Descendants of women & angels?

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Thnknprblm

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I have read this before, but have never heard it explained:

“When people had spread all over the world, and daughters were being born, some of the heavenly beings saw that these young women were beautiful, so they took the ones they liked. Then the Lord said, "I will not allow people to live forever; they are mortal. From now on they will live no longer than 120 years."
In those days and even later, there were gaints on the earth who were descendants of human women and the heavenly beings. They were the great heroes and famous men of long ago.”

Genesis 6, 1-4

Does this mean there really were gods at one time?
 
Thnknprblm said:
I have read this before, but have never heard it explained:

“When people had spread all over the world, and daughters were being born, some of the heavenly beings saw that these young women were beautiful, so they took the ones they liked. Then the Lord said, "I will not allow people to live forever; they are mortal. From now on they will live no longer than 120 years."
In those days and even later, there were gaints on the earth who were descendants of human women and the heavenly beings. They were the great heroes and famous men of long ago.”

Genesis 6, 1-4

Does this mean there really were gods at one time?
Click to expand...
NO!!
 
Thnknprblm said:
No? Then can you explain?
Click to expand...
You are Catholic. You therefore know the answer to your question. What is the start of the Apostles Creed? It says I believe in God. It does not say I believe in gods. How could there have been gods when there is only one God? If a Catholic thinks there are or were other gods that is heresy.

However, if you want a detailed explanation to Genesis 6:1-4 you can find this in the D-R Bible with the Haydock commentary. It is too long to reproduce in the thread.
 
Grace & Peace!

This question is slightly more difficult than a simple “No.” Scholarship has revealed that the ancient Israelites were in fact polytheistic and gradually moved through henotheism (One supreme God, many lesser gods) to monotheism (when the Hebrew tribal deity become identified with the All-Father deity El). I would argue that this is a process of revelation.

At any rate, witness all of the Psalms that speak of God amidst the council of the gods. Many places in the Old Testament assume the existence of other gods, but do not pay any attention to them: they are not worthy recipients of latria (worship), to use more ecclesiastical terminology. Only God is due latria. However, there are many places in the Old Testament in which the existence of other gods is denied. What is clear, though, is that these “gods” are not considered equal to God.

There must be a distinction made, therefore, between God and what have been called “gods” but which could, in fact, be lesser divine beings, beings for which the term “god” is shorthand for an understanding of their immense power and relationship to Divinity (God). Angels, in other words. The “Beni Elohim” or “Sons of God” which is a term often applied to the angels and often translated (if I remember correctly) “gods”.

Were there other gods? Are there other gods? My answer would be that the answer (for a Christian) is immaterial. If they exist, they, like you, are subject to the Trinity; they, like you, are workers in God’s vineyard; but unlike them, you were made for a greater end as Paul writes: it is not the angels (or the gods) who will judge the world, it is we who will judge the angels.

Give glory to God. Keep the faith.

Under the Mercy,
Mark

Deo Gratias!
 
Thnknprblm said:
No? Then can you explain?
Click to expand...
IT establishes God’s supremecy over everything. People believed in gods. So this story makes it clear that everything is subject to God’s control. Much like the opening chapter of Genesis establishes God’s supremecy over nature.
 
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