When we study the Bible, we all must be deliberate in our approach, lest we misinterpret what we read, and create false doctrines. We cannot afford to hurry through passages of scriptures and misread what is actually written. Furthermore, we must take care not to invent explanations for those things we don’t quite understand. This is especially true when we do not have verses in the Bible to back them up. It is rather silly to teach things that fly in the face of scriptures that totally contradict those theories. We have been warned about adding or taking away from the Word of God. When we don’t quite understand what we read, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to teach us; after all, He is The Teacher and true Interpreter of God’s Word. At the same time, we must be patient. Revelation (the unveiling of an already existing truth) of His Word can come quickly; other times, we have to wait. Search the scriptures with the Lord, and the answers will come, and they do tend to come more quickly to the diligent.
To underscore these points, we will examine something that has been taught by some to be an explanation of a difficult passage. Upon examining it, you may discover their interpretation of what they read actually does not match what is written in the Bible. Furthermore, it will reveal by simply slowing down one can avoid unnecessary error. We now look at the idea that the giants of Genesis 6:4 came from the union of angels and women. Some of you may not have heard of this before, but this illustration will serve you well.
Genesis 6:1-4 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Lets first address the giants. Please notice that verse four says, “There were giants in the earth in those days.” The verse did not go on to say, “as the results of when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men.” Rather, these are two independent thoughts that are unrelated as to cause and affect: “and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them . . .” The giants were already in existence before the sons of God joined with the daughters of men. Secondly, the word “giants” does not refer stature or height; rather, the word actually means a “bully” or “tyrant.” They were violent tyrants who fell upon others, or men of violence or robbers. “And also after that,” refers to verse three which tells us what the Lord said in relation to mankind. It does not refer to the making of giants.
Some have tried to define “sons of God” as angels by using passages of scripture from the book of Job.
For example, Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. Notice that Satan was not actually counted with the sons of God; it said he “came also among them.” Satan as we know is a fallen angel, but nowhere in this passage do we find an actual reference to angels in terms of defining sons of God. Throughout the Bible, we don’t find “angel(s)” in conjunction with “sons of God.” While, I’ll not address who the sons of God actually refer to here, there is one thing important to consider, and that is the nature of angels. They are not flesh and blood as mankind. They are spirits. Nowhere in Scripture do we find that angels reproduce or procreate. As a matter of fact, Jesus told us in Matthew 22:30, “For in the resurrection they (men and women) neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (see Matthew 22:23-33 for full context). So, if angels are not designed for reproduction and are unlike mankind, how can they join with women to produce giants?
I believe I know who the sons of God refer to in Genesis six, but I cannot be emphatic about it. Therefore, since it’s a personal opinion, I will not offer it. The only time I would do such a thing is when I’m studying with others in order to find the truth together. While some believers are mature enough to distinguish between opinions and true doctrine, some who are new to the faith may receive an opinion as an absolute. It is not a good idea to be flippant in relation to sharing theories. Teachers need to be careful in what they present, and be open to reproof and correction as well. That is also why I encourage you to study this out for yourself, to see if what is presented is true. We all should seek only the truth, while not trying to proof or disprove what we study. Let the Holy Spirit bring the clarity, while maintaining a sincere heart for the truth.
The Perfect Faith Podcast: “Freedom of Choice”
