A former Bible translator, Mauro Biglino, claims that his research indicates the original Hebrew Bible texts may refer to groups of alien beings rather than a singular God, and that individuals within the Vatican are aware of and monitoring his work. Biglino, who previously translated biblical texts for Edizioni San Paolo, a Catholic publishing house with Vatican ties, asserts that certain Hebrew words in scripture can be interpreted as descriptions of multiple supernatural entities and even ancient spacecraft.
He told the Daily Mail that reliable sources suggest figures within the Vatican have been observing his research and discussing its implications in theological circles. Biglino, a proponent of the 'ancient alien' theory, posits that advanced beings visited Earth in antiquity and were perceived as deities by ancient cultures. He specifically argues that the Hebrew word 'Elohim' denotes multiple beings, not one God, and that passages in the book of Ezekiel describe advanced technology, including flying vehicles.
Biglino further alleges that factions within the Vatican, encompassing historians, archaeologists, and scientists, are cognizant that the Bible might present a narrative differing from traditional religious teachings. He stated that many are aware the Hebrew Bible offers a more complex portrayal than typically presented in religious education.
However, Biglino's interpretations are disputed by mainstream biblical scholars. They explain that 'Elohim,' while grammatically plural, can refer to the singular God of Israel depending on grammatical context. Scholars generally view Ezekiel's visions as symbolic religious imagery, not literal accounts of spacecraft or extraterrestrial visitors.
Biglino's argument is based on the plural form of 'Elohim' and biblical passages that mention 'assemblies' or 'councils' of divine beings. He also points to figures like Yahweh, Elyon, and Shaddai, traditionally understood as referring to the same God, as potential evidence of multiple powerful entities. He notes that these figures are described as traveling, holding councils, dividing territories, forming alliances, and governing populations, behaving more like physical rulers than an omniscient, eternal deity. Biglino also highlighted Psalm 82, where God presides over an assembly of divine beings and warns they will 'die like mortals,' and Deuteronomy 32, which describes nations being divided among higher powers, as support for his view of multiple powerful beings.
Mainstream theology typically interprets such figures as spiritual beings subordinate to the God of Israel. While acknowledging that 'Elohim' is plural in form, scholars point out it is often paired with singular verbs when referring to Israel's God, supporting a singular meaning in those instances. Biglino also references the Hebrew word 'kavod,' often translated as 'glory,' which he argues is associated with weight and physical substance. He claims that in Exodus and Ezekiel, 'kavod' arrives, departs, moves through space, and produces noise, fire, and light, behaving like a physically present entity.
Biglino believes his theory presents a more significant challenge to Catholic teaching than the potential existence of extraterrestrial life. While the Vatican Observatory has publicly discussed the possibility of extraterrestrial life, Biglino predicts the Church would likely frame any aliens as creations of the same universal God. He suggests that discussions about non-human beings visiting Earth in the past and interacting with ancestors, potentially mistaken for gods, pose a far greater theological challenge than the existence of life elsewhere in the universe.