Former Bible translator Mauro Biglino says his research into original Hebrew scriptures shows they describe groups of alien beings rather than one God. The Italian scholar also claims that figures within the Vatican are closely monitoring his work.
Biglino translated biblical texts for Edizioni San Paolo, a major Catholic publishing house linked to the Vatican. He told the Daily Mail that reliable sources informed him that figures within the Vatican are discussing his findings in theological circles.
However, Biglino provided no evidence that the Vatican is tracking him or considering action against his work. "Given the reach of my publications... I believe it is highly probable that, sooner or later, [the Vatican] will intervene in some way," he claimed.
Biglino is a proponent of the ancient alien theory, which suggests advanced beings visited Earth in the past and were mistaken for deities. He further alleged that Vatican historians, archaeologists, and scientists are fully aware that the Bible may contain a story different from religious teachings.
"Many of them are fully aware that the Hebrew Bible presents a much more complex picture than the simplified version generally offered in religious teaching," Biglino said.
Mainstream Biblical Scholarship and Hebrew Grammar
Mainstream biblical scholars reject Biglino's conclusions about extraterrestrial activity in scripture. They explain that the Hebrew word Elohim can be grammatically plural while referring to the singular God of Israel, depending on the surrounding language.
Scholars also interpret visions in Ezekiel as symbolic religious imagery rather than literal descriptions of spacecraft or alien visitors. Although Elohim is plural in form, it is frequently paired with singular verbs when referring to Israel's God, supporting a singular meaning in those passages.
Biglino bases his argument on Elohim and biblical passages describing councils of divine beings. He also points to names like Yahweh, Elyon, and Shaddai as possible evidence of multiple powerful entities.
Biglino told the Daily Mail that mainstream theology treats such figures as spiritual beings, angels, or manifestations of one transcendent God. "My approach is different because I begin with the Hebrew words, their grammar and the concrete actions attributed to the biblical protagonists," he explained.
Biblical Passages and Physical Descriptions of Beings
Biglino argued that the Elohim behave like physical rulers who travel, hold councils, divide territory, forge alliances, fight wars, and govern populations. "They eat, drink, rest and experience emotions such as anger, jealousy and fear. Above all, they are not described as immortal," he said.
To support his theory, Biglino highlighted Psalm 82, where God presides over an assembly of divine beings and warns they will die like mortals. He also cited Deuteronomy 32, which describes nations being divided among higher powers.
Neither passage mentions extraterrestrial technology or alien species. Scholars view the figures as spiritual beings subordinate to the God of Israel.
Nevertheless, Biglino argues Vatican specialists have considered whether ancient texts preserve records of nonhuman intelligences. He believes his claims pose a larger challenge to Catholic doctrine than discovering life elsewhere in the universe.
Theological Challenges and Scientific Terminology
While the Vatican Observatory has publicly discussed extraterrestrial life, Biglino predicted the Catholic Church would view any alien discovery as part of God's creation. "Asking whether microbial or intelligent life may exist on another planet is relatively unproblematic for theology," he noted.
"Asking whether non-human beings came to Earth in the past, interacted with our ancestors and were subsequently identified as 'gods' is far more challenging," Biglino said.
Biglino said his interpretation developed while translating 17 books of the Old Testament for a Catholic publisher. He specifically pointed to the Hebrew word kavod, traditionally translated as glory, which he connects to weight and physical substance.
In Exodus and Ezekiel, Biglino claims the kavod moves through space, produces noise, fire, and light, and can cause physical harm. "In these contexts, it behaves like something physically present," he stated, adding that ancient writers used available vocabulary to describe superior technology.
Biglino predicted the Church would adapt its teachings if governments ever confirm advanced nonhuman beings, stating it could view them as creatures of God. However, mainstream scholars maintain that linguistic ambiguity in ancient Hebrew does not prove the Bible describes aliens or machines.
