly believed what Hollywood presents in its films, apocryphal literature, myths and legends, all without a biblical ground. Cole presents us with a study that has an orderly and biblical foundation that answers to challenging questions such as: Can a Christian suffer possession by demons? It also helps us to refute false ideas as: We all have a guardian angel.
Perhaps one of the most important points is to understand how a biblical knowledge of angels, demons and Satan shapes the way we live as Christians. The way we fight the enemy, although these spiritual beings are powerful, they do not act under their own power, they are subject to God himself and in reality, his judgment is near, and Christ will defeat them once and forever.
As a parent, I can highlight the importance of having a doctrine of spiritual beings grounded in the Bible to avoid false beliefs. For example, Cole helps us understand that angels are not children with wings on a cloud, they are powerful spiritual beings who act as God commands and carry out their works. Actually, angels participate continuously from creation, redemption to the final judgment in a very active way. In the same way, the demons are not beings of red color, with horns or faces of terror, they are fallen angels, they have been judged on the cross, their power is limited, they are destined to eternal punishment and defeat. And even though Satan is a fallen angel, he should not be underestimated, in the end, demons and Satan are defeated not in our power, but in Christ.
This reading will help every believer to understand that life in the Gospel is a continuous war against spiritual beings that we do not perceive with our eyes. But far from calling them by name (names of extrabiblical origin usually) or facing them directly, Cole helps us to examine the biblical testimony on how we should face spiritual warfare.
Finally, this book can be of great help to any seminary student as it offers an exegetical and biblical approach. Cole develops everything with an exemplary order. However, as Cole says, it is a book focused on the church. Therefore, every pastor, teacher and preacher will benefit from addressing an issue that sometimes seems not so important and that when spoken is usually done based on horror movies and not in the Bible.
I want to thanks to Crossway for providing me with a copy of this book through the Blog Review Program.
Perhaps one of the most important points is to understand how a biblical knowledge of angels, demons and Satan shapes the way we live as Christians. The way we fight the enemy, although these spiritual beings are powerful, they do not act under their own power, they are subject to God himself and in reality, his judgment is near, and Christ will defeat them once and forever.
As a parent, I can highlight the importance of having a doctrine of spiritual beings grounded in the Bible to avoid false beliefs. For example, Cole helps us understand that angels are not children with wings on a cloud, they are powerful spiritual beings who act as God commands and carry out their works. Actually, angels participate continuously from creation, redemption to the final judgment in a very active way. In the same way, the demons are not beings of red color, with horns or faces of terror, they are fallen angels, they have been judged on the cross, their power is limited, they are destined to eternal punishment and defeat. And even though Satan is a fallen angel, he should not be underestimated, in the end, demons and Satan are defeated not in our power, but in Christ.
This reading will help every believer to understand that life in the Gospel is a continuous war against spiritual beings that we do not perceive with our eyes. But far from calling them by name (names of extrabiblical origin usually) or facing them directly, Cole helps us to examine the biblical testimony on how we should face spiritual warfare.
Finally, this book can be of great help to any seminary student as it offers an exegetical and biblical approach. Cole develops everything with an exemplary order. However, as Cole says, it is a book focused on the church. Therefore, every pastor, teacher and preacher will benefit from addressing an issue that sometimes seems not so important and that when spoken is usually done based on horror movies and not in the Bible.
I want to thanks to Crossway for providing me with a copy of this book through the Blog Review Program.
June 6, 2022
Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons is the newest installment in Crossway’s Foundations of Evangelical Theology Series. Its author, Graham A. Cole, is dean and professor of biblical and systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and an ordained Anglican minister. He is author of He Who Gives Life: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (2007) in the same series.
“Even though the present work addresses a topic in systematic theology,” Graham writes in the introductory chapter, “the shape of the study pays attention to the biblical plotline….” In other words, it “moves through the key motifs of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation” (28). Here are the titles of the book’s nine chapters:
1. Introduction
2. Angels, Their Kinds, and Heavenly Activity
Excursus: The Nature of Spirit
3. Angels, Their Activity on Earth with Individuals and Nations
Excursus: Angelophany
4. Satan, the Malevolent Spoiler
5. Demons, the Devil’s Entourage
Excursus: Genesis 6:1-4 and the Methodological Question
6. Jesus, Christus Victor
7. Spiritual Warfare
Excursus: How to Test the Spirits
8. The Destiny of the Darkness and the Victory of the Light
Excursus: The Archangel Michael and the Man of Lawlessness
9. Conclusion
Cole writes self-consciously as an evangelical theologian. “Scripture is the final court of appeal in any contest between authorities, including reason or tradition or experience.” It is “the norma normans (the norming norm), while the others are “norma normata (ruled norms). In evangelical theology, as Cole sees it, reason, tradition, and experience have a say, but Scripture has “the final say” (19–20).
C. S. Lewis famously wrote: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them” (quoted on 28). Cole steers between these two extremes in Against the Darkness, affirming the reality of angels and demons but denying them undue importance or attention.
Throughout the book, Cole interacts critically and constructively with theologians throughout Christian history and across the theological spectrum: Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant, including mainline, evangelical, and Pentecostal/charismatic theologians. This includes Dionysius the Areopagite, Aquinas, and Karl Barth (68–69; 101–102); Amos Yong (113–114); Walter Wink (125–127; 173–175); René Girard (155–158); David Powlison (175–177); Gregory A. Boyd (177–179); and C. Peter Wagner (179–182), among others.
Three appendixes round out the book’s discussion. Appendix One, “The Creation Manifold,” argues that the “fundamental metaphysical distinction is not that between being and becoming, or the infinite and the finite, but between the Creator and the creature” (231). Angels are creations, less supernatural (above nature) than supranatural (beyond material nature). Appendix Two, “Angels, Iblis, and Jinn in Islam,” contrasts Christianity and Islam on the topic, concluding “there is so much in the Qur’an that speaks where Scripture is silent on the matter of angels” (238). Appendix Three, “Creeds, Articles of Faith, Catechisms, and Confessions” quickly doctrinal and liturgical statements on this topic throughout Church history.
I read Against the Darkness immediately after I read Michael S. Heiser’s Angels (2019) and Demons (2020), so it was interesting to compare and contrast the three books, even though Cole could not take Heiser books into account because of publication deadlines. (He interacts with Heiser’s two 2015 books, The Unseem Realm and Supernatural). There are interesting overlaps, of course, since both are drawing on the same biblical passages.
However, the most interesting dispute has to do with Genesis 6:1–4. Heiser interprets “the sons of God” as members of the Divine Council who engaged in sexual intercourse with human women, producing the Nephilim and inciting God’s judgment in the Flood. Cole, on the other hand, interprets the same phrase under the heading of “the ‘religiously mixed races view’ (godly Sethites and worldly Cainites)” (116).
The difference between Heiser and Cole on this topic betrays a methodological dispute between over the value of extrabiblical sources, such as the literatures of the ancient near east and of intertestamental Judaism. Heiser draws heavily on extrabiblical sources, which are speculatively, often wildly so. Cole, on the other hand, argues that “the biblical testimony stands out for its reserve on such matters” (119). Both make detailed cases for their conclusions, but Cole argues that we must consider “comparative difficulties” (138) when assessing those differences. For Cole, views such as Heiser’s raise more or weightier difficulties than views such as his own, which has fewer or lighter difficulties. This should push theologians toward a nonsupernatural reading of “the sons of God” in Genesis 6: 1–4.
I found Against the Darkness to be both theologically informed and practically helpful. Chapter 6, “Jesus, Christus Victor,” helpfully reminds readers that the Incarnation, Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension of the Lord are the climax of the biblical story, and that one of the reasons for His work is “to defeat the devil” (162). Chapter 7, “Spiritual Warfare,” then sifts through seven models of how Christ’s followers stand against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
What I most appreciate about Cole’s book, aside from its conclusions, with which I largely agree (though there are notable exceptions), is his catholic spirit and irenic tone. By the former, I mean that he feels free to interact with Christian theologians outside the contemporary evangelical spectrum, without giving up on fundamental evangelical convictions. Moreover, he does so peacefully, not pugnaciously, learning what he can from those theologians, even as he expresses fundamental disagreements with them. Given how polarized public discourse has become, including public Christian theological discourse, this catholicity and irenicism are welcome.
Book Reviewed
Graham A. Cole, Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019).
P.S. If you liked my review, please click "Helpful" on my Amazon review page.
“Even though the present work addresses a topic in systematic theology,” Graham writes in the introductory chapter, “the shape of the study pays attention to the biblical plotline….” In other words, it “moves through the key motifs of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation” (28). Here are the titles of the book’s nine chapters:
1. Introduction
2. Angels, Their Kinds, and Heavenly Activity
Excursus: The Nature of Spirit
3. Angels, Their Activity on Earth with Individuals and Nations
Excursus: Angelophany
4. Satan, the Malevolent Spoiler
5. Demons, the Devil’s Entourage
Excursus: Genesis 6:1-4 and the Methodological Question
6. Jesus, Christus Victor
7. Spiritual Warfare
Excursus: How to Test the Spirits
8. The Destiny of the Darkness and the Victory of the Light
Excursus: The Archangel Michael and the Man of Lawlessness
9. Conclusion
Cole writes self-consciously as an evangelical theologian. “Scripture is the final court of appeal in any contest between authorities, including reason or tradition or experience.” It is “the norma normans (the norming norm), while the others are “norma normata (ruled norms). In evangelical theology, as Cole sees it, reason, tradition, and experience have a say, but Scripture has “the final say” (19–20).
C. S. Lewis famously wrote: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them” (quoted on 28). Cole steers between these two extremes in Against the Darkness, affirming the reality of angels and demons but denying them undue importance or attention.
Throughout the book, Cole interacts critically and constructively with theologians throughout Christian history and across the theological spectrum: Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant, including mainline, evangelical, and Pentecostal/charismatic theologians. This includes Dionysius the Areopagite, Aquinas, and Karl Barth (68–69; 101–102); Amos Yong (113–114); Walter Wink (125–127; 173–175); René Girard (155–158); David Powlison (175–177); Gregory A. Boyd (177–179); and C. Peter Wagner (179–182), among others.
Three appendixes round out the book’s discussion. Appendix One, “The Creation Manifold,” argues that the “fundamental metaphysical distinction is not that between being and becoming, or the infinite and the finite, but between the Creator and the creature” (231). Angels are creations, less supernatural (above nature) than supranatural (beyond material nature). Appendix Two, “Angels, Iblis, and Jinn in Islam,” contrasts Christianity and Islam on the topic, concluding “there is so much in the Qur’an that speaks where Scripture is silent on the matter of angels” (238). Appendix Three, “Creeds, Articles of Faith, Catechisms, and Confessions” quickly doctrinal and liturgical statements on this topic throughout Church history.
I read Against the Darkness immediately after I read Michael S. Heiser’s Angels (2019) and Demons (2020), so it was interesting to compare and contrast the three books, even though Cole could not take Heiser books into account because of publication deadlines. (He interacts with Heiser’s two 2015 books, The Unseem Realm and Supernatural). There are interesting overlaps, of course, since both are drawing on the same biblical passages.
However, the most interesting dispute has to do with Genesis 6:1–4. Heiser interprets “the sons of God” as members of the Divine Council who engaged in sexual intercourse with human women, producing the Nephilim and inciting God’s judgment in the Flood. Cole, on the other hand, interprets the same phrase under the heading of “the ‘religiously mixed races view’ (godly Sethites and worldly Cainites)” (116).
The difference between Heiser and Cole on this topic betrays a methodological dispute between over the value of extrabiblical sources, such as the literatures of the ancient near east and of intertestamental Judaism. Heiser draws heavily on extrabiblical sources, which are speculatively, often wildly so. Cole, on the other hand, argues that “the biblical testimony stands out for its reserve on such matters” (119). Both make detailed cases for their conclusions, but Cole argues that we must consider “comparative difficulties” (138) when assessing those differences. For Cole, views such as Heiser’s raise more or weightier difficulties than views such as his own, which has fewer or lighter difficulties. This should push theologians toward a nonsupernatural reading of “the sons of God” in Genesis 6: 1–4.
I found Against the Darkness to be both theologically informed and practically helpful. Chapter 6, “Jesus, Christus Victor,” helpfully reminds readers that the Incarnation, Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension of the Lord are the climax of the biblical story, and that one of the reasons for His work is “to defeat the devil” (162). Chapter 7, “Spiritual Warfare,” then sifts through seven models of how Christ’s followers stand against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
What I most appreciate about Cole’s book, aside from its conclusions, with which I largely agree (though there are notable exceptions), is his catholic spirit and irenic tone. By the former, I mean that he feels free to interact with Christian theologians outside the contemporary evangelical spectrum, without giving up on fundamental evangelical convictions. Moreover, he does so peacefully, not pugnaciously, learning what he can from those theologians, even as he expresses fundamental disagreements with them. Given how polarized public discourse has become, including public Christian theological discourse, this catholicity and irenicism are welcome.
Book Reviewed
Graham A. Cole, Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019).
P.S. If you liked my review, please click "Helpful" on my Amazon review page.
January 22, 2021
Cole's book Against the Darkness is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to look for a conservative, evangelical treatment on all things relating to Spirits, Demons, Angels, and Satan. He does an excellent job walking the reader through the various passages and historical studies.
I looked at this resource because it looked at his take on Satan's origin and the pertinent OT passages. Unfortunately, this is where I have my biggest critic of the book. He gives very little support textually for why one should interpret passages like Isaiah 14 and Ezekial 28 as referring to Satan. He seems to rely on the tradition of the church fathers and other interpreters to do the heavy work. However, I would have preferred a look at the actual text to show me how the original author and their readers could have understood these prophecies as referring to Satan as opposed to their said audience.
That being said, overall, I feel he does a fairer treatment on all the other subjects and areas. It is only in that one area I feel he lacked depth and focus. If you are looking for a general overview with practical suggestions sprinkled throughout, this is a great resource for you. It is great for those looking for further in-depth study.
I looked at this resource because it looked at his take on Satan's origin and the pertinent OT passages. Unfortunately, this is where I have my biggest critic of the book. He gives very little support textually for why one should interpret passages like Isaiah 14 and Ezekial 28 as referring to Satan. He seems to rely on the tradition of the church fathers and other interpreters to do the heavy work. However, I would have preferred a look at the actual text to show me how the original author and their readers could have understood these prophecies as referring to Satan as opposed to their said audience.
That being said, overall, I feel he does a fairer treatment on all the other subjects and areas. It is only in that one area I feel he lacked depth and focus. If you are looking for a general overview with practical suggestions sprinkled throughout, this is a great resource for you. It is great for those looking for further in-depth study.
November 9, 2023
The information in this volume is very helpful and insightful. Possibly the interaction with other authors and thinkers is of utmost help; this means that the footnotes are important and the section at the end "For Further Reading" is full of worthy suggestions and the reasons why they are helpful. For the fact that the volume is rich in information I would give it a 5 star rating.
Most likely because of the nature of the volume, as a theological and a more academic (though more towards the popular level, thus meant for accessibility of the scholarly) volume, as well as part of a multi-volume handling of theological ideas, the material seemed disjointed at points. This made the readability somewhat more exacting than originally expected. For this I would have rated this as a 3 star volume.
Because of these two thoughts, a 4 star rating was given.
Most likely because of the nature of the volume, as a theological and a more academic (though more towards the popular level, thus meant for accessibility of the scholarly) volume, as well as part of a multi-volume handling of theological ideas, the material seemed disjointed at points. This made the readability somewhat more exacting than originally expected. For this I would have rated this as a 3 star volume.
Because of these two thoughts, a 4 star rating was given.
August 26, 2020
I have enjoyed several other books in this series as introductions to topics in theology. I feel they provide a broad scope and a lot of takes on the issues. This one was no exception! The author tackled the topic of angels, demons and Satan in a very thorough but readable way. I also appreciated the way he included practical implications in each chapter - too many theology books miss this section! Finally, the detailed footnotes in this book make it worth it alone. There is lots of additional information and great resource recommendations in each chapter from the footnotes. Very accessible and very well done!
January 2, 2025
Best book I've read so far on angelology and demonology. A systematic theology from the Anglican scholar Graham A. Cole. Cole does a great job of showing the various views of angels and demons from a variety of theological traditions and makes compelling arguments for the pros and cons of each view. Cole interacts with Michael Heisler, Pentecostals, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and even has an appendix on Islam. He handles those he disagrees with very respectfully. Cole does a great job of not going beyond scripture while neither downplaying the supernatural in the text either. I especially found his discussion of the various views of Genesis 6 helpful and argument rather convincing.
February 20, 2021
Typically, I've neglected this arena of study until I enjoyed a recent sermon on Mark 5. I purchased this book on a sale at Westminster, simply to help complete the collection on Foundations of Evangelical Theology. However, once I picked it up, simply to peruse it, I couldn't put it down. The author is new to me, but he writes clearly and concisely. The clarity makes it enjoyable, and the conciseness helps present many difficult things simply. It's been a pleasure to read this book, not simply because it was informative and filled a void, but also because of how very well-written it was.
December 20, 2019
Cole provides a helpful treatment of spiritual warfare including biblical exegesis of relevant texts and surveys and analyses of various views on spiritual warfare, the devil, demons, Genesis 6, etc. Cole displays admirable integrity in his consistent caution about being dogmatic only about what is clearly revealed in Scripture. This is critical because of the prevalent influence of a plethora of modern ideas about the supernatural.
April 11, 2020
Excellent presentation of a biblical understanding of angels, demons, and Satan. Some may be disappointed since Cole does not depend upon speculation, external sources, or tradition to develop his view on angels, demons, and Satan. Instead, his argument is based on what we can know from Scripture, as well as where we must be silent because Scripture is silent. Again, excellent book!
June 26, 2020
This was decent work of systematic theology from an Evangelical perspective. The book does a good job of grounding itself in the norming norm of the Bible and thus does not extrapolate or become fanciful in its presentation. However, the book could have been shorter and there could have been more interaction charismatic and Pentecostal practices.
April 25, 2022
This book is an excellent introduction to the topics of angels, demons, and Satan. While parts of the book may be too academic for the average reader, he does provide a helpful contribution to the discussions on the topics. I would only recommend the book for those who can read at a fairly advanced level, but any Christian wishing to learn more on the topic would benefit from this book.
March 30, 2024
A decent introduction and overview of the subject matter disclosed in the title.
Things I liked: Written in a very readable way, easy to follow. Did not like: There were several times I was waiting for Cole to get to something significant about the topic and he never did.
Things I liked: Written in a very readable way, easy to follow. Did not like: There were several times I was waiting for Cole to get to something significant about the topic and he never did.
November 20, 2022
Very academic
September 24, 2024
Very interesting. It answered some questions but also raised some new questions.
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