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It is highly unlikely that the "sons of God" in Gen. 6:2 & 6:4 were angels. That phrase is used to describe celestial beings in Job 1:6, 2:1 and 38:7 (though the NIV substitutes the word angels there). The Biblical view of angels though excludes the behavior and outcome described in Genesis 6 (marrying human women and producing offspring). Jesus, in describing the resurrection of the dead, said: "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." (Luke 20:34-36 NKJV) So Jesus both excludes angels marrying, as contrary to their very nature, and pronounces those "counted worthy" as being "sons of God." Paul likewise states that "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Rom 8:14 NKJV) (see also Gal. 3:26, Rom. 8:19, Matt. 5:9 and Psalm 82:6/John 10:34-35). The only context in Genesis itself for determining who the "sons of God" and "daughters of men" are in chapter 6 is the description of two lineages with very different values and pursuits in Genesis 4. There is the lineage of Cain, 4:16-24, which excelled in physical pursuits including technology, music, arts, animal husbandry, city building and such corollaries as competition, vengeance, violence, and polygamy. We're told that Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah (Gen. 4:22), a name that means "loveliness" (BDB lexicon). The other lineage is briefly mentioned, that of Seth in whose time "men began to call on the name of the LORD." (Genesis 4:25-26). It seems most likely, given that angels are spirits (Hebrews 1:14) and not beings of flesh and blood that we are looking at two categories of humans who came together (after a period of seperation) "when men began to increase in number on the earth" (Genesis 6:1). The two categories were the descendants of Cain who pursued physical excellence (in various ways) and the descendants of Seth who pursued service to God. The people of faith (sons of God) were attracted to and seduced by the beauty of the "daughters of men" and the resulting mingling brought about further degradation of the human situation. Note that God was not perplexed with angels in Genesis 6:3, but with mortal man. One of the circumstances that accompanied the mingling of the lineages was a group of humans with unusual characteristics, called Nephilim (Genesis 6:4). They were "heroes of old, men of renown." After the flood people with similar characteristics arose again (see Numbers 13:33, and then Deut. 2:10-11, 20, 1 Chron. 20:4-8). It is possible that the robust physical size and power of the Nephilim (Anakites and Rephaites) were the characteristics that today are identified as Neanderthal.
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