Ask the Pastor
A faithful writes, “Somewhere in the Old Testament it gives the impression that some of the angels came down to earth and laid with human women and the women actually had babies. Some of these babies grew up and became giants. Is this true? I can’t remember where in the Old Testament I read this but I know that I read it. Can you give me some type of insight into this, or at the very least can you tell me if this is true?”
Great question. The passage is Genesis 6:1-4. As you can see, it doesn’t say “angels”, but rather, “the sons of God” – a term that IS sometimes used to describe angels. (see Job 1:6, for instance). For this reason, some teachers believe exactly what you said – that angels had sexual relations with women and that giants were produced as a result.
However, others of us don’t necessarily buy into that teaching (me included). The traditional Jewish interpretation was that the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 is a reference to the “righteous line of people who descended from Seth” (see Gen. 4:26) - because you can trace a ‘bloodline’ of the ‘righteous’ men of the Old Testament all the way back to Seth.
Another reason I find it difficult to believe the sons of God were angels in this passage is that Jesus said that angels do not marry, leading me to think they wouldn’t have sexual relations on earth either (see Matthew 22:30)
So I can’t solve this one completely, as Christians are divided on the issue – but at least now you know where the passage is and what the issues are. Hope that helps you reach your own conclusion.
Now, what would YOU like to ask the Pastor?
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Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 5:00 am under
As I understood, God only made man in His own image not any one else. If the angels were capable of reproduction, Lucifer, the fallen angel would have deceived scores of women to increase his clan. I totally agree with your view Pastor.
November 6th, 2009 at 8:40 aminteresting study topic
November 6th, 2009 at 5:28 pmThanks for your response and now I know where to find the passage.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:09 pmPastor, I have a question regarding angels and statues and I guess you can say any type of graven images. I know that some churches have statues and they even pray to these statues. Some of these statues are images of Jesus, Mary and some of the people they perceive to be saints in the bible. I personally have a problem with this. But my main question goes so far as to ask your thoughts on pictures? Years ago, myself included, we would have pictures of how we perceived Jesus to look. We didn’t consciously pray to the picture, however, it would be so easy to look at the picture and unconsciously ask for his help. I don’t believe in owning any pictures of Jesus or anything in heaven anymore, although I still have an old picture of an angel watching over a baby in my one of my bedrooms. I’ve been intending to get rid of that picture, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet (maybe because of the spot it’s going to leave on the wall). I would like to get your input on this because all through the Old Testament, God speaks against any type of idols, graven images, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. I don’t understand the full meaning of this because this could apply to pictures of people also, so I know this must have a different meaning than what I am reading. Please try and enlighten me on this. Thanks!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:21 pm