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| "Sons
of GOD"?
Appendix 23 From The Companion
Bible |
Son:
The word "son" appears many times throughout the Old
and New Testament of the Bible. However, there are a number
of different words in the Bible that have been translated into
other languages and then finally into English as the word son.
Some of them include the Hebrew words "bar" and "ben".
When the term "son" is used
in Scripture language it can imply almost any kind of descent
or succession, as ben shanah, "son
of a year," i.e. a year old; ben kesheth , "son
of a bow," i.e. an arrow. The word bar
is often found in the New Testament in composition, as Bar-timaeus.
I
have referred to a number of different scholarlly works for
findings of the words "son" and "sons" and
"children" and the intended meanings considering their
position and usage in the context of the way the words appear.
One such reference is the Strong's Concordance of the Bible
and another is The Companion Bible. Here in particular, I have
used the appendix number 23 for some explanation as to the usage
and intention behind these words.
Looking
in to the 23rd Appendix of the Companion Bible, we find an attempt
to explain away these words:
This
why angels are called "sons of God"
in every other place where the expression is used in the Old
Testament. Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7. Psalms 29:1; 89:6. Daniel 3:25.
(no article). 2 We have no authority or right to take the
expression in Genesis 6:2,4 in any other sense. Moreover,
in Genesis 6:2 the Septuagint renders it "angels".
1
The word "offspring" in Acts 17:28 is quite different.
It is (genos), which means merely kin or kind, our genus as
being originated by God.
2 In Hosea 1:10, it is not beni-ha-Elohim, as here, but beni-el-chai.
Now
let's take a look for ourselves into the Bible to help us determine
how these terms should be understood. On the left side of the
table I have placed the Old Testament references and on the right
side, I have placed the New Testament references. |
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(Old Testament) Sons of God |
(New Testament) Sons of God |
Genesis
6: 1-4
1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face
of the ground, 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 that they
chose.
3 And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not strive with man for ever,
for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and
twenty years.
4 The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after
that, when the sons of God came unto the daughters
of men, and they bare children to them: the same were the mighty
men that were of old, the men of renown.
The
Companion Bible tells us:
Angels
are called "sons of God" in every
other place where the expression is used in the Old Testament.
Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7. Psalms 29:1; 89:6. Daniel 3:25
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Luke
3:38
38 Enos is the son of Seth and Set is the son of Adam and Adam
is the son of God.
We
read in the Appendix
23 From The Companion Bible:
It
is only by the Divine specific act of creation that any created
being can be called "a son of God".
For that which is "born of the flesh is flesh". God
is spirit, and that which is "born of the Spirit is spirit"
(John 3:6). Hence Adam is called a "son of God"
in Luke 3:38. Those "in Christ" having "the new
nature" which is by the direct creation of God (2 Corinthians
5:17. Ephesians 2:10) can be, and are called "sons
of God" (John 1:13. Romans 8:14,15. 1John 3:1).
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Job
1:6
6 Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God
came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came
among them.
Job
2:1
1 Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God
came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also
among them to present himself before Jehovah.
Job
38:7
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons
of God shouted for joy?
Psalms
29:1
1 Ascribe unto Jehovah, O ye sons of the Almighty,
Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength.
Psalms
89:6
For who in the skies can be compared unto Jehovah? Who among the
sons of God is like unto Jehovah, Angels are
called "spirits" (Psalm 104:4. Hebrews
1:7,14), for spirits are created by God.
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John
1:12-13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become
children of God, [even] to them that believe
on his name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will
of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
God
is spirit, and that which is "born of the Spirit is spirit"
(John 3:6) |
Daniel
3:25
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst
of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth
is like a sons of Gods. |
"sons
of God" (John 1:13. Romans 8:14,15. 1John 3:1).1
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It
is only by the Divine specific act of creation that any created
being can be called "sons of God".
For that which is "born of the flesh is flesh". God is
spirit, and that which is "born of the Spirit is spirit"
(John 3:6) |
[Under
Construction - Please Come Back Next Week] |
That
there was a fall of the angels is certain from Jude 6. The nature
of their fall is clearly stated in the same verse. They left their
own (oiketerion). This word occurs only in 2Corinthians 5:2. Jude
6, where it is used of the spiritual (or resurrection) body.
The nature of their sin is stated to be "in like manner"
to that of the subsequent sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, Jude 7.
The time of their fall is given as having taken place "in
the days of Noah" (1Peter 3:20. 2Peter 2:7), though there
may have been a prior fall which caused the end of "the world
that then was" (Genesis 1:1,2. 2Peter 3:6).
For this sin they are "reserved unto judgment", 2Peter
2:4, and are "in prison", 1Peter 3:19. Their progeny,
called Nephilim (translated "giants" for the Bible but
may be similar to the "jinn" of the Quran, compare to
the story of the giant size of jinn who spoke to Suleman in Surah
An-Naml 27:39), were monsters of iniquity; and being superhuman
in size and character, had to be destroyed (see Appendix 25).This
was the one and only object of the Flood.
Only Noah and his family had preserved their pedigree pure from
Adam (Genesis 6:9 see note). All the rest had become "corrupt"
(shachath) destroyed [as Adamites]. The only remedy was to destroy
it (de facto), as it had become destroyed (de jure). (It is the
same word in verse 17 as in verses 11,12.) See further under Appendix
25 on the Nephilim.
This irruption of fallen angels was Satan's first attempt to prevent
the coming of the Seed of the woman foretold in Genesis 3:15.
If this could be accomplished, God's Word would have failed, and
his own doom would be averted.
As soon as it was made known that the Seed of the woman was to
come through ABRAHAM, there must have been another irruption,
as recorded in Genesis 6:4, "and also after that" (that
is to say, after the days of Noah, more than 500 years after the
first irruption). The aim of the enemy was to occupy Canaan in
advance of Abraham, and so to contest its occupation by his seed.
For, when Abraham entered Canaan, we read (Genesis 12:6) "the
Canaanite was then (that is to say, already) in the land."
In the same chapter (Genesis 12:10-20) we see Satan's next attempt
to interfere with Abraham's seed, and frustrate the purpose of
God that it should be in "Isaac". This attempt was repeated
in 20:1-18.
This great conflict may be seen throughout the Bible, and it forms
a great and important subject of Biblical study. In each case
the human instrument had his own personal interest to serve, while
Satan had his own great object in view. Hence God had, in each
case, to interfere and avert the evil and the danger, of which
His servants and people were wholly ignorant. The following assaults
of the great Enemy stand out prominently:-
The destruction of the chosen family by famine, Genesis 50:20.
The destruction of the male line in Israel, Exodus 1:10,15, etc.
Compare to Exodus 2:5. Hebrews 11:23.
The destruction of the whole nation in Pharaoh's pursuit, Exodus
14.
After David's line was singled out (2Samuel 7), that was the next
selected for assault. Satan's first assault was in the union of
Jehoram and Athaliah by Jehoshaphat, notwithstanding 2Chronicles
17:1. Jehoram killed off all his brothers (2Chronicles 21:4).
The Arabians slew all his children, except Ahaziah (2Chronicles
21:17; 22:1).
When Ahaziah died, Athaliah killed "all the seed royal"
(2Chronilces 22:10). The babe Joash alone was rescued; and, for
six years, the faithfulness of Jehovah's word was at stake (2Chronicles
23:3).
Hezekiah was childless, when a double assault was made by the
King of Assyria and the King of Terrors (Isaiah 36:1; 38:1). God's
faithfulness was appealed to and relied on (Psalm 136).
In Captivity, Haman was used to attempt the destruction of the
whole nation (Esther 3:6,12,13. Compare 6:1).
Joseph's fear was worked on (Matthew 1:18-20). Notwithstanding
the fact that he was "a just man", and kept the Law,
he did not wish to have Mary stoned to death (Deuteronomy 24:1);
hence Joseph determined to divorce her. But God intervened: "Fear
not".
Herod sought the young Child's life (Matthew 2).
At the Temptation, "Cast Thyself down" was Satan's temptation.
At Nazareth, again (Luke 4), there was another attempt to cast
Him down and destroy Him.
The two storms on the Lake were other attempts.
At length the cross was reached, and the sepulcher closed; the
watch set; and the stone sealed. But "God raised Him from
the dead." And now, like another Joash, He is seated and
expecting (Hebrews 10:12,13), hidden in the house of God on high;
and the members of "the one body" are hidden there "in
Him" (Colossians 3:1-3), like another Jehoshaba; and going
forth to witness of His coming, like another Jehoiada (2Chronicles
23:3).
The irruption of "the fallen angels" ("sons of
God") was the first attempt; and was directed against the
whole human race.
When Abraham was called, then he and his seed were attacked.
When David was enthroned, then the royal line was assailed.
And when "the Seed of the woman" Himself came, then
the storm burst upon Him.
NOTES
1 The word "offspring" in Acts 17:28 is quite different.
It is (genos), which means merely kin or kind, our genus as being
originated by God.
2 In Hosea 1:10, it is not beni-ha-Elohim, as here, but beni-el-chai.
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