The Ancient Exegesis of Genesis 6:2,4 -- By: Robert C. Newman

Journal: Grace Theological Journal
Volume: GTJ 05:1 (Spring 1984)
Article: The Ancient Exegesis of Genesis 6:2,4
Author: Robert C. Newman


The Ancient Exegesis of Genesis 6:2,4

Robert C. Newman

The exegesis of Gen 6:2, 4 in ancient times is surveyed among extant sources, both Jewish and Christian. These interpretations are categorized as eithersupernaturalornonsupernaturaldepending upon the identification of thesons of God.” It is observed that the interpretation ofsons of Godas angels andNephilimas giants dominates. This interpretation also seems to be that of the NT, almost certainly in Jude 6 and 2 Pet 2:4, and probably in 1 Cor 11:10 and Matt 22:30. Some suggestions regarding the source of this interpretation and its validity are made.

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Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with men forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” The Nephilim were on earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown (Gen 6:1–4 NASB).

This passage has been a center of controversy for at least two millennia. The present form of the dispute is rather paradoxical. On the one hand, liberal theologians, who deny the miraculous, claim the account pictures a supernatural liason between divine beings and humans.1 Conservative theologians, though believing implicitly in angels and demons, tend to deny the passage any such import.2 The

liberal position is more understandable with the realization that they deny the historicity of the incident and see it as a borrowing from pagan mythology. The rationale behind the conservative view is more complex: though partially a reaction to liberalism, the view is older than liberal theology. Moreover, the conservative camp is not unanimous in this interpretation; several expositors see supernatural liasons here, but ones which really occurred.3

The concern in this article, ...

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