It is the story of The Watchers (Daniel 4:15-17, ESV; 1 Enoch 1:4-6) that brings power to bear on the epic story found in scripture. Why? Because it directly exposes and then indicts fallen divine beings along with their demonic hordes. Knowing who the Watchers are, what they did, and the impact on humanity as well as the judgment of God against them—these things allow us to strip the powers of darkness of their cloak, putting them to the open shame they have rightfully earned and deserve!
Personally, I have read the Book of Romans hundreds of times over the last 40 years. Only now, after knowing the story of the sin of the Watchers, do I finally see them emblazoned across these words penned by Paul in about 56-57 AD. Let us proceed carefully and thoughtfully in, starting in verse 18 and exploring until the end of the chapter.
Setting the Stage
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
In the wider context, Paul is writing to the church at Rome from Corinth. His greeting to them speaks of his longing to come to them and insinuates clearly that he has never been face to face with them. As such, Paul is about to lay out a very clear presentation of the Good News of Christ Jesus. He begins by juxtaposing the righteous against the unrighteous.
The passage so far has Paul starting from creation and rolling forward. He ends with a transparent call-out to idolatry. Somewhere here, a choice has been made and a consequence suffered because of it. For those who are familiar with the three rebellions in scripture, you may already know very well which rebellion is telegraphed. For those who are yet unaware—the rebellion being pointed at is Genesis 11 and the Tower of Babel incident.
Rebellion Clues
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
The clues all center around the "God gave them up" phrases in each of the passages shown. For those knowing the story of the Watchers, the first and most damning sin the sons of God is that they defiled themselves with human women (Genesis 6:1-4; 1 Enoch 6:1-6). Thus—the root sin was sexual deviancy of heavenly beings with human beings. Human beings then took up this banner sin as they were given over to the control of other divine beings of God's divine council in Genesis 11 (see Psalm 82:1).
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
The historical record of sexual deviancy in post-Genesis 11 history from both the Bible and extra-biblical sources is a matter of record. The gods (fallen divine beings, formerly God's divine council members) and their underlings pressed humanity deep into sexual sin. This link is further strengthened in passages like the book of Jude.
6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, He has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
As we continue, I can hope that you are starting to see the clear connections between Genesis 6:1-4, Genesis 11, Romans 1, and Jude 1. We would only find more strength if we were to include Peter and other instances of Enochian Watcher linkage. The strong point is that the apostles used the sins of the Watchers story as the backdrop fuel for their indictments of both the Watchers and those who follow them. Once you see it, you cannot unsee it and the story is stunning.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Finally, we see that the sexual sin and deviance of the Watchers as well as the uptake of the practice by their human followers becomes the gateway drug to all manner of unrighteousness. As Paul providentially states it—"They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice."
At this point, what is left to write? We could most likely tease more and more from this passage, but I hope that the point is clear: Paul was steeped in the Enochian story and used it along with others as a driving force to expose and indict the gods and their demons. This was an essential part of bringing the Good News of Christ to the Jews first and also the nations. By doing so, the gods were exposed and naked before the Church of Christ, empowered by His righteousness and Spirit!
Final Further Proof
There is one final way to understand the worldview of first century Christians—both Paul, the twelve, and others: Remember, Paul is writing to a church; the Church at Rome. These are believers. These are disciples. They have already understood the Enochian story of the Watchers, or at least Paul assumes they have. Paul's strong assumption speaks to the standard inclusion of the sin of the Watchers story as a defacto tactic and strategy in the preaching of the Gospel!
If, in fact, Paul had any expectation that his audience did not know the Enochian Watcher story, he most likely would have filled in those gaps in his letter. The fact that he could simply drop in the common references and march forward with his thoughts demonstrates the penetration and deep use of the Watcher story in the early church. This is especially interesting because Rome was the seat of the gods and goddesses of Rome. Thus, Paul's dependency on the disciples in Rome knowing the story tells of its power and use—even in the seat of power in one of the most powerful empires in the world at that time!