Many hold the view that the Sons of God in the Old Testament refer to the line of Seth. However, there is some scriptural and historical evidence that seem to go against that position.
Genesis 6:1-4 - And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
For one, it is already stated in verse 1 that men were already multiplying on the face of the Earth. It seems odd that all of a sudden humans would start producing giants.
Genesis doesn't specify who the Sons of God are, however we can find clues in other places.
It is debated among scholars whether or not the book of Job was written 400 years before Genesis, during the time of Abraham.
Job 38:4-7 - Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?
declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof; when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
God speaking to Job states that the Sons of God were present when the foundations of the Earth were being laid, before man was created. If Job was written before Genesis, it may have been understood by Moses and his audience that the Sons of God were indeed fallen angels and there was no need to expound on it.
While not an inspired writing, the Book of Enoch is an ancient piece of Jewish literature with the author’s view that the Sons of God were fallen angels. This may help provide insight as to what the Jews of that day believed.
Some who hold the line of Cain view will bring up a "contradiction" found in the New Testament.
Matthew:22-30 - For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
However, this simply says that angels cannot marry in Heaven. There is no indication that they cannot marry if they leave Heaven.
Jude 1:6 - And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
1 Corinthians 15:50 - Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Genesis 19:5 - and they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
After the angels left Heaven, perhaps some sort of physical transformation took place that allowed them to procreate with human beings. We know that angels can have the appearance of men but what about a change in their genetic makeup? Scripture doesn’t get into detail but whatever it was likely caused their offspring to develop unnatural characteristics.
Genesis 6:1-4 - And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
For one, it is already stated in verse 1 that men were already multiplying on the face of the Earth. It seems odd that all of a sudden humans would start producing giants.
Genesis doesn't specify who the Sons of God are, however we can find clues in other places.
It is debated among scholars whether or not the book of Job was written 400 years before Genesis, during the time of Abraham.
Job 38:4-7 - Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?
declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof; when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
God speaking to Job states that the Sons of God were present when the foundations of the Earth were being laid, before man was created. If Job was written before Genesis, it may have been understood by Moses and his audience that the Sons of God were indeed fallen angels and there was no need to expound on it.
While not an inspired writing, the Book of Enoch is an ancient piece of Jewish literature with the author’s view that the Sons of God were fallen angels. This may help provide insight as to what the Jews of that day believed.
Some who hold the line of Cain view will bring up a "contradiction" found in the New Testament.
Matthew:22-30 - For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
However, this simply says that angels cannot marry in Heaven. There is no indication that they cannot marry if they leave Heaven.
Jude 1:6 - And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
1 Corinthians 15:50 - Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Genesis 19:5 - and they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
After the angels left Heaven, perhaps some sort of physical transformation took place that allowed them to procreate with human beings. We know that angels can have the appearance of men but what about a change in their genetic makeup? Scripture doesn’t get into detail but whatever it was likely caused their offspring to develop unnatural characteristics.
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