Nimrod and Hercules, Arsameia, foothills of Mount Nemrut, Turkey.
Scripture
Genesis 6:1-4
The Nephilim
1And it happened that, when humankind [ʾā·ḏām] began to multiply on the face of the ground, daughters were born to them. 2 Then the sons of God [bēnu ʾělō·hîm] saw the daughters of humankind [ʾā·ḏām] , that they were beautiful. And they took for themselves wives from all that they chose. 3 And YHWH said, “My Spirit shall not abide with humankind [ʾā·ḏām] forever in that he is also flesh. And his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim [γίγαντες in LXX] were upon the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God went into the daughters of humankind [ʾā·ḏām] , and they bore children to them. These were the mighty warriors that were from ancient times, men of renown [lit. “the name”].
Genesis 6:1-4
What is the textual evidence that the contact between the “sons of God” and the “daughters of humankind” was sexual?
What was God’s response [Genesis 6:5-8]?
Where else do the Nephilim/giants show up [Exodus 17:8 [cf Deuteronomy 2:20-231]; Numbers 13:25–33; Numbers 20:1-11; 1 Samuel 17:4–7]? What do you notice about the description of Goliath?
NT understanding of the Nephilim
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers among you also, who will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, thus bringing on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their licentious ways, because of whom the way of truth will be reviled. 3 And in greediness they will exploit you with false words, whose condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 Peter 2:1–3
What is the issue in the church Peter is addressing?
4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but held them captive in Tartarus with chains of darkness and handed them over to be kept for judgment, 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a proclaimer of righteousness, and seven others when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly, 6 and condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes, having appointed them as an example for those who are going to be ungodly, 7 and rescued righteous Lot, worn down by the way of life of lawless persons in licentiousness 8 (for that righteous man, as he lived among them day after day, was tormenting his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he was seeing and hearing), 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to reserve the unrighteous to be punished at the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who go after the flesh in defiling lust and who despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they do not tremble in awe as they blaspheme majestic beings, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in strength and power, do not bring against them a demeaning judgment [from the Lord2].
2 Peter 2:4–11
Who are the angels of v4 [see also Revelation 20:1–3]?
Reading outside the canon [except if you are Ethiopian or Eritrean Orthodox] sheds a lot of light on how Peter and his Jewish hearers were thinking…
And now the giants, who are produced from the spirits and flesh, shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, and on the earth shall be their dwelling. Evil spirits have proceeded from their bodies; because they are born from men, and from the holy Watchers is their beginning and primal origin; they shall be evil spirits on earth, and evil spirits shall they be called."
1 Enoch 15:9 [3rd century BC]
What is the origin of evil spirits/demons according to the theology of Second Temple Judaism? What would have been the significance of Jesus and his disciples casting out demons to Jews in the first century?
Back to the canon…
2 Now I praise you that you remember me in all things, and just as I handed over to you the traditions, you hold fast to them. 3 But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies while having something on his head dishonors his head, 5 but every woman who prays or prophesies with uncovered head dishonors her head, for she is one and the same with the one whose head is shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover herself, let her hair be shorn off. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her cover herself. 7 For indeed a man ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 For indeed man was not created for the sake of the woman, but woman for the sake of the man. 10 Because of this, the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, on account of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is woman anything apart from man, nor is man anything apart from woman in the Lord. 12 For just as the woman is from the man, thus also the man is through the woman. But all things are from God. 13 You judge for yourselves: is it fitting for a woman to pray to God uncovered? 14 And does not nature itself teach you that a man, if he wears long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But a woman, if she wears long hair, it is her glory, because her hair is given for a covering. 16 But if anyone is disposed to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:2–16
This is a notoriously difficult passage. Does our study throw any light on v10?
Bonus
This is another passage that sheds light on the demonology of the first century.
And in the third week of this jubilee the unclean demons began to lead astray the children of the sons of Noah, and to make to err and destroy them. And the sons of Noah came to Noah their father, and they told him concerning the demons which were leading astray and blinding and slaying his sons' sons. And he prayed before the Lord his God, and said: 'God of the spirits of all flesh, who hast shown mercy unto me and hast saved me and my sons from the waters of the flood, and hast not caused me to perish as Thou didst the sons of perdition; for Thy grace hath been great towards me, and great hath been Thy mercy to my soul; let Thy grace be lift up upon my sons, and let not wicked spirits rule over them lest they should destroy them from the earth. But do Thou bless me and my sons, that we may increase and multiply and replenish the earth. And Thou knowest how Thy Watchers, the fathers of these spirits, acted in my day: and as for these spirits which are living, imprison them and hold them fast in the place of condemnation, and let them not bring destruction on the sons of thy servant, my God; for these are malignant, and created in order to destroy. And let them not rule over the spirits of the living; for Thou alone canst exercise dominion over them. And let them not have power over the sons of the righteous from henceforth and for evermore.' And the Lord our God bade us to bind all. And the chief of the spirits, Mastema, came and said: 'Lord, Creator, let some of them remain before me, and let them hearken to my voice, and do all that I shall say unto them; for if some of them are not left to me, I shall not be able to execute the power of my will on the sons of men; for these are for corruption and leading astray before my judgment, for great is the wickedness of the sons of men.' And He said: 'Let the tenth part of them remain before him, and let nine parts descend into the place of condemnation.'
Jubilees 10:1-6 [160-150BC]
YHWH has been clearing the area of giants through Esau and other peoples, making it possible for Israel to transverse the area.
Some MSS.