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Look Inside Satan

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Satan
A Biography

Author: Henry Ansgar Kelly, University of California, Los Angeles

Date Published: August 2006
availability: Available
format: Paperback
isbn: 9780521604024

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About the Authors

Christians traditionally think of Satan as Lucifer, God's enemy, who rebelled against Him out of pride and then caused Adam and Eve to sin. But, as Kelly shows, this portrayal is not biblical but a scenario invented by the early Fathers of the Church which became the 'New Biography of Satan'. The 'Original Biography' must be reconstructed from the New Testament where Satan is the same sort of celestial functionary we see in the Book of Job - appointed to govern the world, specifically to monitor and test human beings. But he is brutal and deceitful in his methods, and Jesus predicts that his rule will soon come to an end. Kelly traces the further developments of the 'New Biography': humankind's inherited guilt, captivity by Satan, and punishment in Hell at his hands. This profile of Satan remains dominant, but Kelly urges a return to the 'Original Biography of Satan'.
- Challenges the traditional Christian view of Satan using evidence from the Bible
- Kelly shows how the character-assassination of Satan developed and persists to the present day
- Contains separate scripture and full topic indexes
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Reviews & endorsements
'[Kelly's] interpretation is accepted by many biblical scholars. The theory provides an explanation for the presence of evil and suffering, without denying the existence or omniscience of God. … The professor makes the case for Satan as more a 'functionary of the divine court' than 'an enemy of God as well as of Man, a convicted cosmic outlaw'.' The Times
'Kelly's stunningly bold attempt at rehabilitation makes the late Lord Longford's efforts to convince the British public that Moors murderer Myra Hindley was a reformed character look positively timid.' Daily Mail
'Kelly shows himself to be a masterful teacher. … [He] illustrates nicely a sound approach in historical theology.' Professor Daniel J. Harrington, S. J., Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts
'… enough here to stimulate and entertain. … astute and deftly written …' Literary Review
'In this succinct study, he adopts the role of Satan's unofficial spin doctor. The result is entertaining as well as rigourous. … What could have been a crawling survey is in fact a lively and sane account that does much to rehabilitate Satan's reputation. Kelly's conclusions will surprise many…Kelly displays impressive control of his material attuned to nuances in Hebrew, Greek and Latin.' The Times Literary Supplement
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Product details
- Date Published: August 2006
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521604024
- length: 376 pages
- dimensions: 227 x 153 x 22 mm
- weight: 0.611kg
- contains: 15 b/w illus.
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
List of illustrations
List of abbreviations
Introduction
Part I. Hebrew Backgrounds:
1. The Old Testament
2. Apocryphal works and the Dead Sea Scrolls
Part II. The New Testament: Satan Comes Into His Own:
3. St Paul, the first Christian writer
4. The four Gospels
5. Later Epistles
6. The apocalypse of John the Divine
7. Putting the New Testament together: a composite portrait of Satan in canonical order
Part III. Satan and Adam:
8. Satan's original sin: felling Adam
Part IV. The Rise of the Fallen Lucifer:
9. Lucifer and the new biography of Satan
10. Satan and the human race
11. Theorizing Satan
12. Satan in literature and art
Part V. Satan in the Modern World:
13. Temptation and possession
14. Doubts and affirmations
Summary and conclusion
Index of passages
General index.
Look Inside
Instructors have used or reviewed this title for the following courses
- Western Religions
Author
Henry Ansgar Kelly, University of California, Los Angeles
Henry Ansgar Kelly is Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of English and Director of the Center of Medieval Studies, University of California, Los Angeles.