Genesis Chp. 6:1-13 (Tricky Tricky)
Genesis Chapter 6 describes wicked times in the bible and contains verses which are controversial due to the differing views of educated bible scholars. Some bible scholars believe that the sons of God mentioned in verse 2 are actually fallen angels who, with Satan, were thrown out of Heaven. Other bible scholars believe that the sons of God are believers from the line of Seth (Adam and Eve’s beloved son). Both arguments have merit and are supported by scripture. See why it’s so tricky?
Some argue that fallen angels married humans and bore children who were mighty and well known. This union corrupted the DNA of man. I daresay, were the Greeks right? Is Greek mythology not a myth after all?
Supportive scripture:
Verse 2: The King James Version states that the sons of God saw the daughters of men-that they were beautiful-and took them as wives.
Verse 4: There were giants in the earth in those days when the daughters of man bore children to the sons of God – the same became mighty men, legends.
Verse 5: The wickedness of man was great and continually evil.
Verse 12 and 13: The earth was corrupt and filled with violence and the flesh was corrupt, so God planned to destroy the earth and all flesh (except for Noah and his family).
Other versions of the bible refer to the giants in verse 4 as Nephilim which means “the fallen ones”. Another version just refers to them as “the fallen ones”.
Verses alluding to or referencing the sons of God as angels:
Job 1:6 “…the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.”
Job 2:1 “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.
Job 38:7 God is questioning Job asking where he was when He (God) was creating the world, “…when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy,” (KJV). The NIV refers to them as angels.
Jude 1:6-7 “…angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode…” (6) “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh.”(7)
Verses referencing giants: Numbers 13:33, Deut. 2:20-21 and 3:11, 1 Samuel 17:4, 2 Samuel 21:15-22
Others argue that the sons of God are referring to the line of Seth.
Supportive Scripture:
Genesis 4:26: “…to Seth…Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.” Seth was a believer, a follower of God. His descendants were also believers. We are called the children of God, so Seth’s line could have been referred to as the sons of God.
It is human beings led by God’s Spirit who are called “sons of God” in:
(KJV) 1 John 3:1: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…”
Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Galatians 4:6: “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
2 Peter 1:20 tells us that no prophesy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation. There is a right answer here. Honestly, I myself do not know what that answer may be. Sometimes the bible seems cryptic and confusing, but in the end it really won’t matter. All that will really matter is that I am a child of God who loves and accepts me, and Jesus has saved my soul. We won’t understand everything that’s in the bible until we can ask God ourselves. Although, the bible does say that all will be revealed in the end – and that’s another fun topic :).
Walker Lane 