Weird Stuff in the Bible

And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: 'Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.

You’ve probably heard those words before and thought, “Oh yeah, Genesis 6, the story of the Watchers- AKA the Sons of God- who came down and created the giants with human women.” If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while, you’ve heard those verses from Genesis 6 quoted countless times.
Only I wasn’t reading from Genesis 6 just now. I was reading from Enoch 6. And that portion of Enoch is not only almost word-for-word similar to how Genesis 6 begins, but then it goes off in another direction that informs us some of the details of the pre-flood world. Insights that will help us understand what was so bad about the days of Noah that caused God to want to wipe out virtually all life on the planet.
I mean, eradicating 99.9% of humanity? God doesn’t overreact. What was so bad about the world that required that degree of wiping it all away?
And remember: Enoch was Jesus’ history book. So could what we learn in Enoch 6 give us an idea of what Jesus meant when He said the end times would be as it was in the days of Noah?
I find Enoch 6 to be weird, and I’d like to explore what it helps us understand about our Bible. 
Turn to Genesis 6, and let’s get weird.

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0:00 - Introduction
1:35 - The Desire of the Watchers
9:45 - Were the Women Willing?
14:40 - Enter Semjaza
17:50 - The Plan of the Watchers
22:05 - Next Time
24:10 - A Repeat of the Days of Noah?

Visit the Weird Stuff store!
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You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]
Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

The Bible has a thing for name changes.
Abram gets an upgrade where he becomes Abraham. Simon gets a glow-up, too; Jesus changes his name to Peter, "the Rock." And Jacob goes medieval on an angel and he gets himself rebranded as Israel. 
And they aren’t the only ones. You get into the book of Revelation and Jesus says this:
(Revelation 2:17)

To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Wait, you get one of these new names, too! A super-secret name for forever and ever once you get to heaven.
Wait- what if you like your current name? Or what if you don’t like your new one? What’s with all these changing names in the Bible- and do you have to change your name once you get to heaven- and does the Book of Enoch perhaps shed some insight on this?
I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 
Turn to Revelation 2, and let’s get weird.

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https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:35 - Enoch 5 & Cursed Names
6:40 - Changing Names
8:15 - A New Name Written Down in Glory
18:00 - Your Role in Heaven
22:25 - Next Time
23:20 - The Rest of the Story

Visit the Weird Stuff store!
https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]
Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Forever is a long time. 
It’s especially a long time if you’re in hell.
And so we need to make sure we’ve got this doctrine right.
Revelation 14:11 says of the people in hell

the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever

Jude 7 says Sodom and Gomorrah 

serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire

One of the traditional Christian teachings is that hell is (1) eternal, (2) conscious, and (3) torment. 
This is probably the mainline Christian teaching in most denominations, but yet, there are a number of Christians who don’t believe hell can last forever. Or if it does, that the people there couldn’t possibly be conscious. And if they are, then it must not be all torment.
And so they come up with alternative doctrines like annihilationism or purgatory- which may not be technically biblical, but they sound a whole lot more palatable to our modern 21st Century mindsets than the uncomfortable view of God sending people to an eternal wrath. 
That sounds a bit over-the-top. Would God really do that? Why would a finite amount of sins deserve an infinite amount of punishment. We gotta figure this out.
Because eternity is way too long to get this hell thing wrong.
I find this doctrine of eternal conscious torment be weird, and I’d like to explore whether it’s in the Bible. 
And also, whether the Book of Enoch might help us to shed a little more light on it.
Turn to Revelation 14, and let’s get weird.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:
https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

0:00 - Introduction
2:00 - Eternity is Too Long to be Wrong
6:15 - Objection 1, Annihilationism
10:40 - Objection 2, Hell isn’t Loving
14:10 - Enoch 2-5
19:05 - Objection 3, Infinite Punishment for Finite Sins
24:15 - Next Time
25:20 - Closing Thoughts

Visit the Weird Stuff store!
https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]
Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Why should you study the book of Enoch? Does it hold any value to our faith walk? Is it ill-advised to read any collection of prophetic writings when it’s not part of the biblical canon?
Well, let’s answer that question with an observation: the book of Jude directly quotes from the book of Enoch.
Jude 14-15 say

14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Perhaps you say, well, Enoch WAS in the Old Testament. And that’s correct. However, that quotation from him was not in the Old Testament. It’s only found in the ancient Book of Enoch.
So why is Jude quoting from prophetic writings that aren’t part of Scripture? And if the prophetic writings are true, then why not include them in Scripture?
I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why this prophecy of Enoch’s is in the Bible and why the rest of his book isn’t. 
Turn to Jude, and let’s get weird.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:
https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

0:00 - Introduction
2:00 - Did Jude Actually Quote Enoch?
10:10 - Peter & Jesus’ history book
14:00 - Why isn’t Enoch part of the Canon?
21:30 - Things to Come

Visit the Weird Stuff store!
https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]
Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

I have studied a fair amount of literature on the world before the flood, but none of it has made that world come alive to me like Brian Godawa’s theological works. He graciously joined me for an interview today to discuss some of his theological foundations; some of the topics discussed include:
- Did “gods” walk among men?
- The Sons of God and the Divine Council
- Michael Heiser’s influence on theology
- The Book of Enoch’s credibility
And a whole lot more! Welcome to a weird new year of the podcast!

Brian Godawa is the author of the Chronicles of the Nephilim series- including Noah Primeval- and a wide variety of other works. Learn about all that he does at Godawa.com

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:
https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Visit the Weird Stuff store!
https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]
Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!