In Genesis chapter six, the term “the sons of God” is first mentioned in Scripture. From early on, the Church has universally accepted this as a reference to angels. God created angels, who are spirit beings, before the universe, and they are messengers. Comparing Scripture with Scripture and the context shows that Genesis 6:2 refers to angels as “sons of God”. In Job 2:1, the sons of God present themselves in military array before God’s throne in the third heaven, a place where only spirit beings can go.
Augustine of Hippo, a North African Christian theologian, philosopher, and bishop in the early fifth century, is the primary source for a small group who claim the sons of God are Sethites, not angels. The Sethites view originates from Rabbinic Judaism; however, Augustine’s influence is the reason this theory remains today. His theory is that the sons of Seth, who were righteous men, married the daughters of men, who were ungodly women from the line of Cain.
There are serious issues with Augustine’s theory that must be understood before those who hold this teaching realize it cannot be correct. Scripture never refers to the sons of Seth as righteous men. Genesis six describes all the men on earth as unrighteous, not just the offspring of Cain. They seek only to do wrong, even in every formation of their thoughts throughout the day (Genesis 6:5). Claiming that Seth’s offspring were righteous also contradicts the depravity of all men, for even Seth was born in the likeness and image of Adam, not God (Genesis 5:3). Augustine’s reasoning behind his theory was a belief that angels cannot engage in physical relations with women. However, angels only appear to humans as men, who rest and eat just as men do (Genesis 18:1–8; Daniel 9:21; Hebrews 13:2). Therefore, they possess a physical body. Although not the same as a body from Adam, it has similarities. Furthermore, Augustine’s theory ignores that Job specifically mentions the sons of God, who are angels. (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7).
Angels do not reproduce among themselves (Mark 12:25). Since angels have the inherent ability to take on a physical form, it is not without reason that they can then reproduce with the women of men. However, they are not producing angels or men, but mutants. These mutants, known as Rephaim after the flood, are abominations to God and will all be cast directly into the lake of fire with Hades, where they currently reside (Isaiah 14:9; 26:14). Therefore, these angels would have to leave their first estate to have physical relations with the women of men. In 2 Peter 2:4–5, the apostle writes about a group of angels who are bound in Tartarus. “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them into Tartarus.” Jude 6 and 7 describe these angels as those who left their first estate and pursued strange flesh, just like the wicked men in Sodom and Gomorrah did. Going after strange flesh indicates they sought to procreate with the women of men, just as Genesis 6:2 states.
When Adam and Eve sinned, God laid out the punishment for their actions. God cursed the ground on account of Adam, and Adam would live by the sweat of his brow, returning to the dust of the earth at the end of his days (Genesis 3:17–19). God increased Eve’s time of conception, enabling her to bear more children, and motherhood would bring sorrow. In addition, God also proclaimed to the one behind the snake, Lucifer, that the seed of the woman would crush his head (Genesis 3:13-15). In Genesis 6, humans are nearing the end of the dispensation of conscience. God is going to bring a flood upon the earth because of the wickedness of men (Genesis 6:7). Since man has rejected good, for every formation of his thoughts is evil all day long, this is the perfect environment for the fallen angels to attempt to pervert the seed of the woman and thereby God’s promise (Genesis 6:5). Not only did they seek to corrupt human flesh, they went after all flesh (Genesis 6:12).
In the New Testament, the term “sons of God” is used for those of the Church (Romans 8:14). The reason the Church members are called the sons of God is that they have been born again (1 Peter 1:23). This birth results from the Holy Spirit washing and regenerating those who believe that Christ died on behalf of our sins and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (Titus 3:4–5; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Those of the Church have their bounds marked off to the placement as sons (Ephesians 1:5); therefore, they are not under law, for they are led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14). Jesus is the one who brought grace and truth when He wrapped Himself in flesh and tabernacled among us (John 1:14, 17). No one was born again in the Old Testament; this is New Testament doctrine, nor did they possess Christ (John 3:3). Therefore, it is improper hermeneutics and dishonest with the Word of God to impose this new revelation upon the Old Testament, for God had not done the work He did to bring about the sons of God relating to the Church.
Genesis 6:2 does indeed refer to angels who left their first estate and went after strange flesh for the purpose of corrupting the seed of the woman. The angels forcibly took these women, and the women bore abominations, not children, who were known as gods that could die (Genesis 6:4; Jude 6, 7; 2 Peter 2:4–5).
