Who is "the angel of the Lord"? He appears at many key moments in the Old Testament. But who is he? Is he a normal angel, like a seraphim (Isaiah 6:2) or cherubim (Genesis 3:24)? Is he an archangel? Who is he? A survey of his appearances in the Bible may be helpful. Angel of the Lord Appearances in the Bible The exact phrase "the angel of the Lord" appears in the following places: Genesis 16:1-15 (esp v. 13) - With Hagar.Genesis 22:1-19 (esp v. 11, 15-16) - With … [Read more...] about The Angel of the Lord
Exegesis
Fallen Angels in Genesis
This post is overdue. I've been meaning to write it. I just haven't. Honestly, it's a strange topic. But here we go... I have changed my understanding of Genesis six and the question of angels having sexual relations with humans. What I Thought The passage in question reads this way: When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the … [Read more...] about Fallen Angels in Genesis
What Are “These Things” in Titus 3:8?
Paul writes to Titus, "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works" (Titus 3:8). Sounds important. We better be careful here. So what exactly are "these things?"William D. Mounce (2000) argues: τούτων, "these things," refers back at least to the creed in vv 5-7, but there is little in those verses that warrants the use of the strong διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, "to insist emphatically." It … [Read more...] about What Are “These Things” in Titus 3:8?
Who Are the Nephilim?
We find a strange allusion in Genesis chapter six. We read, "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown" (Genesis 6:4). Note the ESV avoids translation here. "Nephilim" is simply a transliteration of the Hebrew term. The King James translates the passage in this way: "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also … [Read more...] about Who Are the Nephilim?