Sons of God
Many believe the "Sons of God" in Genesis 6 were fallen angels, but what if the answer was hidden in plain sight—revealed by Luke and confirmed by the genealogy of Adam?
Sons of God [∞]
Sons of God: The Truth Hidden in the Genealogy
Many Christians claim to use the New Testament to interpret the Old, but how often do we actually follow through? One of the most debated passages in Genesis is the identity of the "Sons of God" in Genesis 6. The common view is that these were fallen angels who took human wives and produced giants. But if we let Scripture interpret Scripture, Luke gives us the key:
"the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God." (Luke 3:38)
Adam was called the Son of God. His lineage—through Seth—continued this designation. This means the "Sons of God" in Genesis 6 were not angels, but the faithful descendants of Adam through Seth, those who had once called upon the name of the LORD (Gen. 4:26).
The Real Sin of the "Sons of God"
The text does not say these men married demons or gave birth to supernatural giants. Instead, it tells us that the Sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful, and took them as wives (Gen. 6:2). These were the daughters of Cain—the lineage that had rejected God.
The sin was not a supernatural event of angels mating with humans, but a spiritual compromise. The faithful line of Seth abandoned their calling and intermarried with the godless daughters of Cain, choosing beauty over righteousness. The result was inevitable: their children were raised in the ways of Cain, not in the ways of God.
Who Were the Nephilim?
The term Nephilim is often translated as "giants," but the word itself means notorious for the fall. It doesn’t refer to supernatural beings but to those whose reputation was tied to rebellion.
By this definition, Adam and Eve were the first Nephilim, being notorious for their fall in the garden. And after the flood, Ham and his descendants became the new Nephilim, as they continued in rebellion.
Does This View Cause Controversy?
Yes. Many Evangelicals hold to the view that the Sons of God were fallen angels, often influenced by the Book of Enoch and other extrabiblical sources. Here’s how our hermeneutic responds:
1. The Sons of God Are Always Defined by Relationship to God
- Nowhere in the Bible are angels called "Sons of God" in the sense of covenant relationship. The New Testament reserves this title for Adam, Jesus, and believers (Rom. 8:14).
- Luke 3:38 explicitly calls Adam the Son of God. If Adam was a Son of God, his righteous descendants through Seth logically continue the pattern.
2. The Context Is Human, Not Angelic
- The passage in Genesis 6 speaks of marriage and childbirth, ordinary human experiences. Angels neither marry nor reproduce (Matt. 22:30).
- Every judgment in Genesis 6 is against humanity, not fallen angels. God declares, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever..." (Gen. 6:3).
3. The Nephilim Were Not Supernatural Hybrids
- The word Nephilim means "fallen ones" or "notorious for the fall." It describes reputation, not biology.
- Adam and Eve were the original Nephilim, having become infamous for their fall. After the flood, Ham's descendants carried on the rebellion.
Conclusion: The Simplicity of Scripture
When we let Scripture interpret Scripture, the answer is clear: the Sons of God were the descendants of Seth who fell into sin by marrying the daughters of Cain. The Nephilim were not demonic hybrids but humans known for their rebellion.
The idea that fallen angels interbred with humans comes from later traditions, not from the Bible itself. And like the Sons of Seth, many today are tempted to follow traditions over truth. But those who love the Word will find the truth was there all along—hidden in the genealogy of Christ.
