Today is going to require a little work on my part and careful reading on your part. I was asked to address Gen. 6:1-4, which the one who asked me was reading that someone had taught that "satanic angels had sex with women." Whatever these verses deal with, they do not teach us that anyone "had sex with women." Too many books and ideas are floating around out there. The verses speak of "sons of God" married women and had children by them. This is a far cry from painting a picture of satanic angels manufacturing human bodies and doing whatever with women. Just as a side thought, if these were satanic angels as some teach, it seems they had more virtue than a host of humans today since they had the decency to get married!
The phrase "sons of God" is a reference to godly people giving way to ungodly ways. It is a Jewish phrase. There is a possibility there was polygamy practiced looking all the way back to Gen. 4:23. In Psa. 82:6, there is an equivalent expression "and all of you are sons of the Most High" which refers to human judges and rulers. They were wicked human rulers if one will take note but referred to as "sons of the Most High". In Luke 3:38 it has the Greek equivalent used of Adam who was "the son of God." There are many more references to "sons of God" but these are a few that will do.
No one is sure about the derivation of "Nephilim" in Gen. 6. Some say it is "the fallen ones" and they put that to mean fallen angels. I don't understand all this talk about fallen angels and the "sons of God." The passage doesn't call the "Nephilim sons of God." They are called the "mighty men who were of old, men of renown." (Gen. 6:4) Maybe I am a little too cautious but we can't really put names with people that God's word does not address. Moses wrote the book and they would have a better understanding as to who all these men were.
The bottom line is all this was the build up to the flood and the behavior of mankind. Godliness was exiting the lives of people. All humans died except eight, including those mentioned above. Later Israel came across the Nephilim again in Numbers 13:33 when spying out Canaan. They had to have come from the offspring of Noah. If we are going to take a stance that the Nephilim and satanic angels married women, it leads us down a road that those born were half satanic angels and half men! That just does not make sense. In fact, whatever truth we draw from Gen. 6:2 about "sons of God" and making them angels at all is a misrepresentation. I will admit it is a difficult section and I am not sure I completely understand it but one thing is evident it is far reaching to tie this section to any type of angel period. It explains the evil intention and heart of man and why God had to start over from the flood.
1 comment:
My friend, you are and have always been a great teacher! Thank you.
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