Home
What's New
Cults
Escaping the Cult
Apologetics
Current Trends
Bible Doctrines
Bible Explanations
Ecumenism
Emergent church
Prophecy
Latter Rain
Word Faith
Popular Teachers
Pentecostal Issues
Trinity / Deity
World  Religions
New Age Movement
Book Reviews
Testimonies
Web Directory
Tracts for witnessing
Books
Audio 
Video
Web Search
The Persecuted Church

 

For printing  our articles please copy the web page by highlighting  the text first - then click copy in the browser-  paste the article into a word  program on your computer. When the text is transferred into word, click to save or print.      

 

 

 

 

                            

Are we gods?

John 10:33-36 The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods" '? "If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?

 so are we to believe that Jesus did not believe there is one God but many and that they are men? Jesus was God was he confused thinking other men are gods too?

The answer is far more simple than those who want to think more highly of themselves would like. Prior to this portion of Scripture that New wagers Mormons and heretics quote to exalt their own nature

Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?"

The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God" (John 10:32-33)

Jesus identified himself as the son of God (singular, unique) this is why they picked up stones, yet they did not say because he is one of many gods but he is making himself to be God, singular.

Jesus as the Son of God, has a unique relationship to the Father that no other has. In Jn.10 Jesus is responding to the Jewish leaders who had accused Him of blasphemy, he is speaking to the Pharisees. Is Jesus saying the Pharisees are gods? They were his enemies who did not believe in Christ being the Son of God.

Jesus is mocking them by calling them gods (this is a tongue and cheek expression). But you do not recognize THE God among you; because the Pharisees were blinded to who Jesus truly was.

The verse Jesus quoted in Ps.82 has the word elohim for god which can also mean rulers or judges especially in the human sense. What Jesus was saying is that God appointed these men to be rulers but they are unable to recognize his rulership which is supreme over them.

The word elohim is used for God, false gods, men and angels. It is never used for creatures (man or angels) to state they are God as YHWH is God. Psalms 96:5 and Psalms 97:7 the "worthless idols" of the pagans are referred to as "elohim." Jesus’ intent is to portray them as rulers of certain positions in the world. elohim is applied to an aspect of God. As God is to be ruler and judge over the people, He installed human rulers to do the same (see Deut.19:17-18). God called the unrighteous judges of Israel “gods” (elohim). The Psalm Jesus is quoting is a put-down of corrupt judges and leaders who were abusing their authority and he is using it with irony. The word Judges is found in Ex.21:22; 22:8-9 it is Ha Elohim (other scriptures of how the acted are found in Deut.1:16; 16:18; 25:1; 2 Sam.11:7). 

Psalm 82:1-8 “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked. They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are unstable. I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit all nations.”

Often when Jesus quoted a verse the people knew of the surrounding verses. As v.5 says “They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.”

They are rulers God gave with authority. But they were not ruling over the people correctly, showing partiality to the wicked and neglected defending the weak. He is conveying that if unjust judges are called to rule with power and authority, how much more the Son of God whose authority they willfully rejected. They were given authority to rule by God but they would not bow to God’s authority. They refused to recognize who was among them who called himself the Son of God.

Jesus is being sarcastic in a way only those familiar with the Scripture would understand. They accused the only man who ever could legitimately call Himself “God” of blasphemy. And Jesus' response is if God called men “gods,” (rulers) then Jesus is not blaspheming if indeed He is God. This was all done according to the Scripture. Jesus’ point is that the word of God cannot be broken (v.35) and then points out he was sent into the world by the Father and called himself the Son of God. So He could not be blaspheming.

Since the Bible teaches us there is only one true God, Any creature, by its nature, disqualifies itself from being God. The only creature that exalted itself to claim to be a God, is Lucifer. All others that claim this follow in his footsteps. Considering this quote in the gospel of John upholds the deity of Christ, it makes this even more severe that men would take this out of the context and apply it to themselves.

Copyright (c) 2010 No portion of this site is to be copied or used unless kept in its original format in the way it appears. Articles can be reproduced in portions for ones personal use, any other use is to have the permission of the author first. Thank You.

If you would like to Support

 

We would like to hear from you. Please send us an e- mail and let us know how we can be of  more help. Our time is valuable just as yours is. Please keep in mind, we only have time to answer sincere inquiries. We will use discretion in answering any letters. 

NOTE: we do not accept attachments,  please send the mail viewable in email.