Early Church and Giants
It was the predominate view in the early church that giants were the offspring of fallen angels.
THE COMMON BIBLE OF THE DAYS IN WHICH PETER, JUDE, AND THE OTHER WRITERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT LIVED, WAS THE SEPTUAGINT. The septuagint can shed much light on this issue.
The Septuagint is a pre-christian Greek version of the original Hebrew scriptures. Several passages of the Old Testament which are quoted in the New Testament, are taken verbatim from the Septuagint. "Several passages of the Old Testament, which are quoted in the New, are taken thence; and, being thus noticed by the writers of the New Testament, from their mode of using it, we may infer that it was in general circulation among the apostolic churches" (History of the Bible, By John Kitto DD. - Pg. 45). The K.J.V. and most modern versions of the Bible read in Genesis 6:2 & 4 "Sons of God," the Septuagint reads, "Angels of God."
Early church fathers believed that the giants spoken of in scripture were the offspring of fallen angels and human woman.
In Ante-Nicene fathers vol.2, chapter 24 we read,
Just as with men, who have freedom of choice as to both virtue and vice (for you would not either honour the good or punish the bad, unless vice and virtue were in their own power; and some are diligent in the matters entrusted to them by you, and others faithless), so is it among the angels. Some, free agents, you will observe, such as they were created by God, continued in those things for which God had made and over which He had ordained them; but some outraged both the constitution of their nature and the government entrusted to them: namely, this ruler of matter and its various forms, and others of those who were placed about this first firmament (you know that we say nothing without witnesses, but state the things which have been declared by the prophets); these fell into impure love of virgins, and were subjugated by the flesh, and he became negligent and wicked in the management of the things entrusted to him. Of these lovers of virgins, therefore, were begotten those who are called giants And if something has been said by the poets, too, about the giants, be not surprised at this: worldly Wisdom and divine differ as much from each other as truth and plausibility: the one is of heaven and the other of earth; and indeed, according to the prince of matter,- "We know we oft speak lies that look like troths."
Irenaeus also writes,
And wickedness very long-continued and widespread pervaded all the races of men, until very little
seed of justice was in them. For unlawful unions came about on earth, as angels linked themselves with
offspring of the daughters of men, who bore to them sons, who on account of their exceeding great
were called Giants. The angels, then, brought to their wives as gifts teachings of evil, for they taught
them the virtues of roots and herbs, and dyeing and cosmetics and discoveries of precious materials,
love-philtes, hatreds, amours, passions, constraints of love, the bonds of witchcraft, every sorcery and
idolatry, hateful to God; and when this was come into the world, the affairs of wickedness were
propagated to overflowing, and those of justice dwindled to very little. ---- Irenaeus, Demonstration, 18. Joseph P. Smith, St. Irenaeus: Proof of the Apostolic Preaching. (London:Longmans, Green & Co., 1952), 58.
Justin Martyr writes in chapter 5 of his Second Apology, entitled ""How the Angels Transgressed":
God, when He had made the whole world, and subjected things earthly to man, and arranged the heavenly elements for the increase of fruits and rotation of the seasons, and appointed this divine law - for these things also He evidently made for man - committed the care of men and of all things under heaven to angels whom He appointed over them. But the angels transgressed this appointment, and were captivated by love of women, and begat children who are those that are called demons; and besides, they afterwards subdued the human race to themselves, partly by magical writings, and partly by fears and punishments they occasioned, and partly by teaching them to offer sacrifices, and incense, and libations, of which things they stood in need after they enslaved by lustful passions; and among men they sowed murders, wars, adulteries, intemperate needs, and all wickedness. . . . (p. 363, vol. 1, The Ante-Nicene Fathers)
This is from The Instructions of Commodianus,
When Almighty God, to beautify the nature of the world, willed that that earth should be visited by angels, when they were sent down they despised His laws. Such was the beauty of women, that it turned them aside; so that, being contaminated, they could not return to heaven. Rebels from God, they uttered words against Him. Then the Highest uttered His judgment against them; and from their seed giants are said to have been born. By them arts were made known in the earth, and they taught the dyeing of wool, and everything which is done; and to them, when they died, men erected images. But the Almighty, because they were of an evil seed, did not approve that, when dead, they should be brought back from death. Whence wandering they now subvert many bodies, and it is such as these especially that ye this day worship and pray to as gods. (p. 435, vol. 4, The Ante-Nicene Fathers) ...........................................
Note H: Certain angels turned themselves into precious stones, pearls, purple dye, gold and other treasures, which were at once stolen by covetous men. They then took human shape, hoping to teach mankind righteousness. But this asumption of flesh made them subject to human lusts: being seduced by the Daughters of Men, they found themselves chained to Earth, unable to resume their spiritual shapes The Fallen Ones rejected God's manna, slaughtered animals for food, and even dined on human flesh, thus fouling the air with sickly vapours. It was then that God decided to cleanse Earth (The Clementine Homilies, 8:11-17(pp. 142-45). 3rd cent.; Cf. also Enoch 6-8; 69; 106, 13f).
Fragments of The Clementine Homilies:
Chapter XII.-Metamorphoses of the Angels.
"For of the spirits who inhabit the heaven, the angels who dwell in the lowest region metamorphosed themselves into every nature; for, being of a more godlike substance, they are able easily to assume any form.
So they became precious stones, and goodly pearl, and the most beauteous purple, and choice gold, and all matter that is held in most esteem. And they fell into the hands of some, and into the bosoms of others, and suffered themselves to be stolen by them.
They also changed themselves into beasts and reptiles, and fishes and birds, and into whatsoever they pleased
Chapter XIII.-The Fall of the Angels.
"But when, having assumed these forms, they convicted as covetous those who stole them, and changed themselves into the nature of men, in order that, living holily, and showing the possibility of so living, they might subject the ungrateful to punishment, yet having become in all respects men, they also partook of human lust, and being brought tinder its subjection they fell into cohabitation with women; [Comp. Recognitions, i. 30.] and being involved with them, and sunk in defilement and altogether emptied of their first power, were unable to turn back to the first purity of their proper nature, their members turned away from their fiery substance: for the fire itself, being extinguished by the weight of lust, and changed into flesh, they trode the impious path downward. For they themselves, being fettered with the bonds of flesh, were constrained and strongly bound; wherefore they have no more been able to ascend into the heavens.
Chapter XIV.-Their Discoveries.
"For after the intercourse, being asked to show what they were before, and being no longer able to do so, on account of their being unable to do aught else after their defilement, yet wishing to please their mistresses, instead of themselves, they showed the bowel (marrow) of the earth; I mean, the choice metals, [flowers of metal] gold, brass, silver, iron, and the like, with all the most precious stones. And along with these charmed stones, they delivered the arts of the things pertaining to each, and imparted the discovery of magic, and taught astronomy, and the powers of roots, and whatever was impossible to be found out by the human mind; also the reeking of gold and silver, and the like, and the various dyeing of garments. And all things, in short, which are for the adornment and delight of women, are the discoveries of these demons bound in flesh.
Chapter XV.-The Giants.
"But from their unhallowed intercourse spurious men sprang, greater in stature than ordinary men, whom they afterwards called giants; not those dragon-footed giants who waged war against God, as those blasphemous myths of the Greeks do sing, but wild in manners, and greater than men in size, inasmuch as they were sprung of angels; yet less than angels, as they were born of women.
Therefore God, knowing that they were barbarized to brutality, and that the world was not sufficient to satisfy them (for it was created according to the proportion of men and human use), that they might not through want of food turn, contrary to nature, to the eating of animals, and yet seem to be blameless, as having ventured upon this through necessity, the Almighty God rained manna upon them, suited to their various tastes; and they enjoyed all that they would. But they, on account of their *** nature, not being pleased with purity of food, longed only after the taste of blood. Wherefore they first tasted flesh.
Chapter XVI.-Cannibalism.
"And the men who were with them there for the first time were eager to do the like. Thus, although we are born neither good nor bad, we become one or the other; and having formed habits, we are with difficulty drawn from them. But when irrational animals fell short, these *** men tasted also human flesh. For it was not a long step to the consumption of flesh like their own, having first tasted it in other forms.
Commentaries from the same source (above):
Commentary 3a: Josephus's view, that the Sons of God were angels, survived for several centuries despite Shimon Ben Yohai's curse.
Commentary 3b: As late as the eighth century A.D., Rabbi Eliezer records in a midrash: "The angels who fell from Heaven saw the daughters of Cain perambulating and displaying their secret parts, their eyes painted with antimony in the manner of harlots; and, being seduced, took wives from among them." Rabbi Joshua ben Qorha, a literalist... decided that "when these angels fell from Heaven, their strength and stature were reduced to those of mortals, and their fire changed into flesh." ...... ............................................. Book I.
Chapter I.-Introduction. Modesty in Apparel Becoming to Women, in Memory of the Introduction of Sin into the World Through a Woman.
If there dwelt upon earth a faith as great as is the reward of faith which is expected in the heavens, no one of you at all, best beloved sisters, from the time that she had first "known the Lord,"1 and learned (the truth) concerning her own (that is, woman's) condition, would have desired too gladsome (not to say too ostentatious) a style of dress; so as not rather to go about in humble garb, and rather to affect meanness of appearance, walking about as Eve mourning and repentant, in order that by every garb of penitence2 she might the more fully expiate that which she derives from Eve,-the ignominy, I mean, of the first sin, and the odium (attaching to her as the cause) of human perdition. "In pains and in anxieties dost thou bear (children), woman; and toward thine husband (is) thy inclination, and he lords It over thee."3 And do you not know that you are (each) an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age:4 the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the devil's gateway: you are the unsealer5 of that (forbidden) tree: you are the first deserter of the divine law: you are she who persuaded6 him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God's image, man. On account of your desert-that is, death-even the Son of God had to die. And do you think about adorning yourself over and above your tunics of skins?7 Come, now; if from the beginning of the world8 the Milesians sheared sheep, and the Serians9 spun trees, and the Tyrians dyed, and the Phrygians embroidered with the needle, and the Babylonians with the loom, and pearls gleamed, and onyx-stones flashed; if gold itself also had already issued, with the cupidity (which accompanies it), from the ground; if the mirror, too, already had licence to lie so largely, Eve, expelled from paradise, (Eve) already dead, would also have coveted these things, I imagine! No more, then, ought she now to crave, or be acquainted with (if she desires to live again), what, when she was living, she had neither had nor known. Accordingly these things are all the baggage of woman in her condemned and dead state, instituted as if to swell the pomp of her funeral.
Chapter II.-The Origin of Female Ornamentation, Traced Back to the Angels Who Had Fallen.10
For they, withal, who instituted them are assigned, under condemnation, to the penalty of death,-those angels, to wit, who rushed from heaven on the daughters of men; so that this ignominy also attaches to woman. For when to an age11 much more ignorant (than ours) they had disclosed certain well-concealed material substances, and several not well-revealed scientific arts-if it is true that they had laid bare the operations of metallurgy, and had divulged the natural properties of herbs, and had promulgated the powers of enchantments, and had traced out every curious art,12 even to the interpretation of the stars-they conferred properly and as it were peculiarly upon women that instrumental mean of womanly ostentation, the radiances of jewels wherewith necklaces are variegated, and the circlets of gold wherewith the arms are compressed, and the medicaments of orchil with which wools are coloured, and that black powder itself wherewith the eyelids and eyelashes are made prominent.13 What is the quality of these things may be declared meantime, even at this point,14 from the quality and condition of their teachers: in that sinners could never have either shown or supplied anything conducive to integrity, unlawful lovers anything conducive to chastity, renegade spirits anything conducive to the fear of God. If (these things) are to be called teachings, ill masters must of necessity have taught ill; if as wages of lust, there is nothing base of which the wages are honourable. But why was it of so much importance to show these things as well as15 to confer them? Was it that women, without material causes of splendour, and without ingenious contrivances of grace, could not please men, who, while still unadorned, and uncouth and-so to say-crude and rude, had moved (the mind of) angels? or was it that the lovers16 would appear sordid and-through gratuitous use-contumelious, if they had conferred no (compensating) gift on the women who had been enticed into connubial connection with them? But these questions admit of no calculation. Women who possessed angels (as husbands) could desire nothing more; they had, forsooth, made a grand match! Assuredly they who, of course, did sometimes think whence they had fallen,17 and, after the heated impulses of their lusts, looked up toward heaven, thus requited that very excellence of women, natural beauty, as (having proved) a cause of evil, in order that their good fortune might profit them nothing; but that, being turned from simplicity and sincerity, they, together with (the angels) themselves, might become offensive to God. Sure they were that all ostentation, and ambition, and love of pleasing by carnal means, was displeasing to God. And these are the angels whom we are destined to judge:18 these are the angels whom in baptism we renounce:19 these, of course, are the reasons why they have deserved to be judged by man. What business, then, have their things with their judges? What commerce have they who are to condemn with them who are to be condemned? The same, I take it, as Christ has with Belial.20 With what consistency do we mount that (future) judgment-seat to pronounce sentence against those whose gifts we (now) seek after? For you too, (women as you are, ) have the self-same angelic nature promised21 as your reward, the self-same sex as men: the self-same advancement to the dignity of judging, does (the Lord) promise you. Unless, then, we begin even here to prejudge, by pre-condemning their things, which we are hereafter to condemn in themselves, they will rather judge and condemn us.
Chapter III.-Concerning the Genuineness of "The Prophecy of Enoch."22
I am aware that the Scripture of Enoch,23 which has assigned this order (of action) to angels, is not received by some, because it is not admitted into the Jewish canon either. I suppose they did not think that, having been published before the deluge, it could have safely survived that world-wide calamity, the abolisher of all things. If that is the reason (for rejecting it), let them recall to their memory that Noah, the survivor of the deluge, was the great-grandson of Enoch himself;24 and he, of course, had heard and remembered, from domestic renown25 and hereditary tradition, concerning his own great-grandfather's "grace in the sight of God,"26 and concerning all his preachings;27 since Enoch had given no other charge to Methuselah than that he should hand on the knowledge of them to his posterity. Noah therefore, no doubt, might have succeeded in the trusteeship of (his) preaching; or, had the case been otherwise, he would not have been silent alike concerning the disposition (of things) made by God, his Preserver, and concerning the particular glory of his own house.
If (Noah) had not had this (conservative power) by so short a route, there would (still) be this (consideration) to warrant28 our assertion of (the genuineness of) this Scripture: he could equally have renewed it, under the Spirit's inspiration,29 after it had been destroyed by the violence of the deluge, as, after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian storming of it, every document30 of the Jewish literature is generally agreed to have been restored through Ezra.
But since Enoch in the same Scripture has preached likewise concerning the Lord, nothing at all must be rejected by us which pertains to us; and we read that "every Scripture suitable for edification is divinely inspired.31 By the Jews it may now seem to have been rejected for that (very) reason, just like all the other (portions) nearly which tell of Christ. Nor, of course, is this fact wonderful, that they did not receive some Scriptures which spake of Him whom even in person, speaking in their presence, they were not to receive. To these considerations is added the fact that Enoch possesses a testimony in the Apostle Jude.32 ....................... ................................. Following are a number of reasons which I believe support the contention that the "sons of God" are fallen angels who had illicit intercourse with the daughters of men.
1. FIRST, ANCIENT ISRAEL, AND ISRAEL CONTEMPORARY WITH CHRIST, HELD THAT "THE SONS OF GOD" WERE FALLEN ANGELS.
The book of Enoch, dated 200 years before Christ has in Genesis 6:2 & 4, "Angels of God," rather than "Sons of God."
Josephus, the great Jewish historian, wrote, "Many angels accompanied with women, and begat Sons that proved un just, and despisers of all that was good" (Antiquities of the Jews - 3:1, pg. 2 . William Whiston, translator of Josephus, says, "This notion, that the fallen angels, were in some sense, the fathers of the old giants, was the constant opinion of antiquity." Two hundred years of archeological excavation has proven the reliability of the historical account of Josephus.
Philo, who was contemporary with the apostles held that it was angels who cohabited with the daughters of men, rather than sons of Seth. It was the view of the great majority of Rabbinic writers, and it is the prevailing view of present day orthodox Judaism.
2. SECONDLY, THE COMMON BIBLE OF THE DAYS IN WHICH PETER, JUDE, AND THE OTHER WRITERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT LIVED, WAS THE SEPTUAGINT.
The Septuagint is a pre-christian Greek version of the original Hebrew scriptures. Several passages of the Old Testament which are quoted in the New Testament, are taken verbatim from the Septuagint. "Several passages of the Old Testament, which are quoted in the New, are taken thence; and, being thus noticed by the writers of the New Testament, from their mode of using it, we may infer that it was in general circulation among the apostolic churches" (History of the Bible, By John Kitto DD. - Pg. 45). The Septuagint was the version in circulation among the New Testament churches, and was read publicly among them. So, when Christ says, "Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39), it is very likely that He referred immediately to the Septuagint, and indirectly to the original Old Testament. It is agreed by reputable scholarship that Jesus quoted more than once from the Septuagint. Now, I want you to note, while the K.J.V. and most modern versions read in Genesis 6:2 & 4 "Sons of God," the Septuagint reads, "Angels of God."
When Jude in Vs. 6 speaks of the angels "which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation," he then adds, "Even as Sodom and Gormorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire," (Jude 7). The language of Jude 7 demands adherence to the Septuagint, and the ancient view of Genesis 6:1-4. It is said by the inspired writer, that the people of Sodom and Gormorrah went after "strange flesh even as," or in like manner as the fallen angels which kept not their first estate (Jude 6). It is said of the angels of Jude 6 and 7, that they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness ... suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." All fallen angels (Revelation 12:7- 9) are not at this time locked up in Tartarus, some are still on the earth working with their nefarious head, Satan.
Alford, commenting on Jude 6 & 7 in his Greek New Testament, says, "In like manner to these ... the angels above mentioned. The manner was similar, because the angels committed fornication with another race than themselves."
The Twentieth Century New Testament (189 , taken from the Greek of Wescott and Hort, of which Philip Schaff said, it is "The purest Greek." Reads in verses 6 & 7 of Jude, "And that even those angels that failed to keep their own station and left their proper home have been kept by Him for black darkness. They are like Sodom and Gormorrah and the towns near them, which, as the angels did, gave themselves up to fornication, and went in search of beings of a different nature, and now stand out as a warning, undergoing as they are, punishment by enduring fire."
3. THE EARLY CHURCH BELIEVED THAT THE "Sons of God" OF GENESIS 6:1-4, WERE FALLEN ANGELS.
Justian Martyr, Tertullian, Cyprian, Ambrose, Lactantius, and the great majority of the early church fathers believed that the "Sons of God," of Genesis 6: 1-4, was a reference to reprobate angels. One of the reasons that unanimity prevailed among the early churches as regards this issue, was, no other viewpoint was heard of until the latter part of the fourth century.
The Sethite theory, the view that the "Sons of God" were the godly line of Seth was first introduced in the latter part of the fourth century by Juihus Afracanius, a contemporary of Origen. He wrote, "What is meant ... in my opinion, is that the descendants of Seth are called the sons of God" (Ante Nicene Fathers, Vol. 6, Pg. 131). The Sethite theory spread rapidly and widely, and became the prevailing view of the dark ages.
Eusebius, the great church Historian took exception to the Sethite theory, and declared his position in the dispute by saying, "The original position of the church is correct" (Jude - The Acts of the Apostates, Pg. 38 - S.M. Coder). The popularity of the Sethite theory has perpetuated itself, and is today the most common view among Bible students. However, many of these students are having doubts as to the correctness of their conclusions in this matter, and a re-study of the problem has led a large number to adopt the position which the early church held.
There is nothing in the context which suggests, or infers that the Sethites were distinguished for piety. Neither is there anything in the context which implies that the "daughters of men" were more ungodly than the daughters of Seth. In fact, the term " Daughters of men" is general, and includes the daughters of Seth as well as the daughters of Cain.
The Sethites were not exempted from the charge of general wickedness which precipitated the flood.
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5) The terms "man" and "his" in this text are used in the generic sense, and includes both Sethites and Cainites.
"And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." (Genesis 6:12 )This text does not say "All flesh has corrupted his way upon the earth, except the Sethites." No, it is "all flesh," and the family of Seth comes under that heading.
Josephus, says of the Sethites, "In process of time they were perverted, and foresook the practices of their fathers, and did neither pay those honors to God which were appointed them nor had any concern to do justice towards men. But for what degree of zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now showed by their actions a double degree of wickedness" (ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, Pg. 2 . All the Sethites, with the exception of one family perished in the flood.
It is not denied that the Sethite apostasy was fueled by the unlawful marriages of the godly line with the children of Cain, but what is denied is, that these marriages is what is referred to in Genesis 6: 1-4. The Sethite apostasy did not originate during the days of Noah, but had been long in process, and in league with the children of Cain, corrupted the whole earth. But it was the illicit marriages and intercourse of the aliens of the air, the denizens of devil, with the "daughters of men" that is referred to in Genesis 6: 1-4, and it is this marital action which opened up the judgmental skies of God and immersed the earth in water.
4. THE TERM "SONS OF GOD," IS USED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT OF ANGELES.
"Now there was a day when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them." (Job 1:6)
"Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord ... (Job 2:1) The Septuagint renders the term "Sons of God," found in Job 1:6 and 2:1, "angels of God."
"Give unto the Lord, 0 ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength." (Psalms 29:1) The Hebrew word for "mighty" in this text is "ben, bane" and means sons of God," or sons of the Mighty One."
Many, in an effort to avoid the force of this argument have equated texts from the New Testament which refer to regenerate persons as "Sons of God," with the Old Testament expression. In order to do this sound rules of exegesis are violated, and men must be introduced into Job 38:7, where "all the sons of God shouted for joy" at the primordial creation of the earth, when as yet, men did not exist. The "Sons of God" of Job 38:7 is clearly a reference to angels.
5. THE HEBREW WORD FOR "GIANTS" IN GENESIS 6:4 IS "NEPHILIM," WHICH MEANS "FALLEN ONES."
Genesis 6:4 could have been correctly translated, "There were fallen ones in the earth in those days." The term "fallen ones" must be distinguished from mankind, for all of mankind was in a fallen state, and exceedingly wicked at this time. The term "fallen ones" has no significance unless it refers to something else other than the fallen ones of Adam, for they were present, not only in "those days," but had been present since the expulsion from Eden.
The distinguishing feature in the text ("There were fallen ones in the earth in those days"), is, they were in the earth at this time, rather than in heaven. The words constitute an indirect reference to the angelic apostasy in heaven, but is a direct reference to fallen angels on earth.
The Hebrew word "Nephilim" translated "giants" in the King James version and "giantes" in the Septuagint occurs only one other time in Scripture (Numbers 13:33), and has to do with the great size and stature of the sons of Anak. "... And all the people we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants (nephilim - same as Genesis 6:4), the Sons of Anak" (Numbers 13:32 & 33). This is, as no one can honestly deny a reference to the gigantic size of the Sons of Anak, and in no sense speaks of their fame or exploits. As it is here, so it is in Genesis 6:4.
It is without doubt that these "fallen ones" did great exploits which made them renown, but from all of these great feats they became exhausted and needed a super king size bed to rest in, thus it is, we read of one of their bedsteads being thirteen feet long (Deuteronomy 3:11).
"For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man. (Deuteronomy 3:11 ) The conservative cubit of eighteen inches would have king Og's bed to be thirteen and one half feet long, and six feet wide. It is plain that these dimensions are given to draw attention to the physical size of Og, and unmistakably identifies him as a descendent of the "fallen ones" of Genesis 6:4.
At the first appearance of this race of monstrosities, God sent a flood and destroyed them. At their second appearance God orders His people to utterly destroy them, and the prophet Amos in retrospect, quoting God, says, "Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath" (Amos 2:9).
"There were giants in the earth in those days." The "giants" spoken of here are literal, not mere men of renown, but men of exceedingly large stature. The question which logically follows, is, seeing that marriages of believers with unbelievers in our day do not produce actual giants, why should such a union beget them in the days of Noah?
The Sethite theory does not facilitate Satan's purpose to prevent the entrance of the promised Seed of the woman, which was to bruise his head. Cain was of that wicked one, and was used of his spiritual father to slay Abel, for he knew or thought it was through Abel that Christ would come into the world. In the same way, Pharaoh and Herod were used of Satan in an effort to destroy the seed through whom the promised head bruiser would come. All of Satan's efforts to prevent the coming of Christ into the world, miserably failed, and "when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman ..." (Galatians 4:4). Christ was born of a woman who had a depraved nature, a godly woman, and certainly not as steeped in sin as the antediluvian Sethites, but nevertheless, depraved. Human depravity, even in its most intensified state, is never presented in Scripture as something in itself, perse, that Satan would ever think could be a deterrent to the fulfillment Genesis 3:15, for it was to depraved people the promise of a Redeemer was made. Satan knew that it would take something more than the total and ultimately intensified depravity of the human race to prevent the incarnation of Christ. Satan knew, the cohabitation of fallen angels with the daughters of men could eventually abort the human race, and leave no entrance for the Son of Man. What Satan did not know, was, that God would send an earth wide flood and drown all of his monstrous half brothers and sisters, and that God would make an example of their fallen angelic daddies, by shutting them up to the vengeance of eternal fire (Jude 7). Yet, Satan will try anything to avert his own destruction as spelled out in Genesis 3:15.
All that the Sethite theory of Genesis 6:14 does, is teach the doctrine of the intensification of human depravity. The depraved state of the Sethites at the time of the flood was every bit and grain as terrible
as that of the Cainites, and only one man among them found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6: .
6. THE APOSTLE PETER CONNECTS THE SIN OF ANGELS WITH THE FLOOD.
"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell (tar-tarus), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be r served unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly." (II Peter 2:4-5) In this text, Peter connects the sin of the angels with the flood, therefore it is not the angelic apostasy in heaven which Peter sets before us in this text, but the soul damning work of the "fallen ones" on earth. Peter makes the sin of the angels and the flood to be cause and effect, otherwise the close frame of reference in which they are used is meaning less.
Some reputable scholars believe Isaiah's reference to Lucifer in chapter 14, verses 16 & 17 is also an indirect reference to the sin of the fallen angels. The text reads, "... Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?" That this is a reference to the flood is seen in the two clauses, the world made a wilderness, and the cities thereof destroyed. It was the flood that made the earth a veritable waste, it was the flood that destroyed the cities of the earth, not the adamic curse; for at the time of Adam's fall there were no cities to be destroyed. Satan, the deposed archangel is head of the fallen angels, and is by God held responsible for the cohabitation of the "fallen ones" with the "daughters of men." The illicit sexual relationship of the fallen angels with the "daughters of men," resulted in the flood, and it is in this sense, that God holds Satan responsible for the destruction of the earth and the cities thereof.
7. THE OBJECTION, THAT ANGELS ARE NEUTER, AND CANNOT REPRODUCE, IS ANSWERABLE.
The text most often cited by those who object to the view that the "sons of God" of Genesis 6:1-4 are fallen angels is, Matthew 22:30, which reads; "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."
A. The term "angels of God" in this text, serves as a clear distinction between angels who remained faithful to God, and the angels who in collusion with Lucifer rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven.
B. The text uses a clause which is locative, which clause specifies the place where angels do not marry, i.e. "in heaven." If the text read, "In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God" and had left off the last two words ("in heaven"), much the objection sues for could be allowed. But the text includes the qualifying clause, "in heaven," and the object goes pitifully wanting.
The last two words of the text makes what at first seems to be an insuperable objection, to be utterly groundless, for it is "in heaven" that angels neither marry nor or given in marriage. The angels of Genesis 6:1-4, referred to as "sons of God" were no longer in heaven, but in the earth, and in the earth, they by marrying the daughters of men gave the conjugal relationship its most infernal nature.
C. Matthew 22:30 speaks of the post resurrection state of believers, wherein they become unmarriageables, and the place of this state is "in heaven." Then too, the text speaks of unmarriageable angels, who reside "in heaven." In this text we see God, His angels, and all the elect of God, and their abode is "in heaven." On the other hand we have a text of Scripture in which we see the devil, his angels, reprobate mankind and the place of their eternal residence: "Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). But there are ages of time between the creation and resurrection of the saints and their translation to a heaven where marriage vows are never spoken. It is in this interim of time on earth, saints marry and are given in marriage. It is in the same earth and time that the angels which kept not their first estate marry the daughters of men, and are soon thereafter cast into a marriage less hell.
The remonstrant may say: "It is contrary to the nature of angels to marry." What we mere mortals know about the nature of angels is practically nil. We know they have at different times assumed physical bodies, and were referred to as men. Angels in their corporeal form on earth have spoke as men speak, ate the food of men, handled men and were handled by men (Genesis 18:8, 19:3 & 16). What the nature and power of fallen angels consist of, is known only to God. The little we know about them tells us, that sinful angels left their proper habitat, and were granted access to the earth, wherein they had illicit intercourse with the daughters of men, including both, Sethites and Cainites. ......................................................... JEWISH AND PATRISTIC FATHERS
The Jewish Fathers, when interpreting this expression from Genesis 6:2, invariably interpreted it as "angels." No less an authority than W.F. Allbright tells us that:
"The Israelites who heard this section (Genesis 6.2) recited unquestionably thought of intercourse between angels and women." (
Philo of Alexandria, a deeply religious man, wrote a brief but beautiful treatise on this subject, called "Concerning The Giants." Basing his exposition on the Greek version of the Bible, he renders it as "Angels of God." Says Bamberger, "Had he found the phrase 'sons of God' in his text, he most certainly would have been inspired to comment on it." (9)
Philo certainly took the Genesis passage as historical, explaining that just as the word "soul" applies both to good and evil beings, so does the word "angel." The bad angels, who followed Lucifer, at a later point in time failed to resist the lure of physical desire, and succumbed to it. He goes on to say that the story of the giants is not a myth, but it is there to teach us that some men are earth-born, while others are heaven- born, and the highest are God-born. (10)
The Early Church Fathers believed the same way. Men like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Athenagoras, Tertullian, Lactantius, Eusebius, Ambrose...all adopted this interpretation. In the words of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, the angels fell "into impure love of virgins, and were subjugated by the flesh...Of those lovers of virgins therefore, were begotten those who are called giants." (11) And again, "...the angels transgressed, and were captivated by love of women and begat children." (12)
Nowhere before the 5th century A.D. do we find any interpretation for "sons of God" other than that of angels. We cannot deny the Jewish Fathers knowledge of their own terminology! They invariably translated "sons of God" as "angels." The testimony of Josephus, that colorful cosmopolitan and historian, is also of paramount importance. In his monumental volume, "Antiquities of the Jews," he reveals his acquaintance with the tradition of the fallen angels consorting with women of Earth. He not only knew of the tradition but tells us how the children of such union possessed super human strength, and were known for their extreme wickedness. "For the tradition is that these men did what resembled the acts of those men the Grecians called giants." Josephus goes on to add that Noah remonstrated with these offspring of the angels for their villainy. (13)
Perhaps the most conclusive argument for interpreting the expression as "angels" is the simplest one of all. If the writer of Genesis wanted to refer to the "sons of Seth" he would have just said so. If God had intended that meaning, then the verse would undoubtedly read, "the sons of Seth saw the daughters of Cain that they were fair..." But the Bible meant something far more sinister--the sexual union between angels from Hell and evil women from Earth. Because of the gravity of such a union, and its dire consequences for the human race, God moved to destroy the race before it could destroy itself--except for one family which had not been contaminated. .......................................................
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
CONCERNING THE FLOOD; AND AFTER WHAT MANNER NOAH WAS SAVED IN AN ARK, WITH HIS KINDRED, AND AFTERWARDS DWELT IN THE PLAIN OF SHINAR,
1. NOW this posterity of Seth continued to esteem God as the Lord of the universe, and to have an entire regard to virtue, for seven generations; but in process of time they were perverted, and forsook the practices of their forefathers; and did neither pay those honors to God which were appointed them, nor had they any concern to do justice towards men. But for what degree of zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now showed by their actions a double degree of wickedness, whereby they made God to be their enemy. For many angels (11) of God accompanied with women, and begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good, on account of the confidence they had in their own strength; for the tradition is, that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants
(11) This notion, that the fallen angels were, in some sense, the fathers of the old giants, was the constant opinion of antiquity...............................
Note H: Certain angels turned themselves into precious stones, pearls, purple dye, gold and other treasures, which were at once stolen by covetous men. They then took human shape, hoping to teach mankind righteousness. But this asumption of flesh made them subject to human lusts: being seduced by the Daughters of Men, they found themselves chained to Earth, unable to resume their spiritual shapes The Fallen Ones rejected God's manna, slaughtered animals for food, and even dined on human flesh, thus fouling the air with sickly vapours. It was then that God decided to cleanse Earth (The Clementine Homilies, 8:11-17(pp. 142-45). 3rd cent.; Cf. also Enoch 6-8; 69; 106, 13f).
Fragments of The Clementine Homilies:
Chapter XII.-Metamorphoses of the Angels.
"For of the spirits who inhabit the heaven, the angels who dwell in the lowest region metamorphosed themselves into every nature; for, being of a more godlike substance, they are able easily to assume any form.
So they became precious stones, and goodly pearl, and the most beauteous purple, and choice gold, and all matter that is held in most esteem. And they fell into the hands of some, and into the bosoms of others, and suffered themselves to be stolen by them.
They also changed themselves into beasts and reptiles, and fishes and birds, and into whatsoever they pleased
Chapter XIII.-The Fall of the Angels.
"But when, having assumed these forms, they convicted as covetous those who stole them, and changed themselves into the nature of men, in order that, living holily, and showing the possibility of so living, they might subject the ungrateful to punishment, yet having become in all respects men, they also partook of human lust, and being brought tinder its subjection they fell into cohabitation with women; [Comp. Recognitions, i. 30.] and being involved with them, and sunk in defilement and altogether emptied of their first power, were unable to turn back to the first purity of their proper nature, their members turned away from their fiery substance: for the fire itself, being extinguished by the weight of lust, and changed into flesh, they trode the impious path downward. For they themselves, being fettered with the bonds of flesh, were constrained and strongly bound; wherefore they have no more been able to ascend into the heavens.
Chapter XIV.-Their Discoveries.
"For after the intercourse, being asked to show what they were before, and being no longer able to do so, on account of their being unable to do aught else after their defilement, yet wishing to please their mistresses, instead of themselves, they showed the bowel (marrow) of the earth; I mean, the choice metals, [flowers of metal] gold, brass, silver, iron, and the like, with all the most precious stones. And along with these charmed stones, they delivered the arts of the things pertaining to each, and imparted the discovery of magic, and taught astronomy, and the powers of roots, and whatever was impossible to be found out by the human mind; also the reeking of gold and silver, and the like, and the various dyeing of garments. And all things, in short, which are for the adornment and delight of women, are the discoveries of these demons bound in flesh.
Chapter XV.-The Giants.
"But from their unhallowed intercourse spurious men sprang, greater in stature than ordinary men, whom they afterwards called giants; not those dragon-footed giants who waged war against God, as those blasphemous myths of the Greeks do sing, but wild in manners, and greater than men in size, inasmuch as they were sprung of angels; yet less than angels, as they were born of women.
Therefore God, knowing that they were barbarized to brutality, and that the world was not sufficient to satisfy them (for it was created according to the proportion of men and human use), that they might not through want of food turn, contrary to nature, to the eating of animals, and yet seem to be blameless, as having ventured upon this through necessity, the Almighty God rained manna upon them, suited to their various tastes; and they enjoyed all that they would. But they, on account of their *** nature, not being pleased with purity of food, longed only after the taste of blood. Wherefore they first tasted flesh.
Chapter XVI.-Cannibalism.
"And the men who were with them there for the first time were eager to do the like. Thus, although we are born neither good nor bad, we become one or the other; and having formed habits, we are with difficulty drawn from them. But when irrational animals fell short, these *** men tasted also human flesh. For it was not a long step to the consumption of flesh like their own, having first tasted it in other forms.
Commentaries from the same source (above):
Commentary 3a: Josephus's view, that the Sons of God were angels, survived for several centuries despite Shimon Ben Yohai's curse.
Commentary 3b: As late as the eighth century A.D., Rabbi Eliezer records in a midrash: "The angels who fell from Heaven saw the daughters of Cain perambulating and displaying their secret parts, their eyes painted with antimony in the manner of harlots; and, being seduced, took wives from among them." Rabbi Joshua ben Qorha, a literalist... decided that "when these angels fell from Heaven, their strength and stature were reduced to those of mortals, and their fire changed into flesh."
Commentary 11: The Anakim may have been Mycenaean Greek colonists, belonging to the "Sea Peoples" confederation which caused Egypt such trouble in the fourteenth century B.C. Greek mythographers told of a Giant Anax ("king"), son of Heaven and Mother Earth, who ruled Anactoria (Miletus) in Asia Minor. According to Appollodorus, the disinterred skeleton of Asterius ("starry"), Anax's successor, measured ten cubits. Akakes, the plural of Nanx, was an epithet of the Greek gods in general.
Commentary 12: Megalithic monuments, found by the Hebrews on their arrival in Canaan, will have encouraged legends about giants
Commentary 13: The Nephilim ("Fallen Ones") bore many other tribal names, such as Emim ("Terrors"), Repha'im ("Weakeners"), Gibborim ("Giant Heroes"), Zamzummim ("Acheivers"), Anakim ("Long-necked" or "Wearers of Necklaces"), Awwim ("Devastators" or "Serpents"). One of the Nephilim named Arba is said to have built the city of Hebron, called "Kiriath-Arba" after him, and become the father of Anak whose three sons, Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, were later expelled by Joshua's comrade Caleb. Since, however, arba means "four" in Hebrew, Kiriath-Arba may have originally have meant "City of Four," a reference to its four quarters mythically connected with the Anakite clans: Anak himself and his "sons" Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai
Commentary 2: According with Robert Graves and Raphael Patai, Josephus interpreted it as follows (but in this Web Page we have read above the actual writings by Josephus and doesnt look like that, but let me anyway give to you the quotation):
Many angels of God now consorted with women, and begot sons on them who were overbearing and disdainful of every virtue; such confidence had they in their strength. In fact, the deeds that our tradition ascribed to them recall the audacious exploits told by the Greeks of the giants. But Noah urged them to adopt a better frame of mind and amend their ways.
These Greek giants were twenty-four violent and lecherous sons of Mother Earth, born at Phlegra in Thrace, and the two Aloeids, all of whom rebelled against Almighty Zeus.personales.com/mexico/gua...sephus.htm .......................
The Clementine Homilies, 8:11-17 (pp. 142-45). The Homilies are an early 3rd cent. A.D. Christian tract, written probably in Syria. However, they represent the universal theme that Satan's primary weapon to silence the Word of God has been and is musical rituals:
Chapter XI.-Cause of the Fall of Man.
"But they, because they had at first no experience of evils, being insensible to the gift of good things, were turned to ingratitude by abundance of food and luxuries, so that they even thought that there is no Providence,
since they had not by previous labour got good things as the reward of righteousness, inasmuch as no one of them had fallen into any suffering or disease, or any other necessity; so that, as is usual for men afflicted on account of wicked transgression, they should look about for the God who is able to heal them.
But immediately after their despite, which proceeded from fearlessness and secure luxury, a certain just punishment met them,
as following from a certain arranged harmony,
removing from them good things as having hurt them, and introducing evil things instead, as advantageous.
Chapter XII.-Metamorphoses of the Angels.
"For of the spirits who inhabit the heaven, the angels who dwell in the lowest region, being grieved at the ingratitude of men to God, asked that they might come into the life of men, that, really becoming men, by more intercourse they
might convict those who had acted ungratefully towards Him,
and might subject every one to adequate punishment.
When, therefore, their petition was granted, they metamorphosed themselves into every nature; for, being of a more godlike substance, they are able easily to assume any form.
So they became precious stones, and goodly pearl, and the most beauteous purple, and choice gold, and all matter that is held in most esteem. And they fell into the hands of some, and into the bosoms of others, and suffered themselves to be stolen by them.
They also changed themselves into beasts and reptiles, and fishes and birds, and into whatsoever they pleased.
These things also the poets among yourselves,
by reason of fearlessness, sing, as they befell, attributing to one the many and diverse doings of all.
Chapter XIII.-The Fall of the Angels.
"But when, having assumed these forms, they convicted as covetous those who stole them, and changed themselves into the nature of men, in order that, living holily, and showing the possibility of so living, they might subject the ungrateful to punishment, yet having become in all respects men, they also partook of human lust, and being brought tinder its subjection they fell into cohabitation with women; [Comp. Recognitions, i. 30.] and being involved with them,
and sunk in defilement and altogether emptied of their first power,
were unable to turn back to the first purity of their proper nature, their members turned away from their fiery substance: for the fire itself, being extinguished by the weight of lust,
and changed into flesh, they trode the impious path downward. For they themselves, being fettered with the bonds of flesh, were constrained and strongly bound;
wherefore they have no more been able to ascend into the heavens.
Chapter XIV.-Their Discoveries.
"For after the intercourse, being asked to show what they were before, and being no longer able to do so, on account of their being unable to do aught else after their defilement, yet wishing to please their mistresses, instead of themselves,
they showed the bowel (marrow) of the earth; I mean, the choice metals, [flowers of metal] gold, brass, silver, iron, and the like, with all the most precious stones.
And along with these charmed stones, they delivered the arts of the things pertaining to each, and imparted the discovery of magic, and taught astronomy,
and the powers of roots, and whatever was impossible to be found out by the human mind; also the seeking of gold and silver, and the like, and the various dyeing of garments. And all things, in short,
which are for the adornment and delight of women, are the discoveries of these demons bound in flesh.
Chapter XV.-The Giants.
"But from their unhallowed intercourse spurious men sprang, greater in stature than ordinary men, whom they afterwards called giants; not those dragon-footed giants who waged war against God, as those blasphemous myths of the Greeks do sing,
but wild in manners, and greater than men in size, inasmuch as they were sprung of angels; yet less than angels, as they were born of women.
Therefore God, knowing that they were barbarized to brutality, and that the world was not sufficient to satisfy them (for it was created according to the proportion of men and human use), that they might not through want of food turn, contrary to nature, to the eating of animals, and yet seem to be blameless, as having ventured upon this through necessity,
the Almighty God rained manna upon them, suited to their various tastes; and they enjoyed all that they would. But they, on account of their *** nature, not being pleased with purity of food, longed only after the taste of blood. Wherefore they first tasted flesh.
Chapter XVI.-Cannibalism.
"And the men who were with them there for the first time were eager to do the like. Thus, although we are born neither good nor bad, we become one or the other; and having formed habits, we are with difficulty drawn from them. But when irrational animals fell short, these *** men tasted also human flesh. For it was not a long step to the consumption of flesh like their own, having first tasted it in other forms.
Chapter XVII.-The Flood.
"But by the shedding of much blood, the pure air being defiled with impure vapour, and sickening those who breathed it, rendered them liable to diseases, so that thenceforth men died prematurely. But the earth being by these means greatly defiled, these first teemed with poison-darting and deadly creatures. All things, therefore, going from bad to worse, on account of these brutal demons, God wished to cast them away like an evil leaven, lest each generation from a wicked seed, being like to that before it, and equally impious, should empty the world to come of saved men.
And for this purpose, having warned a certain righteous man, [Comp. Recognitions, vi. 12] with his three sons, together with their wives and their children, to save themselves in an ark,
He sent a deluge of water, that all being destroyed, the purified world might be handed over to him who was saved in the ark, in order to a second beginning of life. And thus it came to pass.
Chapter XVIII.-The Law to the Survivors.
"Since, therefore, the souls of the deceased giants were greater than human souls, inasmuch as they also excelled their bodies, they, as being a new race, were called also by a new name. And to those who survived in the world a law was prescribed of God through an angel, how they should live.
For being bastards in race, of the fire of angels and the blood of women, and therefore liable to desire a certain race of their own, they were anticipated by a certain righteous law. For a certain angel was sent to them by God, declaring to them His will, and saying:-
Chapter XIX.-The Law to the Giants or Demons.
"These things seem good to the all-seeing God, that you lord it over no man; that you trouble no one,
unless any one of his own accord subject himself to you, worshipping you, and sacrificing and pouring libations, and partaking of your table, or accomplishing aught else that they ought not, or shedding blood, or tasting dead flesh, or filling themselves with that which is torn of beasts, or that which is cut, or that which is strangled, or aught else that is unclean.
But those who betake themselves to my law, you not only shall not touch, but shall also do honour to, and shall flee from, their presence. For whatsoever shall please them, being just, respecting you, that you shall be constrained to suffer.
But if any of those who worship me go astray, either committing adultery, or practising magic, or living impurely, or doing any other of the things which are not well-pleasing to me, then they will have to suffer something at your hands or those of others, according to my order.
But upon them, when they repent, I, judging of their repentance, whether it be worthy of pardon or not, shall give sentence. These things, therefore, ye ought to remember and to do,
well knowing that not even your thoughts shall be able to be concealed from Him.'
Chapter XX.-Willing Captives.
"Having charged them to this effect, the angel departed. But you are still ignorant of this law,
that every one who worships demons, or sacrifices to them, or partakes with them of their table,
shall become subject to them and receive all punishment from them, as being under wicked lords. And you who, on account of ignorance of this law, have been corrupted beside their altars, and have been satiated with food offered to them,
have come under their power, and do not know how you have been in every way injured in respect of your bodies.
But you ought to know that the demons have no power over any one, unless first he be their table-companion; since not even their chief can do anything contrary to the law imposed upon them by God,
wherefore he has no power over any one who does not worship him; but neither can any one receive from them any of the things that he wishes, nor in anything be hurt by them, as you may learn from the following statement.
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 1Co.10:20
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lords table, and of the table of devils. 1Co.10:21
See what happened at Mount Sinai.
Recognitions of Clement Book IV Entire Book .....................
Josephus interpreted it as follows:
Many angels of God now consorted with women, and begot sons on them who were overbearing and disdainful of every virtue; such confidence had they in their strength. In fact, the deeds that our tradition ascribed to them recall the audacious exploits told by the Greeks of the giants. But Noah urged them to adopt a better frame of mind and amend their ways.
These Greek giants were twenty-four violent and lecherous sons of Mother Earth, born at Phlegra in Thrace, and the two Aloeids, all of whom rebelled against Almighty Zeus.
3. Josephus's view, that the Sons of God were angels, survived for several centuries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As late as the eighth century A.D., Rabbi Eliezer records in a midrash:
"The angels who fell from Heaven saw the daughters of Cain perambulating and displaying their secret parts,
their eyes painted with antimony in the manner of harlots; and, being seduced, took wives from among them."
It was the predominate view in the early church that giants were the offspring of fallen angels.
THE COMMON BIBLE OF THE DAYS IN WHICH PETER, JUDE, AND THE OTHER WRITERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT LIVED, WAS THE SEPTUAGINT. The septuagint can shed much light on this issue.
The Septuagint is a pre-christian Greek version of the original Hebrew scriptures. Several passages of the Old Testament which are quoted in the New Testament, are taken verbatim from the Septuagint. "Several passages of the Old Testament, which are quoted in the New, are taken thence; and, being thus noticed by the writers of the New Testament, from their mode of using it, we may infer that it was in general circulation among the apostolic churches" (History of the Bible, By John Kitto DD. - Pg. 45). The K.J.V. and most modern versions of the Bible read in Genesis 6:2 & 4 "Sons of God," the Septuagint reads, "Angels of God."
Early church fathers believed that the giants spoken of in scripture were the offspring of fallen angels and human woman.
In Ante-Nicene fathers vol.2, chapter 24 we read,
Just as with men, who have freedom of choice as to both virtue and vice (for you would not either honour the good or punish the bad, unless vice and virtue were in their own power; and some are diligent in the matters entrusted to them by you, and others faithless), so is it among the angels. Some, free agents, you will observe, such as they were created by God, continued in those things for which God had made and over which He had ordained them; but some outraged both the constitution of their nature and the government entrusted to them: namely, this ruler of matter and its various forms, and others of those who were placed about this first firmament (you know that we say nothing without witnesses, but state the things which have been declared by the prophets); these fell into impure love of virgins, and were subjugated by the flesh, and he became negligent and wicked in the management of the things entrusted to him. Of these lovers of virgins, therefore, were begotten those who are called giants And if something has been said by the poets, too, about the giants, be not surprised at this: worldly Wisdom and divine differ as much from each other as truth and plausibility: the one is of heaven and the other of earth; and indeed, according to the prince of matter,- "We know we oft speak lies that look like troths."
Irenaeus also writes,
And wickedness very long-continued and widespread pervaded all the races of men, until very little
seed of justice was in them. For unlawful unions came about on earth, as angels linked themselves with
offspring of the daughters of men, who bore to them sons, who on account of their exceeding great
were called Giants. The angels, then, brought to their wives as gifts teachings of evil, for they taught
them the virtues of roots and herbs, and dyeing and cosmetics and discoveries of precious materials,
love-philtes, hatreds, amours, passions, constraints of love, the bonds of witchcraft, every sorcery and
idolatry, hateful to God; and when this was come into the world, the affairs of wickedness were
propagated to overflowing, and those of justice dwindled to very little. ---- Irenaeus, Demonstration, 18. Joseph P. Smith, St. Irenaeus: Proof of the Apostolic Preaching. (London:Longmans, Green & Co., 1952), 58.
Justin Martyr writes in chapter 5 of his Second Apology, entitled ""How the Angels Transgressed":
God, when He had made the whole world, and subjected things earthly to man, and arranged the heavenly elements for the increase of fruits and rotation of the seasons, and appointed this divine law - for these things also He evidently made for man - committed the care of men and of all things under heaven to angels whom He appointed over them. But the angels transgressed this appointment, and were captivated by love of women, and begat children who are those that are called demons; and besides, they afterwards subdued the human race to themselves, partly by magical writings, and partly by fears and punishments they occasioned, and partly by teaching them to offer sacrifices, and incense, and libations, of which things they stood in need after they enslaved by lustful passions; and among men they sowed murders, wars, adulteries, intemperate needs, and all wickedness. . . . (p. 363, vol. 1, The Ante-Nicene Fathers)
This is from The Instructions of Commodianus,
When Almighty God, to beautify the nature of the world, willed that that earth should be visited by angels, when they were sent down they despised His laws. Such was the beauty of women, that it turned them aside; so that, being contaminated, they could not return to heaven. Rebels from God, they uttered words against Him. Then the Highest uttered His judgment against them; and from their seed giants are said to have been born. By them arts were made known in the earth, and they taught the dyeing of wool, and everything which is done; and to them, when they died, men erected images. But the Almighty, because they were of an evil seed, did not approve that, when dead, they should be brought back from death. Whence wandering they now subvert many bodies, and it is such as these especially that ye this day worship and pray to as gods. (p. 435, vol. 4, The Ante-Nicene Fathers) ...........................................
Note H: Certain angels turned themselves into precious stones, pearls, purple dye, gold and other treasures, which were at once stolen by covetous men. They then took human shape, hoping to teach mankind righteousness. But this asumption of flesh made them subject to human lusts: being seduced by the Daughters of Men, they found themselves chained to Earth, unable to resume their spiritual shapes The Fallen Ones rejected God's manna, slaughtered animals for food, and even dined on human flesh, thus fouling the air with sickly vapours. It was then that God decided to cleanse Earth (The Clementine Homilies, 8:11-17(pp. 142-45). 3rd cent.; Cf. also Enoch 6-8; 69; 106, 13f).
Fragments of The Clementine Homilies:
Chapter XII.-Metamorphoses of the Angels.
"For of the spirits who inhabit the heaven, the angels who dwell in the lowest region metamorphosed themselves into every nature; for, being of a more godlike substance, they are able easily to assume any form.
So they became precious stones, and goodly pearl, and the most beauteous purple, and choice gold, and all matter that is held in most esteem. And they fell into the hands of some, and into the bosoms of others, and suffered themselves to be stolen by them.
They also changed themselves into beasts and reptiles, and fishes and birds, and into whatsoever they pleased
Chapter XIII.-The Fall of the Angels.
"But when, having assumed these forms, they convicted as covetous those who stole them, and changed themselves into the nature of men, in order that, living holily, and showing the possibility of so living, they might subject the ungrateful to punishment, yet having become in all respects men, they also partook of human lust, and being brought tinder its subjection they fell into cohabitation with women; [Comp. Recognitions, i. 30.] and being involved with them, and sunk in defilement and altogether emptied of their first power, were unable to turn back to the first purity of their proper nature, their members turned away from their fiery substance: for the fire itself, being extinguished by the weight of lust, and changed into flesh, they trode the impious path downward. For they themselves, being fettered with the bonds of flesh, were constrained and strongly bound; wherefore they have no more been able to ascend into the heavens.
Chapter XIV.-Their Discoveries.
"For after the intercourse, being asked to show what they were before, and being no longer able to do so, on account of their being unable to do aught else after their defilement, yet wishing to please their mistresses, instead of themselves, they showed the bowel (marrow) of the earth; I mean, the choice metals, [flowers of metal] gold, brass, silver, iron, and the like, with all the most precious stones. And along with these charmed stones, they delivered the arts of the things pertaining to each, and imparted the discovery of magic, and taught astronomy, and the powers of roots, and whatever was impossible to be found out by the human mind; also the reeking of gold and silver, and the like, and the various dyeing of garments. And all things, in short, which are for the adornment and delight of women, are the discoveries of these demons bound in flesh.
Chapter XV.-The Giants.
"But from their unhallowed intercourse spurious men sprang, greater in stature than ordinary men, whom they afterwards called giants; not those dragon-footed giants who waged war against God, as those blasphemous myths of the Greeks do sing, but wild in manners, and greater than men in size, inasmuch as they were sprung of angels; yet less than angels, as they were born of women.
Therefore God, knowing that they were barbarized to brutality, and that the world was not sufficient to satisfy them (for it was created according to the proportion of men and human use), that they might not through want of food turn, contrary to nature, to the eating of animals, and yet seem to be blameless, as having ventured upon this through necessity, the Almighty God rained manna upon them, suited to their various tastes; and they enjoyed all that they would. But they, on account of their *** nature, not being pleased with purity of food, longed only after the taste of blood. Wherefore they first tasted flesh.
Chapter XVI.-Cannibalism.
"And the men who were with them there for the first time were eager to do the like. Thus, although we are born neither good nor bad, we become one or the other; and having formed habits, we are with difficulty drawn from them. But when irrational animals fell short, these *** men tasted also human flesh. For it was not a long step to the consumption of flesh like their own, having first tasted it in other forms.
Commentaries from the same source (above):
Commentary 3a: Josephus's view, that the Sons of God were angels, survived for several centuries despite Shimon Ben Yohai's curse.
Commentary 3b: As late as the eighth century A.D., Rabbi Eliezer records in a midrash: "The angels who fell from Heaven saw the daughters of Cain perambulating and displaying their secret parts, their eyes painted with antimony in the manner of harlots; and, being seduced, took wives from among them." Rabbi Joshua ben Qorha, a literalist... decided that "when these angels fell from Heaven, their strength and stature were reduced to those of mortals, and their fire changed into flesh." ...... ............................................. Book I.
Chapter I.-Introduction. Modesty in Apparel Becoming to Women, in Memory of the Introduction of Sin into the World Through a Woman.
If there dwelt upon earth a faith as great as is the reward of faith which is expected in the heavens, no one of you at all, best beloved sisters, from the time that she had first "known the Lord,"1 and learned (the truth) concerning her own (that is, woman's) condition, would have desired too gladsome (not to say too ostentatious) a style of dress; so as not rather to go about in humble garb, and rather to affect meanness of appearance, walking about as Eve mourning and repentant, in order that by every garb of penitence2 she might the more fully expiate that which she derives from Eve,-the ignominy, I mean, of the first sin, and the odium (attaching to her as the cause) of human perdition. "In pains and in anxieties dost thou bear (children), woman; and toward thine husband (is) thy inclination, and he lords It over thee."3 And do you not know that you are (each) an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age:4 the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the devil's gateway: you are the unsealer5 of that (forbidden) tree: you are the first deserter of the divine law: you are she who persuaded6 him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God's image, man. On account of your desert-that is, death-even the Son of God had to die. And do you think about adorning yourself over and above your tunics of skins?7 Come, now; if from the beginning of the world8 the Milesians sheared sheep, and the Serians9 spun trees, and the Tyrians dyed, and the Phrygians embroidered with the needle, and the Babylonians with the loom, and pearls gleamed, and onyx-stones flashed; if gold itself also had already issued, with the cupidity (which accompanies it), from the ground; if the mirror, too, already had licence to lie so largely, Eve, expelled from paradise, (Eve) already dead, would also have coveted these things, I imagine! No more, then, ought she now to crave, or be acquainted with (if she desires to live again), what, when she was living, she had neither had nor known. Accordingly these things are all the baggage of woman in her condemned and dead state, instituted as if to swell the pomp of her funeral.
Chapter II.-The Origin of Female Ornamentation, Traced Back to the Angels Who Had Fallen.10
For they, withal, who instituted them are assigned, under condemnation, to the penalty of death,-those angels, to wit, who rushed from heaven on the daughters of men; so that this ignominy also attaches to woman. For when to an age11 much more ignorant (than ours) they had disclosed certain well-concealed material substances, and several not well-revealed scientific arts-if it is true that they had laid bare the operations of metallurgy, and had divulged the natural properties of herbs, and had promulgated the powers of enchantments, and had traced out every curious art,12 even to the interpretation of the stars-they conferred properly and as it were peculiarly upon women that instrumental mean of womanly ostentation, the radiances of jewels wherewith necklaces are variegated, and the circlets of gold wherewith the arms are compressed, and the medicaments of orchil with which wools are coloured, and that black powder itself wherewith the eyelids and eyelashes are made prominent.13 What is the quality of these things may be declared meantime, even at this point,14 from the quality and condition of their teachers: in that sinners could never have either shown or supplied anything conducive to integrity, unlawful lovers anything conducive to chastity, renegade spirits anything conducive to the fear of God. If (these things) are to be called teachings, ill masters must of necessity have taught ill; if as wages of lust, there is nothing base of which the wages are honourable. But why was it of so much importance to show these things as well as15 to confer them? Was it that women, without material causes of splendour, and without ingenious contrivances of grace, could not please men, who, while still unadorned, and uncouth and-so to say-crude and rude, had moved (the mind of) angels? or was it that the lovers16 would appear sordid and-through gratuitous use-contumelious, if they had conferred no (compensating) gift on the women who had been enticed into connubial connection with them? But these questions admit of no calculation. Women who possessed angels (as husbands) could desire nothing more; they had, forsooth, made a grand match! Assuredly they who, of course, did sometimes think whence they had fallen,17 and, after the heated impulses of their lusts, looked up toward heaven, thus requited that very excellence of women, natural beauty, as (having proved) a cause of evil, in order that their good fortune might profit them nothing; but that, being turned from simplicity and sincerity, they, together with (the angels) themselves, might become offensive to God. Sure they were that all ostentation, and ambition, and love of pleasing by carnal means, was displeasing to God. And these are the angels whom we are destined to judge:18 these are the angels whom in baptism we renounce:19 these, of course, are the reasons why they have deserved to be judged by man. What business, then, have their things with their judges? What commerce have they who are to condemn with them who are to be condemned? The same, I take it, as Christ has with Belial.20 With what consistency do we mount that (future) judgment-seat to pronounce sentence against those whose gifts we (now) seek after? For you too, (women as you are, ) have the self-same angelic nature promised21 as your reward, the self-same sex as men: the self-same advancement to the dignity of judging, does (the Lord) promise you. Unless, then, we begin even here to prejudge, by pre-condemning their things, which we are hereafter to condemn in themselves, they will rather judge and condemn us.
Chapter III.-Concerning the Genuineness of "The Prophecy of Enoch."22
I am aware that the Scripture of Enoch,23 which has assigned this order (of action) to angels, is not received by some, because it is not admitted into the Jewish canon either. I suppose they did not think that, having been published before the deluge, it could have safely survived that world-wide calamity, the abolisher of all things. If that is the reason (for rejecting it), let them recall to their memory that Noah, the survivor of the deluge, was the great-grandson of Enoch himself;24 and he, of course, had heard and remembered, from domestic renown25 and hereditary tradition, concerning his own great-grandfather's "grace in the sight of God,"26 and concerning all his preachings;27 since Enoch had given no other charge to Methuselah than that he should hand on the knowledge of them to his posterity. Noah therefore, no doubt, might have succeeded in the trusteeship of (his) preaching; or, had the case been otherwise, he would not have been silent alike concerning the disposition (of things) made by God, his Preserver, and concerning the particular glory of his own house.
If (Noah) had not had this (conservative power) by so short a route, there would (still) be this (consideration) to warrant28 our assertion of (the genuineness of) this Scripture: he could equally have renewed it, under the Spirit's inspiration,29 after it had been destroyed by the violence of the deluge, as, after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian storming of it, every document30 of the Jewish literature is generally agreed to have been restored through Ezra.
But since Enoch in the same Scripture has preached likewise concerning the Lord, nothing at all must be rejected by us which pertains to us; and we read that "every Scripture suitable for edification is divinely inspired.31 By the Jews it may now seem to have been rejected for that (very) reason, just like all the other (portions) nearly which tell of Christ. Nor, of course, is this fact wonderful, that they did not receive some Scriptures which spake of Him whom even in person, speaking in their presence, they were not to receive. To these considerations is added the fact that Enoch possesses a testimony in the Apostle Jude.32 ....................... ................................. Following are a number of reasons which I believe support the contention that the "sons of God" are fallen angels who had illicit intercourse with the daughters of men.
1. FIRST, ANCIENT ISRAEL, AND ISRAEL CONTEMPORARY WITH CHRIST, HELD THAT "THE SONS OF GOD" WERE FALLEN ANGELS.
The book of Enoch, dated 200 years before Christ has in Genesis 6:2 & 4, "Angels of God," rather than "Sons of God."
Josephus, the great Jewish historian, wrote, "Many angels accompanied with women, and begat Sons that proved un just, and despisers of all that was good" (Antiquities of the Jews - 3:1, pg. 2 . William Whiston, translator of Josephus, says, "This notion, that the fallen angels, were in some sense, the fathers of the old giants, was the constant opinion of antiquity." Two hundred years of archeological excavation has proven the reliability of the historical account of Josephus.
Philo, who was contemporary with the apostles held that it was angels who cohabited with the daughters of men, rather than sons of Seth. It was the view of the great majority of Rabbinic writers, and it is the prevailing view of present day orthodox Judaism.
2. SECONDLY, THE COMMON BIBLE OF THE DAYS IN WHICH PETER, JUDE, AND THE OTHER WRITERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT LIVED, WAS THE SEPTUAGINT.
The Septuagint is a pre-christian Greek version of the original Hebrew scriptures. Several passages of the Old Testament which are quoted in the New Testament, are taken verbatim from the Septuagint. "Several passages of the Old Testament, which are quoted in the New, are taken thence; and, being thus noticed by the writers of the New Testament, from their mode of using it, we may infer that it was in general circulation among the apostolic churches" (History of the Bible, By John Kitto DD. - Pg. 45). The Septuagint was the version in circulation among the New Testament churches, and was read publicly among them. So, when Christ says, "Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39), it is very likely that He referred immediately to the Septuagint, and indirectly to the original Old Testament. It is agreed by reputable scholarship that Jesus quoted more than once from the Septuagint. Now, I want you to note, while the K.J.V. and most modern versions read in Genesis 6:2 & 4 "Sons of God," the Septuagint reads, "Angels of God."
When Jude in Vs. 6 speaks of the angels "which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation," he then adds, "Even as Sodom and Gormorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire," (Jude 7). The language of Jude 7 demands adherence to the Septuagint, and the ancient view of Genesis 6:1-4. It is said by the inspired writer, that the people of Sodom and Gormorrah went after "strange flesh even as," or in like manner as the fallen angels which kept not their first estate (Jude 6). It is said of the angels of Jude 6 and 7, that they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness ... suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." All fallen angels (Revelation 12:7- 9) are not at this time locked up in Tartarus, some are still on the earth working with their nefarious head, Satan.
Alford, commenting on Jude 6 & 7 in his Greek New Testament, says, "In like manner to these ... the angels above mentioned. The manner was similar, because the angels committed fornication with another race than themselves."
The Twentieth Century New Testament (189 , taken from the Greek of Wescott and Hort, of which Philip Schaff said, it is "The purest Greek." Reads in verses 6 & 7 of Jude, "And that even those angels that failed to keep their own station and left their proper home have been kept by Him for black darkness. They are like Sodom and Gormorrah and the towns near them, which, as the angels did, gave themselves up to fornication, and went in search of beings of a different nature, and now stand out as a warning, undergoing as they are, punishment by enduring fire."
3. THE EARLY CHURCH BELIEVED THAT THE "Sons of God" OF GENESIS 6:1-4, WERE FALLEN ANGELS.
Justian Martyr, Tertullian, Cyprian, Ambrose, Lactantius, and the great majority of the early church fathers believed that the "Sons of God," of Genesis 6: 1-4, was a reference to reprobate angels. One of the reasons that unanimity prevailed among the early churches as regards this issue, was, no other viewpoint was heard of until the latter part of the fourth century.
The Sethite theory, the view that the "Sons of God" were the godly line of Seth was first introduced in the latter part of the fourth century by Juihus Afracanius, a contemporary of Origen. He wrote, "What is meant ... in my opinion, is that the descendants of Seth are called the sons of God" (Ante Nicene Fathers, Vol. 6, Pg. 131). The Sethite theory spread rapidly and widely, and became the prevailing view of the dark ages.
Eusebius, the great church Historian took exception to the Sethite theory, and declared his position in the dispute by saying, "The original position of the church is correct" (Jude - The Acts of the Apostates, Pg. 38 - S.M. Coder). The popularity of the Sethite theory has perpetuated itself, and is today the most common view among Bible students. However, many of these students are having doubts as to the correctness of their conclusions in this matter, and a re-study of the problem has led a large number to adopt the position which the early church held.
There is nothing in the context which suggests, or infers that the Sethites were distinguished for piety. Neither is there anything in the context which implies that the "daughters of men" were more ungodly than the daughters of Seth. In fact, the term " Daughters of men" is general, and includes the daughters of Seth as well as the daughters of Cain.
The Sethites were not exempted from the charge of general wickedness which precipitated the flood.
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5) The terms "man" and "his" in this text are used in the generic sense, and includes both Sethites and Cainites.
"And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." (Genesis 6:12 )This text does not say "All flesh has corrupted his way upon the earth, except the Sethites." No, it is "all flesh," and the family of Seth comes under that heading.
Josephus, says of the Sethites, "In process of time they were perverted, and foresook the practices of their fathers, and did neither pay those honors to God which were appointed them nor had any concern to do justice towards men. But for what degree of zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now showed by their actions a double degree of wickedness" (ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, Pg. 2 . All the Sethites, with the exception of one family perished in the flood.
It is not denied that the Sethite apostasy was fueled by the unlawful marriages of the godly line with the children of Cain, but what is denied is, that these marriages is what is referred to in Genesis 6: 1-4. The Sethite apostasy did not originate during the days of Noah, but had been long in process, and in league with the children of Cain, corrupted the whole earth. But it was the illicit marriages and intercourse of the aliens of the air, the denizens of devil, with the "daughters of men" that is referred to in Genesis 6: 1-4, and it is this marital action which opened up the judgmental skies of God and immersed the earth in water.
4. THE TERM "SONS OF GOD," IS USED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT OF ANGELES.
"Now there was a day when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them." (Job 1:6)
"Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord ... (Job 2:1) The Septuagint renders the term "Sons of God," found in Job 1:6 and 2:1, "angels of God."
"Give unto the Lord, 0 ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength." (Psalms 29:1) The Hebrew word for "mighty" in this text is "ben, bane" and means sons of God," or sons of the Mighty One."
Many, in an effort to avoid the force of this argument have equated texts from the New Testament which refer to regenerate persons as "Sons of God," with the Old Testament expression. In order to do this sound rules of exegesis are violated, and men must be introduced into Job 38:7, where "all the sons of God shouted for joy" at the primordial creation of the earth, when as yet, men did not exist. The "Sons of God" of Job 38:7 is clearly a reference to angels.
5. THE HEBREW WORD FOR "GIANTS" IN GENESIS 6:4 IS "NEPHILIM," WHICH MEANS "FALLEN ONES."
Genesis 6:4 could have been correctly translated, "There were fallen ones in the earth in those days." The term "fallen ones" must be distinguished from mankind, for all of mankind was in a fallen state, and exceedingly wicked at this time. The term "fallen ones" has no significance unless it refers to something else other than the fallen ones of Adam, for they were present, not only in "those days," but had been present since the expulsion from Eden.
The distinguishing feature in the text ("There were fallen ones in the earth in those days"), is, they were in the earth at this time, rather than in heaven. The words constitute an indirect reference to the angelic apostasy in heaven, but is a direct reference to fallen angels on earth.
The Hebrew word "Nephilim" translated "giants" in the King James version and "giantes" in the Septuagint occurs only one other time in Scripture (Numbers 13:33), and has to do with the great size and stature of the sons of Anak. "... And all the people we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants (nephilim - same as Genesis 6:4), the Sons of Anak" (Numbers 13:32 & 33). This is, as no one can honestly deny a reference to the gigantic size of the Sons of Anak, and in no sense speaks of their fame or exploits. As it is here, so it is in Genesis 6:4.
It is without doubt that these "fallen ones" did great exploits which made them renown, but from all of these great feats they became exhausted and needed a super king size bed to rest in, thus it is, we read of one of their bedsteads being thirteen feet long (Deuteronomy 3:11).
"For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man. (Deuteronomy 3:11 ) The conservative cubit of eighteen inches would have king Og's bed to be thirteen and one half feet long, and six feet wide. It is plain that these dimensions are given to draw attention to the physical size of Og, and unmistakably identifies him as a descendent of the "fallen ones" of Genesis 6:4.
At the first appearance of this race of monstrosities, God sent a flood and destroyed them. At their second appearance God orders His people to utterly destroy them, and the prophet Amos in retrospect, quoting God, says, "Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath" (Amos 2:9).
"There were giants in the earth in those days." The "giants" spoken of here are literal, not mere men of renown, but men of exceedingly large stature. The question which logically follows, is, seeing that marriages of believers with unbelievers in our day do not produce actual giants, why should such a union beget them in the days of Noah?
The Sethite theory does not facilitate Satan's purpose to prevent the entrance of the promised Seed of the woman, which was to bruise his head. Cain was of that wicked one, and was used of his spiritual father to slay Abel, for he knew or thought it was through Abel that Christ would come into the world. In the same way, Pharaoh and Herod were used of Satan in an effort to destroy the seed through whom the promised head bruiser would come. All of Satan's efforts to prevent the coming of Christ into the world, miserably failed, and "when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman ..." (Galatians 4:4). Christ was born of a woman who had a depraved nature, a godly woman, and certainly not as steeped in sin as the antediluvian Sethites, but nevertheless, depraved. Human depravity, even in its most intensified state, is never presented in Scripture as something in itself, perse, that Satan would ever think could be a deterrent to the fulfillment Genesis 3:15, for it was to depraved people the promise of a Redeemer was made. Satan knew that it would take something more than the total and ultimately intensified depravity of the human race to prevent the incarnation of Christ. Satan knew, the cohabitation of fallen angels with the daughters of men could eventually abort the human race, and leave no entrance for the Son of Man. What Satan did not know, was, that God would send an earth wide flood and drown all of his monstrous half brothers and sisters, and that God would make an example of their fallen angelic daddies, by shutting them up to the vengeance of eternal fire (Jude 7). Yet, Satan will try anything to avert his own destruction as spelled out in Genesis 3:15.
All that the Sethite theory of Genesis 6:14 does, is teach the doctrine of the intensification of human depravity. The depraved state of the Sethites at the time of the flood was every bit and grain as terrible
as that of the Cainites, and only one man among them found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6: .
6. THE APOSTLE PETER CONNECTS THE SIN OF ANGELS WITH THE FLOOD.
"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell (tar-tarus), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be r served unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly." (II Peter 2:4-5) In this text, Peter connects the sin of the angels with the flood, therefore it is not the angelic apostasy in heaven which Peter sets before us in this text, but the soul damning work of the "fallen ones" on earth. Peter makes the sin of the angels and the flood to be cause and effect, otherwise the close frame of reference in which they are used is meaning less.
Some reputable scholars believe Isaiah's reference to Lucifer in chapter 14, verses 16 & 17 is also an indirect reference to the sin of the fallen angels. The text reads, "... Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?" That this is a reference to the flood is seen in the two clauses, the world made a wilderness, and the cities thereof destroyed. It was the flood that made the earth a veritable waste, it was the flood that destroyed the cities of the earth, not the adamic curse; for at the time of Adam's fall there were no cities to be destroyed. Satan, the deposed archangel is head of the fallen angels, and is by God held responsible for the cohabitation of the "fallen ones" with the "daughters of men." The illicit sexual relationship of the fallen angels with the "daughters of men," resulted in the flood, and it is in this sense, that God holds Satan responsible for the destruction of the earth and the cities thereof.
7. THE OBJECTION, THAT ANGELS ARE NEUTER, AND CANNOT REPRODUCE, IS ANSWERABLE.
The text most often cited by those who object to the view that the "sons of God" of Genesis 6:1-4 are fallen angels is, Matthew 22:30, which reads; "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."
A. The term "angels of God" in this text, serves as a clear distinction between angels who remained faithful to God, and the angels who in collusion with Lucifer rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven.
B. The text uses a clause which is locative, which clause specifies the place where angels do not marry, i.e. "in heaven." If the text read, "In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God" and had left off the last two words ("in heaven"), much the objection sues for could be allowed. But the text includes the qualifying clause, "in heaven," and the object goes pitifully wanting.
The last two words of the text makes what at first seems to be an insuperable objection, to be utterly groundless, for it is "in heaven" that angels neither marry nor or given in marriage. The angels of Genesis 6:1-4, referred to as "sons of God" were no longer in heaven, but in the earth, and in the earth, they by marrying the daughters of men gave the conjugal relationship its most infernal nature.
C. Matthew 22:30 speaks of the post resurrection state of believers, wherein they become unmarriageables, and the place of this state is "in heaven." Then too, the text speaks of unmarriageable angels, who reside "in heaven." In this text we see God, His angels, and all the elect of God, and their abode is "in heaven." On the other hand we have a text of Scripture in which we see the devil, his angels, reprobate mankind and the place of their eternal residence: "Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). But there are ages of time between the creation and resurrection of the saints and their translation to a heaven where marriage vows are never spoken. It is in this interim of time on earth, saints marry and are given in marriage. It is in the same earth and time that the angels which kept not their first estate marry the daughters of men, and are soon thereafter cast into a marriage less hell.
The remonstrant may say: "It is contrary to the nature of angels to marry." What we mere mortals know about the nature of angels is practically nil. We know they have at different times assumed physical bodies, and were referred to as men. Angels in their corporeal form on earth have spoke as men speak, ate the food of men, handled men and were handled by men (Genesis 18:8, 19:3 & 16). What the nature and power of fallen angels consist of, is known only to God. The little we know about them tells us, that sinful angels left their proper habitat, and were granted access to the earth, wherein they had illicit intercourse with the daughters of men, including both, Sethites and Cainites. ......................................................... JEWISH AND PATRISTIC FATHERS
The Jewish Fathers, when interpreting this expression from Genesis 6:2, invariably interpreted it as "angels." No less an authority than W.F. Allbright tells us that:
"The Israelites who heard this section (Genesis 6.2) recited unquestionably thought of intercourse between angels and women." (
Philo of Alexandria, a deeply religious man, wrote a brief but beautiful treatise on this subject, called "Concerning The Giants." Basing his exposition on the Greek version of the Bible, he renders it as "Angels of God." Says Bamberger, "Had he found the phrase 'sons of God' in his text, he most certainly would have been inspired to comment on it." (9)
Philo certainly took the Genesis passage as historical, explaining that just as the word "soul" applies both to good and evil beings, so does the word "angel." The bad angels, who followed Lucifer, at a later point in time failed to resist the lure of physical desire, and succumbed to it. He goes on to say that the story of the giants is not a myth, but it is there to teach us that some men are earth-born, while others are heaven- born, and the highest are God-born. (10)
The Early Church Fathers believed the same way. Men like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Athenagoras, Tertullian, Lactantius, Eusebius, Ambrose...all adopted this interpretation. In the words of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, the angels fell "into impure love of virgins, and were subjugated by the flesh...Of those lovers of virgins therefore, were begotten those who are called giants." (11) And again, "...the angels transgressed, and were captivated by love of women and begat children." (12)
Nowhere before the 5th century A.D. do we find any interpretation for "sons of God" other than that of angels. We cannot deny the Jewish Fathers knowledge of their own terminology! They invariably translated "sons of God" as "angels." The testimony of Josephus, that colorful cosmopolitan and historian, is also of paramount importance. In his monumental volume, "Antiquities of the Jews," he reveals his acquaintance with the tradition of the fallen angels consorting with women of Earth. He not only knew of the tradition but tells us how the children of such union possessed super human strength, and were known for their extreme wickedness. "For the tradition is that these men did what resembled the acts of those men the Grecians called giants." Josephus goes on to add that Noah remonstrated with these offspring of the angels for their villainy. (13)
Perhaps the most conclusive argument for interpreting the expression as "angels" is the simplest one of all. If the writer of Genesis wanted to refer to the "sons of Seth" he would have just said so. If God had intended that meaning, then the verse would undoubtedly read, "the sons of Seth saw the daughters of Cain that they were fair..." But the Bible meant something far more sinister--the sexual union between angels from Hell and evil women from Earth. Because of the gravity of such a union, and its dire consequences for the human race, God moved to destroy the race before it could destroy itself--except for one family which had not been contaminated. .......................................................
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
CONCERNING THE FLOOD; AND AFTER WHAT MANNER NOAH WAS SAVED IN AN ARK, WITH HIS KINDRED, AND AFTERWARDS DWELT IN THE PLAIN OF SHINAR,
1. NOW this posterity of Seth continued to esteem God as the Lord of the universe, and to have an entire regard to virtue, for seven generations; but in process of time they were perverted, and forsook the practices of their forefathers; and did neither pay those honors to God which were appointed them, nor had they any concern to do justice towards men. But for what degree of zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now showed by their actions a double degree of wickedness, whereby they made God to be their enemy. For many angels (11) of God accompanied with women, and begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good, on account of the confidence they had in their own strength; for the tradition is, that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants
(11) This notion, that the fallen angels were, in some sense, the fathers of the old giants, was the constant opinion of antiquity...............................
Note H: Certain angels turned themselves into precious stones, pearls, purple dye, gold and other treasures, which were at once stolen by covetous men. They then took human shape, hoping to teach mankind righteousness. But this asumption of flesh made them subject to human lusts: being seduced by the Daughters of Men, they found themselves chained to Earth, unable to resume their spiritual shapes The Fallen Ones rejected God's manna, slaughtered animals for food, and even dined on human flesh, thus fouling the air with sickly vapours. It was then that God decided to cleanse Earth (The Clementine Homilies, 8:11-17(pp. 142-45). 3rd cent.; Cf. also Enoch 6-8; 69; 106, 13f).
Fragments of The Clementine Homilies:
Chapter XII.-Metamorphoses of the Angels.
"For of the spirits who inhabit the heaven, the angels who dwell in the lowest region metamorphosed themselves into every nature; for, being of a more godlike substance, they are able easily to assume any form.
So they became precious stones, and goodly pearl, and the most beauteous purple, and choice gold, and all matter that is held in most esteem. And they fell into the hands of some, and into the bosoms of others, and suffered themselves to be stolen by them.
They also changed themselves into beasts and reptiles, and fishes and birds, and into whatsoever they pleased
Chapter XIII.-The Fall of the Angels.
"But when, having assumed these forms, they convicted as covetous those who stole them, and changed themselves into the nature of men, in order that, living holily, and showing the possibility of so living, they might subject the ungrateful to punishment, yet having become in all respects men, they also partook of human lust, and being brought tinder its subjection they fell into cohabitation with women; [Comp. Recognitions, i. 30.] and being involved with them, and sunk in defilement and altogether emptied of their first power, were unable to turn back to the first purity of their proper nature, their members turned away from their fiery substance: for the fire itself, being extinguished by the weight of lust, and changed into flesh, they trode the impious path downward. For they themselves, being fettered with the bonds of flesh, were constrained and strongly bound; wherefore they have no more been able to ascend into the heavens.
Chapter XIV.-Their Discoveries.
"For after the intercourse, being asked to show what they were before, and being no longer able to do so, on account of their being unable to do aught else after their defilement, yet wishing to please their mistresses, instead of themselves, they showed the bowel (marrow) of the earth; I mean, the choice metals, [flowers of metal] gold, brass, silver, iron, and the like, with all the most precious stones. And along with these charmed stones, they delivered the arts of the things pertaining to each, and imparted the discovery of magic, and taught astronomy, and the powers of roots, and whatever was impossible to be found out by the human mind; also the reeking of gold and silver, and the like, and the various dyeing of garments. And all things, in short, which are for the adornment and delight of women, are the discoveries of these demons bound in flesh.
Chapter XV.-The Giants.
"But from their unhallowed intercourse spurious men sprang, greater in stature than ordinary men, whom they afterwards called giants; not those dragon-footed giants who waged war against God, as those blasphemous myths of the Greeks do sing, but wild in manners, and greater than men in size, inasmuch as they were sprung of angels; yet less than angels, as they were born of women.
Therefore God, knowing that they were barbarized to brutality, and that the world was not sufficient to satisfy them (for it was created according to the proportion of men and human use), that they might not through want of food turn, contrary to nature, to the eating of animals, and yet seem to be blameless, as having ventured upon this through necessity, the Almighty God rained manna upon them, suited to their various tastes; and they enjoyed all that they would. But they, on account of their *** nature, not being pleased with purity of food, longed only after the taste of blood. Wherefore they first tasted flesh.
Chapter XVI.-Cannibalism.
"And the men who were with them there for the first time were eager to do the like. Thus, although we are born neither good nor bad, we become one or the other; and having formed habits, we are with difficulty drawn from them. But when irrational animals fell short, these *** men tasted also human flesh. For it was not a long step to the consumption of flesh like their own, having first tasted it in other forms.
Commentaries from the same source (above):
Commentary 3a: Josephus's view, that the Sons of God were angels, survived for several centuries despite Shimon Ben Yohai's curse.
Commentary 3b: As late as the eighth century A.D., Rabbi Eliezer records in a midrash: "The angels who fell from Heaven saw the daughters of Cain perambulating and displaying their secret parts, their eyes painted with antimony in the manner of harlots; and, being seduced, took wives from among them." Rabbi Joshua ben Qorha, a literalist... decided that "when these angels fell from Heaven, their strength and stature were reduced to those of mortals, and their fire changed into flesh."
Commentary 11: The Anakim may have been Mycenaean Greek colonists, belonging to the "Sea Peoples" confederation which caused Egypt such trouble in the fourteenth century B.C. Greek mythographers told of a Giant Anax ("king"), son of Heaven and Mother Earth, who ruled Anactoria (Miletus) in Asia Minor. According to Appollodorus, the disinterred skeleton of Asterius ("starry"), Anax's successor, measured ten cubits. Akakes, the plural of Nanx, was an epithet of the Greek gods in general.
Commentary 12: Megalithic monuments, found by the Hebrews on their arrival in Canaan, will have encouraged legends about giants
Commentary 13: The Nephilim ("Fallen Ones") bore many other tribal names, such as Emim ("Terrors"), Repha'im ("Weakeners"), Gibborim ("Giant Heroes"), Zamzummim ("Acheivers"), Anakim ("Long-necked" or "Wearers of Necklaces"), Awwim ("Devastators" or "Serpents"). One of the Nephilim named Arba is said to have built the city of Hebron, called "Kiriath-Arba" after him, and become the father of Anak whose three sons, Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, were later expelled by Joshua's comrade Caleb. Since, however, arba means "four" in Hebrew, Kiriath-Arba may have originally have meant "City of Four," a reference to its four quarters mythically connected with the Anakite clans: Anak himself and his "sons" Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai
Commentary 2: According with Robert Graves and Raphael Patai, Josephus interpreted it as follows (but in this Web Page we have read above the actual writings by Josephus and doesnt look like that, but let me anyway give to you the quotation):
Many angels of God now consorted with women, and begot sons on them who were overbearing and disdainful of every virtue; such confidence had they in their strength. In fact, the deeds that our tradition ascribed to them recall the audacious exploits told by the Greeks of the giants. But Noah urged them to adopt a better frame of mind and amend their ways.
These Greek giants were twenty-four violent and lecherous sons of Mother Earth, born at Phlegra in Thrace, and the two Aloeids, all of whom rebelled against Almighty Zeus.personales.com/mexico/gua...sephus.htm .......................
The Clementine Homilies, 8:11-17 (pp. 142-45). The Homilies are an early 3rd cent. A.D. Christian tract, written probably in Syria. However, they represent the universal theme that Satan's primary weapon to silence the Word of God has been and is musical rituals:
Chapter XI.-Cause of the Fall of Man.
"But they, because they had at first no experience of evils, being insensible to the gift of good things, were turned to ingratitude by abundance of food and luxuries, so that they even thought that there is no Providence,
since they had not by previous labour got good things as the reward of righteousness, inasmuch as no one of them had fallen into any suffering or disease, or any other necessity; so that, as is usual for men afflicted on account of wicked transgression, they should look about for the God who is able to heal them.
But immediately after their despite, which proceeded from fearlessness and secure luxury, a certain just punishment met them,
as following from a certain arranged harmony,
removing from them good things as having hurt them, and introducing evil things instead, as advantageous.
Chapter XII.-Metamorphoses of the Angels.
"For of the spirits who inhabit the heaven, the angels who dwell in the lowest region, being grieved at the ingratitude of men to God, asked that they might come into the life of men, that, really becoming men, by more intercourse they
might convict those who had acted ungratefully towards Him,
and might subject every one to adequate punishment.
When, therefore, their petition was granted, they metamorphosed themselves into every nature; for, being of a more godlike substance, they are able easily to assume any form.
So they became precious stones, and goodly pearl, and the most beauteous purple, and choice gold, and all matter that is held in most esteem. And they fell into the hands of some, and into the bosoms of others, and suffered themselves to be stolen by them.
They also changed themselves into beasts and reptiles, and fishes and birds, and into whatsoever they pleased.
These things also the poets among yourselves,
by reason of fearlessness, sing, as they befell, attributing to one the many and diverse doings of all.
Chapter XIII.-The Fall of the Angels.
"But when, having assumed these forms, they convicted as covetous those who stole them, and changed themselves into the nature of men, in order that, living holily, and showing the possibility of so living, they might subject the ungrateful to punishment, yet having become in all respects men, they also partook of human lust, and being brought tinder its subjection they fell into cohabitation with women; [Comp. Recognitions, i. 30.] and being involved with them,
and sunk in defilement and altogether emptied of their first power,
were unable to turn back to the first purity of their proper nature, their members turned away from their fiery substance: for the fire itself, being extinguished by the weight of lust,
and changed into flesh, they trode the impious path downward. For they themselves, being fettered with the bonds of flesh, were constrained and strongly bound;
wherefore they have no more been able to ascend into the heavens.
Chapter XIV.-Their Discoveries.
"For after the intercourse, being asked to show what they were before, and being no longer able to do so, on account of their being unable to do aught else after their defilement, yet wishing to please their mistresses, instead of themselves,
they showed the bowel (marrow) of the earth; I mean, the choice metals, [flowers of metal] gold, brass, silver, iron, and the like, with all the most precious stones.
And along with these charmed stones, they delivered the arts of the things pertaining to each, and imparted the discovery of magic, and taught astronomy,
and the powers of roots, and whatever was impossible to be found out by the human mind; also the seeking of gold and silver, and the like, and the various dyeing of garments. And all things, in short,
which are for the adornment and delight of women, are the discoveries of these demons bound in flesh.
Chapter XV.-The Giants.
"But from their unhallowed intercourse spurious men sprang, greater in stature than ordinary men, whom they afterwards called giants; not those dragon-footed giants who waged war against God, as those blasphemous myths of the Greeks do sing,
but wild in manners, and greater than men in size, inasmuch as they were sprung of angels; yet less than angels, as they were born of women.
Therefore God, knowing that they were barbarized to brutality, and that the world was not sufficient to satisfy them (for it was created according to the proportion of men and human use), that they might not through want of food turn, contrary to nature, to the eating of animals, and yet seem to be blameless, as having ventured upon this through necessity,
the Almighty God rained manna upon them, suited to their various tastes; and they enjoyed all that they would. But they, on account of their *** nature, not being pleased with purity of food, longed only after the taste of blood. Wherefore they first tasted flesh.
Chapter XVI.-Cannibalism.
"And the men who were with them there for the first time were eager to do the like. Thus, although we are born neither good nor bad, we become one or the other; and having formed habits, we are with difficulty drawn from them. But when irrational animals fell short, these *** men tasted also human flesh. For it was not a long step to the consumption of flesh like their own, having first tasted it in other forms.
Chapter XVII.-The Flood.
"But by the shedding of much blood, the pure air being defiled with impure vapour, and sickening those who breathed it, rendered them liable to diseases, so that thenceforth men died prematurely. But the earth being by these means greatly defiled, these first teemed with poison-darting and deadly creatures. All things, therefore, going from bad to worse, on account of these brutal demons, God wished to cast them away like an evil leaven, lest each generation from a wicked seed, being like to that before it, and equally impious, should empty the world to come of saved men.
And for this purpose, having warned a certain righteous man, [Comp. Recognitions, vi. 12] with his three sons, together with their wives and their children, to save themselves in an ark,
He sent a deluge of water, that all being destroyed, the purified world might be handed over to him who was saved in the ark, in order to a second beginning of life. And thus it came to pass.
Chapter XVIII.-The Law to the Survivors.
"Since, therefore, the souls of the deceased giants were greater than human souls, inasmuch as they also excelled their bodies, they, as being a new race, were called also by a new name. And to those who survived in the world a law was prescribed of God through an angel, how they should live.
For being bastards in race, of the fire of angels and the blood of women, and therefore liable to desire a certain race of their own, they were anticipated by a certain righteous law. For a certain angel was sent to them by God, declaring to them His will, and saying:-
Chapter XIX.-The Law to the Giants or Demons.
"These things seem good to the all-seeing God, that you lord it over no man; that you trouble no one,
unless any one of his own accord subject himself to you, worshipping you, and sacrificing and pouring libations, and partaking of your table, or accomplishing aught else that they ought not, or shedding blood, or tasting dead flesh, or filling themselves with that which is torn of beasts, or that which is cut, or that which is strangled, or aught else that is unclean.
But those who betake themselves to my law, you not only shall not touch, but shall also do honour to, and shall flee from, their presence. For whatsoever shall please them, being just, respecting you, that you shall be constrained to suffer.
But if any of those who worship me go astray, either committing adultery, or practising magic, or living impurely, or doing any other of the things which are not well-pleasing to me, then they will have to suffer something at your hands or those of others, according to my order.
But upon them, when they repent, I, judging of their repentance, whether it be worthy of pardon or not, shall give sentence. These things, therefore, ye ought to remember and to do,
well knowing that not even your thoughts shall be able to be concealed from Him.'
Chapter XX.-Willing Captives.
"Having charged them to this effect, the angel departed. But you are still ignorant of this law,
that every one who worships demons, or sacrifices to them, or partakes with them of their table,
shall become subject to them and receive all punishment from them, as being under wicked lords. And you who, on account of ignorance of this law, have been corrupted beside their altars, and have been satiated with food offered to them,
have come under their power, and do not know how you have been in every way injured in respect of your bodies.
But you ought to know that the demons have no power over any one, unless first he be their table-companion; since not even their chief can do anything contrary to the law imposed upon them by God,
wherefore he has no power over any one who does not worship him; but neither can any one receive from them any of the things that he wishes, nor in anything be hurt by them, as you may learn from the following statement.
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 1Co.10:20
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lords table, and of the table of devils. 1Co.10:21
See what happened at Mount Sinai.
Recognitions of Clement Book IV Entire Book .....................
Josephus interpreted it as follows:
Many angels of God now consorted with women, and begot sons on them who were overbearing and disdainful of every virtue; such confidence had they in their strength. In fact, the deeds that our tradition ascribed to them recall the audacious exploits told by the Greeks of the giants. But Noah urged them to adopt a better frame of mind and amend their ways.
These Greek giants were twenty-four violent and lecherous sons of Mother Earth, born at Phlegra in Thrace, and the two Aloeids, all of whom rebelled against Almighty Zeus.
3. Josephus's view, that the Sons of God were angels, survived for several centuries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As late as the eighth century A.D., Rabbi Eliezer records in a midrash:
"The angels who fell from Heaven saw the daughters of Cain perambulating and displaying their secret parts,
their eyes painted with antimony in the manner of harlots; and, being seduced, took wives from among them."
