Sermon Tone Analysis

Who are the sons of men

Who are the sons of men

Ancient texts and mythological stories often talk of gods or semi-gods mating with humans either by force or persuasion. it is possible that this story is a refutation of these myths in order to set the record straight that these “sons of god” are merely humans and deserve the cataclysmic flood to follow.

three historical views:

angels

human judges or rulers

descendants of Seth

Angels: God is taken as a nown.

meaning there is a contrast between those of the heavenly realm and those of the earthly realm (daughters of men)

this is the oldest opinion known

was the opinion of early christian writers and is talked about in 1 Enoch 6-11 (apochrapha)

G

Problems:

6:1-8 talks about humanity

there is no mention of a heavenly group to this point

Human judges or rulers

elohim (God) has a broader meaning, sometimes used for judges in the OT

ps

ps 82

Here the mortality of the judges is stressed in spite of their lofty assignment. in this case the Nephilim are not their children but rather were their contemporaries

this refers to the line of Cain.

6:1-8 describes how this emerging Caninite kingship achieved its evil endeavors and God’s judgment.

Problem: there is no evidence for a group of kings being referred to as “sons of god”.

Chapters 4 and 5 contrast the two lines of descent from Adam, the Canites and Sethites.

relates how the two lines intermarry, resulting in a community of uprecedented wickedness.

Godly men

Augustine and the reformers interpreted the “sons of God” as a reference to godly men, that is the righteous lineage of Seth.

What was God’s response

Who are the Nephilim

nu

here this may be figurative as the spies were scared

refers to a class of people = the Fallen Ones