L
Les_Richardson
Guest
I heard Jimmy Akin on radio recently reply to the question of St. Paul’s teaching on women being veiled, as a cultural matter predominantly. Years ago in some fundamentalist protestant denominations it was taught that it showed a family heirarchy ordained by God. The man bare-headed, the woman veiled in submission to the man.
St. Paul’s reference “because of the angels” has another connotation that I have never found in my studies of Catholic theology, and I wonder if anyone has run across it. (I’ve only been a Catholic about a year, so my studies have been by no means exhaustive)
The connotation is the explanation that in St. Paul’s time as well as during the time of Christ Himself, the Jews were aware and well versed in the writings attributed to Enoch which, while not canonical, were readily available. The book of Enoch spells out the descent(fall) of a group of angels(watchers) that looked upon human women and desired them because they were fair in appearance. Some have indicated it was the hair that was particularly attractive. Regardless, they took human form and took women for wives and they gave birth to the giants. These or their descendants are the Nephilim mentioned in Genesis.
They are referred to in the Book of Jude as well, in the New testament. It is said then, that these are the angels to which St.Paul refers to.
To me this seems like speculation, although somewhat possible. We know that angels sent from God appear in human form many times in the Old Testament. As C.S. Lewis points out however, their presence and appearance was somewhat intimidating at first because they almost always preface their conversation, “Fear not.”
I know that Catholic doctrine specifies the names of three arch-angels, Raphael, Gabriel, and Michael while Enoch names three more. He also names the leaders of the band of watchers that first descended upon women and took them to wife.
I’ve also heard it said that the reason God directed the Israelites to eradicate certain peoples in the promised land was because they were giants, descendents of the Nephilim.
If anyone knows of any orthodox Catholic treatments of these subjects I would be grateful.
St. Paul’s reference “because of the angels” has another connotation that I have never found in my studies of Catholic theology, and I wonder if anyone has run across it. (I’ve only been a Catholic about a year, so my studies have been by no means exhaustive)
The connotation is the explanation that in St. Paul’s time as well as during the time of Christ Himself, the Jews were aware and well versed in the writings attributed to Enoch which, while not canonical, were readily available. The book of Enoch spells out the descent(fall) of a group of angels(watchers) that looked upon human women and desired them because they were fair in appearance. Some have indicated it was the hair that was particularly attractive. Regardless, they took human form and took women for wives and they gave birth to the giants. These or their descendants are the Nephilim mentioned in Genesis.
They are referred to in the Book of Jude as well, in the New testament. It is said then, that these are the angels to which St.Paul refers to.
To me this seems like speculation, although somewhat possible. We know that angels sent from God appear in human form many times in the Old Testament. As C.S. Lewis points out however, their presence and appearance was somewhat intimidating at first because they almost always preface their conversation, “Fear not.”
I know that Catholic doctrine specifies the names of three arch-angels, Raphael, Gabriel, and Michael while Enoch names three more. He also names the leaders of the band of watchers that first descended upon women and took them to wife.
I’ve also heard it said that the reason God directed the Israelites to eradicate certain peoples in the promised land was because they were giants, descendents of the Nephilim.
If anyone knows of any orthodox Catholic treatments of these subjects I would be grateful.