Douglas Wilson, a Reformed theologian, presents a thought-provoking and candid commentary on the Nephilim of Genesis 6:1-4. 

Why This Ancient Conflict Still Matters

When it comes to biblical mysteries, few passages stir more fascination and controversy than Genesis 6:1–4. Pastor and theologian Doug Wilson, known for his sharp wit and strong commitment to Reformed theology, dives headfirst into this ancient enigma in his commentary “The Nephilim, Hades, and Other Oddments.”

Wilson argues that the Nephilim were the literal offspring of a rebellious union between heavenly beings (the bene Elohim) and human women — a cosmic boundary crossing that helped precipitate God’s decision to bring the Flood. His bold stance aligns with the oldest interpretation found among ancient Jews, early Christians, and even broader ancient Near Eastern traditions.

But why revisit this controversial topic? Because the rebellion of Genesis 6 isn’t just ancient history. It reveals the spiritual fault lines that still run beneath our world today: the clash between God’s order and humanity’s rebellious grasp for divinity without submission.

Let’s walk through Wilson’s insights carefully, explore the biblical foundations, and connect the dots to the broader spiritual battle that Scripture unfolds.

The Sons of God: Who Were They?

Wilson opens by addressing the most obvious objection: didn’t Jesus say that angels don’t marry?

In Matthew 22:30, Jesus indeed says that angels in heaven neither marry nor are given in marriage. But Wilson points out an important nuance: Jesus did not say that fallen angels were incapable of illicit unions.

Those who “left their first estate” (Jude 6) were judged precisely because they violated their assigned roles.

“Elsewhere in Scripture, the phrase bene elohim always refers to celestial beings. If it had been a merger between the lines of Seth and the line of Cain, why is all the masculinity on one side, and all the women on the other? And why would such unions result in giants?”

Wilson highlights a simple but powerful observation: every other use of “sons of God” (Job 1:6; 38:7) in the Old Testament refers to divine beings, not humans.

The “Sethite view” — the idea that the “sons of God” were godly men from Seth’s line — arose much later, under the theological influence of Augustine and others uncomfortable with the supernatural implications.

When you read Genesis 6 in the original Hebrew and set aside modern hesitations, the angelic view flows naturally. The early Jewish world, including writers of texts like 1 Enoch, saw Genesis 6 as a cosmic rebellion, not just bad marriages.

The Unnatural Union and Its Consequences

Wilson boldly asserts that Genesis 6 describes “perverse genetic engineering.” The fallen angels lusted after human women, abandoned their heavenly roles, and produced offspring that were neither fully divine nor fully human.

Jude 6–7 reinforces this by comparing the sin of the rebellious angels to that of Sodom and Gomorrah: both involved going after “strange flesh.”

“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation [oiketerion], he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 6–7, KJV)

Paul uses the same Greek word (oiketerion) to refer to the resurrection body believers will receive (2 Corinthians 5:2). Wilson suggests that the angels relinquished their spiritual “habitation” to participate physically in earthly corruption — a profound violation.

Wilson’s linking of the angels’ “habitation” to their rebellion is compelling. It underscores that this wasn’t just about lust — it was a cosmic breach between dimensions.

Hades, Tartarus, and the Spirits in Prison

Wilson carefully connects several New Testament passages that many Christians overlook:

• 1 Peter 3:18–20 describes Christ proclaiming victory to “spirits in prison,” who were disobedient “in the days of Noah.”
• 2 Peter 2:4 says that God cast sinful angels into Tartarus, imprisoning them in chains until judgment.
• Jude 6 echoes this.
  

After His death, Christ descended “to the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40), proclaiming His triumph to these imprisoned spirits, not offering them a second chance, but declaring victory.

Understanding that Tartarus isn’t just mythological but a biblical term for a prison of rebellious angels helps make sense of these otherwise cryptic verses. Jesus’ descent wasn’t aimless; it was a proclamation of irreversible defeat to the cosmic rebels.

Why This Story Still Matters

Wilson argues passionately that rejecting parts of Scripture because they seem “embarrassing” leads to a slippery slope. If we shy away from Genesis 6 because it sounds strange, we open the door to rejecting other uncomfortable truths — like creation, judgment, or the resurrection.

“Anyone who is embarrassed by one part of the Word is in principle actually embarrassed by all of it. It is just that different parts of your face turn red at different times.”

In other words, confidence in God’s Word demands that we not selectively “sanitize” it to fit modern sensibilities.

Cosmic Rebellion, Then and Now

Wilson draws a chilling parallel between the ancient rebellion and modern scientific hubris:

• Then: Fallen beings attempted genetic corruption, aiming to create “uber humans” defying God’s design.
  
• Now: Human scientists explore animal-human hybrids, genetic manipulation, and other experiments that echo the same conceit: “We shall be as gods.”
  

The rainbow — God’s covenant sign that He would never again destroy the world by flood — has been perversely repurposed by modern rebellion.

“If we thought we could get angels to take some of our women, we would offer them. We are that lost.”

This comparison isn’t about fearmongering. It’s a sober reminder that the core human sin hasn’t changed. We still rebel against God’s created order, trying to seize power that belongs only to Him.

Christ, Chaos, and Final Victory

The story of the Nephilim is not just about strange ancient beings. It’s about the cosmic battle between Christ and chaos. Wilson sums it up well:

“The ultimate choice is between Christ and chaos. On this subject, it reduces to Christ or a chaos that has delusions of grandeur.”

The rebellion that led to the Flood was about rejecting God’s boundaries in favor of human and supernatural ambition. That same rebellion continues today, dressed in modern clothing.

But Christ has already proclaimed His victory. The Nephilim, the Watchers, the ancient rebels — all await final judgment. And so will every human effort that seeks to dethrone the Creator.

Our task is not to shy away from these hard passages, but to embrace the full, rich story of Scripture — one that spans heaven and earth, rebellion and redemption, judgment and mercy.