Interestingly, the text, abruptly leaves off speaking of Job, specifically, and points to a certain day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. Moreover, we are introduced to a specific son, whom the text refers to as Satan, because he was among those sons of God who appeared before him. At least most biblical scholarship will tell us the sons of God are angelic beings, and Satan is one of these spirit beings. However, the text doesn’t say so, specifically. In fact, if we were reading the Book of Job and had no prior understanding of angelology, it is difficult to believe one would readily receive this impression from the text. So, from where do the scholars get this understanding?
Who are the sons of God, according to the Bible? Moreover, if we are to understand who they are, is it necessary for us to learn about them from extra-biblical sources? Knowing who the sons of God are will help us understand who the being, Satan, is, which is important for understanding the context of Job’s tragedies. Furthermore, knowing this context will help in our understanding the discourses that take place later.
Without question, if all we had was the New Covenant text, we would be able to clearly understand that the sons of God were men. There is not a single reference in the Christian scriptures that would lead anyone to believe they were angelic, spirit, beings.[1] There are five references in the Old Covenant text that mention the phrase: sons of God. There are two in Genesis and three in Job (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7). In other words, the only other place in the Old Covenant scriptures, where sons of God are mentioned (besides Job) is Genesis, and those references occur immediately before the great Flood (Genesis 6:2, 4).
Using this context, we are able to see how it is that so many scholars believe the phrase, sons of God, refers to angelic beings! It is because of the doctrine that teaches angels rebelled against God, had sexual relations with human women and this ended in the Lord bringing upon mankind the terrible destruction of the Genesis Flood! Why God destroyed mankind (all but eight souls) but didn’t destroy the presumed spirit beings (angels) is not said. Yet, this is what is passed off as true in some (not all) scholarly circles. The problem with this is, Jesus, himself, denies this doctrine. When asked about marrying and giving in marriage, as that relates to the Kingdom of God, Jesus told the Sadducees that men in the Kingdom are like angels. Sexual relationship is not the vehicle that produces sons in the Kingdom of God. Moreover, there are no male or female angelic spirits, so how could they possibly have had sexual relations with human women and produce children? Such an idea directly contradicts the laws of nature, which God set in place, showing that kind produces after its own kind (see Genesis 1). There is no such thing as transmigration of the species (a Hindu doctrine). Such a thing is against nature and true science.
Who, then, are the sons of God? I have a previous study that goes into what occurred in Genesis 6,[2] but suffice to say that the sons of the gods were the sons of the patriarchs, who were men of authority and governed their clans. Psalm 82 shows the term god simply means someone with authority who rules over others. So, anyone who rules over men is a god, and scripture tells us that God rules all the gods (Deuteronomy 10:17-22). Daniel 2:47 in particular shows that the term, God of gods, refers to the Lord God, being the Ruler of lords and kings. The Psalmist says men have been created a little lower that the angels, but men were given dominion over the works of God’s hands, implying angels were not (Psalm 8:5-6). If angels were never given authority to rule, how is the so-called, angelic being, Satan, the god of this world (2Corinthians 4:4)?
It seems to me that the term, sons of God, in the Book of Job refers to the rulers of the earth, and the one called Satan, was likewise a human ruler.[3] They are pictured as coming before the Lord on a particular day. This doesn’t mean they were literally taken to heaven, any more than God meant for the rulers of the nations to literally kiss his Son, lest he become angry (Psalm 2:12). It would seem that Nebuchadnezzar was drawn into the “court of the Lord” during his dreams, but it was Daniel, the servant of the Lord, who accurately interpreted those dreams for him (Daniel 2 and Daniel 4). Therefore, if this is the context of the introductory chapters of the Book of Job, then the whole affair takes place upon earth, and, except for the Lord, each and every participant is human, not spirit. If not, what evidence, from the word of God, can be brought to prove the contrary?
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[1] There are six verses in the New Covenant text that mention the phrase: sons of God – John 1:12; Romans 8:14, 19; Philippians 2:15; 1John 3:1-2. All of the verses refer to human beings.
[2] See: What Was the Sin of Genesis 6?
[3] More about this in my next study.
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