Dr. Peter Gentry of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
His opinion begins 11 Minute’s into the video.
His opinion is that the Nephilim had nothing to do with the Angels cohabiting with Humans.
In Genesis 6:1-4 Moses simply states that the Nephilim were a group of people present at that time in History.
Ge 6:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto 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 unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
With this reference to the Nephilim, Moses is de-mythologizing the topic of the Nephilim.
In Dr. Peter Gentry’s opinion Moses is telling us that the Nephilim are not to be considered mythological, and do not come from co-habitation between Angels and mankind. They were simply large people.
Dr. Gentry is saying that Angels and Humans did co-habit with one another, but the Nephilim are not the offspring or result of that union.
Jesus said in Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
So the union of the Sons of God and the daughters of men did not produce a physical being as is sometimes thought.
This means that the Book of Enoch was an attempt to explain a 1000 year old mystery. This is one reason why the Book of Enoch is not considered genuine scripture. It contends that the offspring were spiritual interbred physical beings.
The punishment of the Angels that left their first estate from (Jude 1:6) is participated in by Humans as their judgment, when they are delivered into the Fallen Angels presence as the Judgment of God determines.
The disobedient person is permitted (by God) to be united with the Fallen/disobedient Spirit as punishment.
The fallen spiritual influence upon Men in flesh bodies is not what has occured in Genesis 6:1-4. since Jesus said that what is flesh is flesh and what is Spirit is spirit the two states do not mix at a procreative level. This manner of passing down a fallen spiritual influence to future fleshly offspring would be considered a generational curse. In other words a “familiar Spirit”.
Ro 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
(KJV)
Compare Romans 1:27-32 to Jude 1:7.
Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jude 1:8 ¶ Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
The underlined portionof Jude 1:8 gives us the reason why Sodom and Gomorrah are similar to the Angels that left their first condition.
Here is my personal opinion regarding the Nephilim.
I feel that the use of the word “Owlam” indicates that the result of the union between Sons of God and Daughters of men in 6:2 is a mortal who bears or carries an eternal (Owlam) fallen spirit/Angel who had abandoned (Jude 1:6) their first or primary role/estate as a Ministering Spirit (Heb 1:13-14) when they joined with women. This is similar but not exactly like Satan deceiving Eve and motivating Her to disobedience..
Gen 6:1 establishes the topic as the multiplying of “Men” (Adam Strongs #0120), and the penalty for disobedience is seen to result in men (Enowsh #0582, a less distinguished man) becoming less distinguished in verse 4.
All the references in Genesis 6:1-4 are to “mankind” however the first (Adam) is the more noble reference.
Ge 6:4 ¶ There were giants in the earth <‘erets> in those days; and also after <‘achar> that, when <‘aher> the sons of God <‘elohiym> came in unto the daughters of men, <‘adam> and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, <`owlam> men <‘enowsh> of renown.
The fact that the Nephilim were present when this co-habitation took place seems to indicate that Moses is purposely showing us that they were not the offspring of the union but simply a people group that was present at the time. Hence He de-mythologizes the topic of the Nephilim.
As the result of God striving/ (v. 3) with man their lifespan was shortened.
As punishment, the Evil Angels apparently were consigned (Jude and 2 Peter) to abide not in their original role as ministering Spirits (Heb 1:13-14) but to abide in darkness/sinfulness.
Just to go into a related topic for a time, notice that Matt 24:37-38 suggest that this demonically induced behavior results in judgment.
In the Old Testament this judgment was by a flood, however God said He would not judge with a flood anymore (Gen 9:11 and 2 Peter 3:7).
Ge 9:11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Instead of a flood He uses fire, and that fire is Hell fire where the devil and His angels are, and this judgment involves God allowing the fallen angels to cohabit with mankind.
Mt 24:37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man.
The days will be similar in my opinion in that the judgment resulting from their actions will be carried out, but this time it we consist of being delivered into the presence of Satan and His angels who inhabit Hell.
Mt 24:38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, (RSV)
Mt 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:
(ASV)
They are allowed to influence a disobedient person who is experiencing judgment due to their personal sinfulness. In this way those spirits who left their habitation are reserved or set aside for use in judgment situations.
Jude 1:6-7 – And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. (Read More…)
The great Day being the Day of the Lord or time of judgment.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (ASV)
Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jude 1:8 ¶ Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
2 Peter 2:4 – For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Ge 6:3 ¶ 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.
This seems to be verified by the Hebrew writing. In Genesis 6:4 the word <Owlam> is used to define the Men or offspring of the Sons of God and the Daughters of Men.
The word <Owlam> is defined many different times in the Bible as follows – AV-ever 272, everlasting 63, old 22, perpetual 22, evermore 15, never 13, time 6, ancient 5, world 4, always 3, alway 2, long 2, more 2, never + 0408 2, misc 6; 439
It is usually translated to convey the idea of being everlasting.
Since, according to Heb 2:9 Jesus was made a little lower than the Angels so that He could die –
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. {for the: or, by the} (KJV)
- – I conclude that Angels do not die. Therefore I feel that mankind dies but the fallen angels inhabiting the do not die. The offspring of Men die but the fallen angels inhabiting them do not die.
Since the Hebrew word <Owlam> or everlasting is used to define the offspring of the union, I feel that the union of the Sons of God and Daughters of men produced the combination of a Man (who would die) and a Fallen spirit inhabiting Him (who would not die).