Are demons actually the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim?

from the old testament

• The Nephilim in Genesis 6 were likely the offspring of humans and fallen angels. If human, these Nephilim would have all died during the flood of Noah's time, yet the Bible mentions Nephilim living after the flood (Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33).
• Demons are fallen angels, those who rebelled against God, like Satan, sometime prior to the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 28; Isaiah 14).

from the new testament

• Ephesians 6:12 speaks of the spiritual battle Christians face with such demons, saying, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." As with Satan, however, these demonic powers are limited in their ability. They can only operate as God allows. In addition, the power within the believer in Christ is greater than Satan or his demons (1 John 4:4).
• Jesus will crush Satan underneath His feet (Romans 16:20), along with defeating Satan's demonic army. They will be judged with eternal separation from God, tormented forever in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
• For now, Satan roams the earth (1 Peter 5:8) and so do demons (see Mark 1:23–27; Matthew 8:28–34; Luke 8:2; Matthew 9:32–34; Mark 9:14–29; Luke 4:33–36; Matthew 12:22–28; Luke 8:26–39; Mark 5:1–20; Matthew 17:14–20; Luke 11:14–26; Mark 7:24–30).
• Regarding the demons being the disembodied spirits of Nephilim, that comes from a misinterpretation of 1 Peter 3:18-20 and Jude 1:6. First Peter 3:18-20 states, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water." Some people say Jesus went and preached to fallen angels and that “demons” must be something else, like the Nephilim’s spirits. However, Satan is not currently imprisoned (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8), so why would all the other angels be imprisoned? It makes more sense that the spirits in prison are the fallen angels who participated in the specific rebellion described in Genesis 6.

implications for today

The question of whether demons are the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim invites us to reflect on the nature of spiritual warfare and our understanding of evil. Spiritual opposition often looks like persistent feelings of doubt, fear, and confusion that can hinder our faith and decision-making. It may appear as a relentless stream of negative thoughts, temptations to compromise our values, or overwhelming circumstances that challenge our peace. This opposition can also come through interpersonal conflicts, where misunderstandings and strife disrupt relationships and lead us to isolation. Additionally, spiritual opposition might present itself in moments of discouragement, where we feel unworthy or incapable of fulfilling our purpose. Recognizing these signs helps us realize that this is a spiritual battle and that we need God. God has given us tools like prayer, Scripture study, worship music, praise, and community support to turn to Him and find strength in Him. By acknowledging the presence of spiritual threats, we remain vigilant and rooted in Him, ultimately cultivating resilience in God against any forces that seek to disrupt our faith.