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Can you give an example of when Seth's line is called righteous? – Mr. Bultitude Feb 18 '15 at 21:05
Here's just a few: 1 2 3 – curiousdannii Feb 18 '15 at 21:33









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I don't think anyone argues that all of Seth's line was blameless. The argument is that Seth's line had special favor from God, Cain's line did not, and that the rebellion of Seth's line was (or was caused by) intermarriage with Cain's offspring.

Matthew Henry comments on the circumstances leading to the Flood:


Earlier, he comments on the births of Seth and Enosh:


Though we don't learn too much about most of Cain's line or Seth's, some significant things are mentioned about the three generations of Seth's line just before Noah. Enoch "walked with God" and was taken away. His son Methuselah was the longest-lived man ever; longevity is strongly associated with blessing. His son Lamech prophesied that Noah would bring "rest," indicating that he was weary of the sin around (and perhaps within) him.

In 2 Samuel 7:14 God says David will be his "son." In the New Testament, the elect are often called "sons" or "children" of God. In the Old Testament, it's well-known that the elect line was through Abraham, then through Isaac. Those who say Seth's line was "righteous" would say that it's not a stretch to consider that line to have begun with Seth.

To drive the point home, the sin of God's people (or his "children") intermarrying with pagans is a huge theme in the Old Testament after the flood. Over and over Israel is punished for marrying Canaanites or chastised for taking Egyptian or Edomite or Moabite wives. Over and over Israelites' unbelieving spouses tempt them to the sin of idolatry. In the New Testament Paul pleads with the Corinthians not to be "unequally yoked." Is it really a stretch to believe that it would also be a grievous sin before the flood?

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Sorry, but that's all speculation, and poor speculation IMO. Nothing says that Seth walked in the steps of Abel. We have two examples on righteousness in one line (Enoch and Noah) and one example of gross evil in the other (Lamech). We don't know anything about any of the others really, except that Noah was the only "blameless" one, at a time when his father and grandfather were still alive. Not even his father Lamech's prophesy is evidence of Godliness, it could have been spoken in pride against God. – curiousdannii May 6 '15 at 21:30
@curiousdannii It's not all speculation, and whether it's "poor" or not isn't the point of the question, unless it's a Truth question. I don't think a plain reading of Lamech's words supports your speculation about Lamech's motives, either. Regardless, the speculation in my answer is largely Matthew Henry's. Whether it's poor or not is a different matter than whether it's actually why people say what they do about Seth's line. – Mr. Bultitude Sep 23 '15 at 20:07
But I really want to make sure you haven't missed that the first sentence of my answer is a refutation of your premise. You ask Is there any evidence in the Bible to say that the rest of his ancestors were righteous rather than just being sinful like everyone else? and say I think the idea the whole line was [blameless] is misleading. My point is, that's not what people mean when they call the line "righteous." Rather, the argument says, "Seth's line had special favor from God, Cain's line did not, and Seth's line rebelled by intermarrying with Cain's offspring." – Mr. Bultitude Sep 23 '15 at 20:09
And I don't think you've shown any evidence that Seth's line was favoured. The evidence only says that isolated individuals were righteous, and blanket statements of humanity's depravity. – curiousdannii Sep 24 '15 at 0:06



Cain Side:


Seth Side:







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This is related to alternate interpretation of Genesis 6:4




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protected by Community Jan 20 at 12:59


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