Bible Question:

Who were the sons of God? Are they angels or people?

Bible Respond:

The phrase "sons of God" occurs ten times in the Bible. Information technology occurs five times in the Old Attestation (Genesis 6:2, 4; Chore 1:six; ii:one; 38:7) and five times in the New Testament (Matthew 5:nine; Luke 20:36; Romans 8:14, 19; Galatians 3:26). The phrase has different meanings in the Old compared to the New Testament.

Who Are The Sons of God

Meaning of Son of God In The One-time Testament

Sons of God in Task 1:6 and 2:1

The passages that provide the clearest meaning of the phrase "son of God" in the Erstwhile Attestation occur in the volume of Job. The commencement 2 passages are found in Job 1-2.

Now there was a 24-hour interval when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan as well came amidst them. Job 1:vi (NASB)

Again in that location was a twenty-four hour period when the sons of God came to nowadays themselves before the LORD, and Satan as well came amongst them to present himself earlier the LORD. Job 2:1 (NASB)

In both passages Satan and the "sons of God" appear before the Lord. It is important to notice that the "sons of God" presented themselves before God. Therefore, since the holy angels in heaven are continually in the presence of God according to Matthew 18:ten, the "sons of God" are not holy angels. Instead they are the followers of Satan.

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 12:26 that Satan has his own kingdom. His followers are demons or angels who were bandage out of heaven forth with Satan. In Luke 10:eighteen Jesus states that He saw Satan cast out of heaven like lightning (Isaiah 14:15; Ezekiel 28:16-17). Revelation 12:9 helps u.s. understand that some angels had joined Satan in his rebellion and were cast out of sky too!

And the great dragon was thrown downwards, the serpent of sometime who is chosen the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole earth; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:nine (NASB)

Revelation 12:7 clearly teaches that Satan and his angels are like an ground forces.

And in that location was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war . . . Revelation 12:7 (NASB)

Therefore, we are to sympathise that the "sons of God" in Job 1:6 and two:i are the angels who barbarous with Satan. They are also called fallen angels, evil angels, spirits or evil spirits in the Bible.

Sons of God in Job 38:7

In Task 38:seven the "sons of God" are angels too! In Job 38 God is speaking to Task and reviewing how the universe was created. In poesy 4 God asks Job if he was nowadays when God laid the foundation of the world. Verses 5 and 6 are more questions about the creation.  Then poesy 7 asks if Chore was present when the stars sang and the "sons of God" shouted for joy. Once again "sons of God" refers to the holy angels who existed at the fourth dimension of the creation.

When the morning stars sang together
And all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:7 (NASB)

Sons of God in Genesis half dozen:2, 4

The "sons of God" in Genesis half-dozen:2 and 4 are also angels. They are fallen angels once more. There are three New Testament passages that make this articulate. The showtime is Jude 6-7.

And angels who did not go on their own domain, only abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds nether darkness for the judgment of the great twenty-four hour period, just equally Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited every bit an example in undergoing the penalisation of eternal fire. Jude 6-7 (NASB)

Notice three of import points. First, in that location were some angels who did non keep their own domain. The Greek word for "domain" is arche. The word means "outset" or "origin." That is, these angels did not go on to their original assignment or part or domain.

2nd, these angels are now in "eternal bonds" or prison and information technology is dark. Third, these angels are compared to Sodom and Gomorrah. Notice that the angels "indulged in gross immorality" just similar Sodom and Gomorrah. The Greek that is translated as "indulged in gross immorality" is ekporneuo. It is a compound discussion of ek and porneuo.Porneuo is the verb form of porneia, which refers to a wide multifariousness of sexual sins. The word of ek intensifies the beliefs in this case. These angels did not continue to their assignment in creation and committed some type of sexual sin. As well, notice that the events in Sodom and Gomorrah occurred later on the angels sinned.

The next passage of interest is two Peter 2:4-x. Verses four-half dozen state some angels sinned and were bandage into pits of darkness at the time of Noah. Then after referring to Noah, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are mentioned. Notice the time when the angels sinned. They sinned at the fourth dimension of Noah.

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, only cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient earth, merely preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a inundation upon the world of the ungodly; and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having fabricated them an example to those who would alive ungodly lives thereafter . . . ii Peter 2:4-6 (NASB)

The third passage is 1 Peter three:19-20. In this passage notice that the angels are now called spirits who are in prison and find the timeline of the events. This occurred at the time of Noah.

. . . in which too He went and made annunciation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the structure of the ark, in which a few, that is, viii persons, were brought safely through the water. one Peter iii:nineteen-20 (NASB)

Objection – Sons of God Does Not Refer To Angels

There are two passages that seem to prove that "sons of God" does not refer to demons. The first passage is Matthew 22:30 (also Luke 20:34-35). In Matthew 22:30 Jesus is speaking and says,

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. Matthew 22:xxx (NASB)

But notice that the verse does not say angels cannot affect a adult female'due south pregnancy. Scripture clearly teaches that people tin can be demon possessed and demons can affect the human trunk. Might they in some fashion bear upon the sperm'south impregnation of the female egg at the moment a man and woman have intercourse? (This is speculative since Scripture does not provide any details about demons, who were involved sexually with the daughters of men in Genesis 6:2.) What is clear is that Matthew 22:thirty is only i verse in opposition to four articulate passages that teach angels did something to women in Genesis 6:2, 4. They did not constrain themselves and indulged in sexual behavior that Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2:4-6 call sin.

Hebrews 1:v is the second passage that seems to suggest that angels were non called "sons of God."

For to which of the angels did He ever say,
"Yous ARE MY SON,
TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"?
And again,
"I Will BE A FATHER TO HIM
AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"? Hebrews i:5 (NASB)

The message of the verse is that God the Father never called any of the angels "My Son." In social club to clearly sympathize this poesy, nosotros must discover that the first quote is from Psalm ii:seven and the second is from 2 Samuel 7:14. "My Son" appears in Psalm 2:7 and is a continuation of Psalm 2:6. Psalm ii:6-7 refers to the coming Messiah. It is virtually Jesus Christ. That is, the phrase "My Son" refers to Christ and the message of Hebrews 1:five is that no affections has been chosen "My Son" or the Messiah. The purpose of Hebrews ane is to prove that Christ is greater than the angels. The reader is encouraged to visit "Jesus is Superior to Angels."

Therefore, the "sons of God" in the Old Testament refer to angels and normally to fallen angels or demons.

Meaning of Son of God In The New Testament

Sons of God in Matthew 5:9

The beginning time the phrase "sons of God" appears in the New Testament is in Matthew v:nine.

Blessed are the peacemakers, forthey shall exist called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (NASB)

This poetry is the seventh beatitude in the Sermon on the Mount. The beatitudes describe the behavior that is expected of a Christian. For more information about the beatitudes, please visit the study serial Sermon on the Mountain. We should ask, Who are peacemakers?" Galatians 5:22 tells u.s. that but Christians volition have the fruit of Spirit which includes peace. That is, only Christians are capable of beingness peacemakers.

Sons of God in Luke 20:36

In Luke xx:36 we are told that the "sons of God" are "sons of the resurrection." The phrase "sons of the resurrection" refers to Christians.

. . . for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, existence sons of the resurrection. Luke 20:36 (NASB)

Sons of God in Romans 8:xiv, nineteen

Romans viii:fourteen, 19 both ascertain the phrase "sons of God" equally Christians. But Christians are led by the Spirit of God. Romans 8:ix states, "if anyone does not take the Spirit of Christ, he does not vest to Him."

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans eight:fourteen (NASB)

For the broken-hearted longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.  Romans eight:19 (NASB)

Therefore, the phrase "sons of God" in both of these passages refers to Christians.

Sons of God in Galatians 3:26

The last passage in the New Testament that uses the phrase "son of God" is Galatians three:26 and it clearly refers to Christians, as well.

For you are all sons of God through religion in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26 (NASB)

Here nosotros are told that a person who puts their organized religion in Christ is one of the sons of God. This verse is like to John ane:12 where we are told that we tin become children of God by receiving Christ.

Conclusion:

The phrase "sons of God" primarily refers to demons or fallen angels in the One-time Attestation. In the New Testament it consistently refers to Christians.  Are you one of the sons of God, that is, a Christian? If yous are non certain visit, "Are You a Christian?" or "Searching For God" and make sure that you lot are going to be with God after y'all die.

Suggested Links:

Who were the sons of God and daughters of men in Genesis 6:two-iv?
Jesus is Superior to Angels
Peacemakers Are Sons of God
Are Yous a Christian?
Searching for God
What is the significant that Jesus is the Son of God?
Porneia Definition — What is the meaning of the Greek word porneia in the Bible?