Behold, the Angels Came and Served Him'

Angels have been analyzed in Christological research due to their primary function as messengers and mediators between heaven and earth. Their role in the Gospel narratives, however, has been largely unexplored. Utilizing the Old Testament and sources from the Second Temple period to illustrate the variety of angel traditions, Bendoraitis identifies how these traditions are reflected in Matthews Gospel and interprets the passages in which angels appear or are represented, resulting in a detailed exegesis of those passages which specifically mention angels. Each reference is critically analyzed in view of its role in the Gospels narrative and in light of Matthews redactional hand. In addition, each chapter is accompanied by a discussion of relevant traditions of angels in order to illustrate how Matthews use of angels has facilitated his Gospels message. The examination concludes by postulating three factors in the inclusion of angel traditions in Matthews narrative, pertaining both to Matthews Christology and worldview.