The Bible says, “I said, You are gods” – But is this entirely true?

you are godsI said, You are gods

Many a preacher today teaches that we are gods, or little gods, based on the incorrect interpretation of scripture.  Some are very subtle in the way they teach this message, others come out right and just say it.

The verse they will show you to try prove their point is John 10:34;  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods?

But let me explain what Jesus really meant:

Jesus was in dialogue with the Jews of His day and quoting from the Old Testament Psalms, saying:  “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”‘?  The Jews wanted to stone Jesus for calling God His Father and making Himself equal with God.  So Jesus quotes Pslam 82 to them to show the distinction between himself and those in Pslam 82 who were called ‘gods’.  

Pslam 82 was written AGAINST certain unjust rulers in Israel’s history.  Men of high distinction (Judges/Rulers) were almost seen as gods because of the power they wielded over the nation.  The problem is these men were UNJUST.  Verse 82:2  says:  “How long will you judge unjustly, And showpartiality to the wicked? and verses 6-7 say,  6 “I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High.”  7 But you shall die like men,  And fall like one of the princes.”  So these rulers are not gods, they were given this name by mere men, but were they still children of God?  Yes.  But they will die like everyone else.  So the point Jesus was making was that if unjust rulers can be called gods (by men), how can the Jews who wanted to stone Him object to Him saying that he was the Son of God?

Can you see how easily scripture gets twisted and the next minute you have men and women running around teaching New Age teachings under the banner of Christianity.

BEWARE of ANYONE who tells you that you can be a God or Christ.  When you become a born again Christian you grow to become more Christ-like, you DO NOT become like Christ or a Christ or anything Divine for that matter.  However in Charismatic churches you do; you become a little god – ‘Faith’ becomes an actual force that you wield at your command as you speak things into existence.  This is totally and utterly occult.  The New Age religion believes in something similar, that each person is a god/goddess, they just have not realised it yet – a god trapped in a human body part of a huge cosmos – trying to turn the world into one spiritual tower of Babel.

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD:

1. Deuteronomy 4:35,39 – Unto thee it was shown, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. (39) Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

2. Deuteronomy 6:4 – Hear, O Israel: The LORD thy God is one LORD. [Note in Mark 12:28-34 how Jesus and a Jewish scribe he encountered understood this text.]

3. Deuteronomy32:39 – See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

4. 2 Samuel 7:22 – Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

5. 1 Kings 8:60 – That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

6. 2 KINGS 5:15 – And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know thatthere is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

7. 2 Kings 19:15 – And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

8. 1 Chronicles 17:20 – O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

9. Nehemiah 9:6 – Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou has made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

10. Psalm 18:31 – For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

11. Psalm 86:10 – For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

12. Isaiah 37:16,20 – O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou has made heaven and earth. (20) Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

13. Isaiah43:10,11 – Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am hebefore me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.

14. Isaiah44:6,8 – Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, andI am the last; and beside me there is no God. Fear ye not, neither be afraid; have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

15. Isaiah 45:21 – Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time: who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.

16. Isaiah 46:9 – For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.

17. Hosea 13:4 – Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me; for there is no savior beside me.

18. Joel 2:27 – And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

19. Zechariah 14:9 – And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

20. Mark 12:29-34 -And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth:for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

21. John 17:3 – And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

22. Romans 3:30 – Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

23. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 – As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

24. Galatians 3:20 – Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

25. Ephesians 4:6 – One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

26. 1 Timothy 1:17 – Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

27. 1 Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

28. James 2:19 – Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

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Deborah (Discerning the World)

Deborah Ellish is the author of the above article. Discerning the World is an internet Christian Ministry based in Johannesburg South Africa. Tom Lessing and Deborah Ellish both own Discerning the World. For more information see the About this Website page below the comments section.

44 Responses

  1. blank Chris says:

    I totally agree that man can not be God or even little gods. The Hebrew word used in Ps. 82 is “Elohim” and in this contexts points to mere men who were given the opportunity to represent the office of God as Judges. This office exists only in the minority of believers today and definately not amongst those with a “Judge Not” attitude.

  2. blank charmaine says:

    When you dont know the history of the Jews,you have no idea what you are talking about.When Jesus taught the people he was teaching the Torah,that is the first five books of the old testiment.

  3. Charmaine

    Who has no idea what they are speaking about? Hmm.

  4. blank Burning Lamp says:

    Sorry, but the icon fits.

  5. Yeah I too done research into this issue and discovered Jesus was actually refering to them as Judges who have been given great authority but they abused it.

  6. blank Toner says:

    I´m reeding the bible every day. I don´t no wath is a better helf for me live!

  7. Toner

    Sorry dude, I don’t understand what you are saying, sorry.

  8. blank Apostle Eric vonAnderseck says:

    Eric von Anderseck (leader of cult) – Comment removed due to extreme nature of false teaching – See this article for more info: https://www.discerningtheworld.com/2010/02/28/mystery-christ-blowing-his-trumpet-at-mossel-bay-has-been-identified/

  9. blank Rev. Randy Hildebrand says:

    Thank you so much for this awesome analysis of this Scripture! When I was younger I was involved in the Mormon church for a number of years and this is the precise scripture they too (along with the prosperity preachers) use to justify their position that men can become gods.

  10. blank Steve O says:

    One thing to note is that Jesus does not deny that he is God in the passage. Probably another one of those “you’re judging by mere appearances… make a right judgment” occasions.

    I’m curious what you think though… I believe its an inescapable conclusion, but is it essential for a born-again Christian to believe that Christ is God? Can one be saved without believe this?

  11. Steve O

    >> One thing to note is that Jesus does not deny that he is God in the passage…

    What oh what are you speaking about?

  12. blank Kia says:

    No Steve O. You cannot be born again if you DENY Christ in any way. Jesus & God are one. Jesus says this in the bible. And no one can come unto the Father, but by the Son. So if you deny Christ as being God, you’re denying God point blank, thus making salvation void. It’s the same as denying Jesus and trying to have a relationship with God. It’s impossible without Christ.

  13. blank Joan says:

    You are absolutely correct in saying “There is only one God”

    When we as humans drop our ego, we experience our oneness, our unity with God and all of existence. When it is said that we are Gods, it means that we are all one, and in our most true and basic essence, which is the spirit, we are God, because the spirit is God. If you can prove to me that the spirit that resides in every human being is something other than God, or the breath of God, then you have convinced me that we are not God. Until then any vessel that holds the spirit, the breath of God, is God.

  14. Joan

    So, goddess Joan (with no power except delusions of grandeur). Even after explaining to you the Biblical interpretation of scripture you still CHOOSE the New Age way of believing that you are a god.

    When one is GENUINELY saved you have the Holy Spirit come to abide in you – it does not mean you now BECOME A GOD. That is utter blasphemy. There are only 3 in the Trinity, not the whole earth included. And by having the Holy Spirit come to abide in you you follow STRICT bible teaching, because this is what the Holy Spirit does, His job is to teach us the bible. Now clearly you are not following the bible so you have accepted ANOTHER spirit, one that likes to blaspheme and tell you that you can be on the same level as Jesus Christ the SON OF GOD, or GOD HIMSELF.

    Read this article explaining the differece between how the Biblical Holy Spirit operates vs the unholy Spirit of the New Age Occult operates (which you have accepted into your life)

  15. blank Thomas Matikiti says:

    Hi Deborah – can you please go through this document and let me know what you think http://www.tbm.org/are_we_little_gods.htm

  16. Thomas

    >> can you please go through this document and let me know what you think http://www.tbm.org/are_we_little_gods.htm

    In this article the arthour states, “I am not aware of any true Christian using the term god to mean that we are the Creator as Dave Hunt implies. We are simply creatures made in God’s image endowed with dominion; thus we are “gods” in that sense. Nothing else should be inferred.”

    So there we have it, man has elevated yourself up from being a simple human being to god level which is exactly what Satan wants to you think,

    “Genesis 3:4-5 ” 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

    And I am aware of hundreds of Christians that view their ‘god’ status as being something rather special, some even think that one day they will be able to create planets. Others right now use ‘Faith as a force‘ to command God to do thing for them or that they themselves have Power to do things like bless and curse people. On this authors website he has this: “The Power of Blessing -You have the power to speak life or death over others. Choose to bless others, not curse them” — So he takes the verse of Psamls that is talking about Gossip ONLY and twists it completely to mean something else. I say no more!

    Please read this article to understand biblical dominion vs satanic dominionism (the one that that author follows): Yes, a Future Kingdom, but Not a Kingdom Now

  17. blank cole g says:

    thanks for publishing this!!!! I have always been confused by that reference in scripture!!!

  18. blank Socrates111 says:

    I’m wondering why you try to distance humanity from god, isn’t that one of the great problems of Christianity!God is so high, and men are so lowly,it seems almost impossible for man to appease this biblical God, in two thousand years of Christianity, nothing has changed for the better, and i think this is due to christian theologies emphasizing the unbridgeable gulf between man and god, I do not subscribe to this doctrine, for i believe what Jesus said, ”ye are gods”if a father distances himself from his children,they will not be able to know him,and will struggle through life without his support, and so the church maintains this false doctrine of separation from God as a means to there own survival, please lighten up a little.

  19. Socrates111

    One of the greatest problems of Christianity is people like yourself preaching false doctrine. I have clearly given biblical verses to explain that there is only ONE God, and when we become born again we become children of God. If you do not like this BIBLICAL FACT or Godly pecking order, then you are doing the exact same thing Satan did, by wanting to be on the same level as God. And what happened to Satan when he tried to be on the same level as God? God kicked him out. The same will happen to you.

    1John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God [children of God]: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

    God is God the Father for a reason, because we are His children. And notice His love for His children. If you do not know His love, then you are not saved and need to read this:

  20. blank Paula says:

    If anyone says, I love God, but hates the brothers or sisters, he is a liar…Whoever loves God must also love the brothers and sisters. I John 3:20, 21

    But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. Luke 6:27-32

    Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth… Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy… Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matt 5:5-9.

    Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for those who live by the sword, die by the sword. Matt 26:52.

    But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35

    Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10

    Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

    Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

    Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.1 Peter 4-8

    Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4-7

    There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:18-19

    And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:14

    The words of Jesus Christ, Himself. His message was love and we were commanded to do it.

  21. Paula

    Seriously? LOL, by what psychic medium do you operate by that you can declare that I do not love. Who told you I do not love my brothers and sister in Jesus Christ? Do you have a special gift that no one else has that you can make that judgement about me? I mean really. The reason why I MAKE SURE people understand scripture CORRECTLY is because I LOVE my brothers and sisters and love Jesus Christ. However, people who do not want scripture to be read correctly, people who like it when they can just make up their own minds as to what it should be are the real HATERS, they HATE Jesus and they HATE GOD, they are lovers of self instead.

  22. blank Paula says:

    I wrote Christ’s words. That’s all. The Christ we both love and serve. We are to love each other. That’s all. Love to you in Christ.

  23. blank Paula says:

    [delete]

  24. Paula

    Understand this, you can quote out of the bible all day long, it wont make what you are trying to say be true. Yes, Jesus’ words are true, but your intentions are not.

  25. blank Paula says:

    [Edited by DTW – Your intentions were to tell me that I am unloving by using scripture. This is a downright lie on your part.]

  26. blank Robbie says:

    Like here Paula.

    Do you think this went down with a smile?
    … Yet Jesus loved these enough to die for them.
    Below are other instances where Jesus expressed anger in word or deed. He rebuked, corrected, cursed, suffered, wept…

    Want to correct Him?

    Joh 11:35 Jesus wept. – You think He was cracking Himself through His tears?

    Addressing the Pharisees
    Matthew 23

    Healing the Man with the Withered Hand
    Mark 3

    Rebuking Peter
    Mark 3

    Predicting the Passion
    Mark 8

    Cursing the Fig Tree and Cleansing the Temple
    Mark 11

    Blessing the Children
    Mark 10

    Curing a Demoniac
    Mark 1

  27. blank Robbie says:

    Paula

    The Bible says showing compassion only works for some… for the rest.

    Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
    Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

    You have the wrong interpretation of biblical love Paula. If you love someone, tell them the truth. When it hurts, would you call it a loveless deed? You see, we would forsake the truth for the sake of “peace”. That “peace” is the false one that widens the road to hell and on which the Emergents wants you to travel.

    Did Jesus smile when His words were twisted and His Father mocked… or when He was on the cross? I doubt it.. but God says – one day,
    “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;” Pro 1:26

    In the meantime Paula there is a war.
    God also hates, but He loves us enough to include us as His… IF we get saved.
    You see, it is not hell that should scare you, it is His wrath.

  28. blank S 500 L says:

    People should read the bible for themselves first, and do it open-mindedly. They should not rely on Church council’s decrees nor on catechism to decide what it tells them.

    Here, the matter is that, Jesus added that we are all children of the Most Hight to his words that we are gods. This addition ends all speculations as to what he meant. He meant we are gods on the strength of

    being God’s children; this is our essence. Detractors cannot escape the implication they make. If Jesus meant gods methaphorically as an exaggeration of the image of the judges, at that time, then the only

    children of God must be the judges to whom he was speaking these things. I don’t think either camp believes that. Some differentiate the children from their Father quite drastically.

    You being with the mindset you are abject and lowly have you ever wondered why Jesus said ‘your faith made thee whole…according to your faith be it unto you’ But, he didn’t say I made thee whole nor

    according to me be it unto you. He also didn’t heal many because of their unbelief.
    He seems to seek our part in every thing; he seeks our cooperation.

    Look at this passage.

    “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be

    done for them. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so

    that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

    Isn’t that mind creates matter? You can get whatsoever if you believe that you have already gotten it, at that, unconditionally. When you believe something you create it, because you are God’s extension. Why do you think God’s

    name is I AM but not some other name? Why is it so important to forgive other people before we ask/create our reality? It is so because if we do not do it we shall will into existence all the grudge and hate into

    our life along with the good things we ask for, providing we believe we have them.(You reap what you sow) That’s why verse 25 suitably fallows the preceding words.

    In one passage we were told the kingdom of God is within us, whilst in another, we were told to seek first the kingdom of God in order for us to be added every thing we want. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Oh, Abraham was justified by his belief, perchance.

    In my opinion, no hermeneutics can reconcile certain bible passages, so it’s better for us to keep seeking. Why don’t we start off with some extra biblical source that is chronologically close to Jesus Christ’s time on earth?

  29. S 500 L wrote:

    Here, the matter is that, Jesus added that we are all children of the Most Hight to his words that we are gods. This addition ends all speculations as to what he meant. He meant we are gods on the strength of

    being God’s children; this is our essence. Detractors cannot escape the implication they make. If Jesus meant gods methaphorically as an exaggeration of the image of the judges, at that time, then the only

    children of God must be the judges to whom he was speaking these things. I don’t think either camp believes that. Some differentiate the children from their Father quite drastically.

    The phrase “children of God” is not used in the spiritual sense of the word. It is used more in the sense as Paul used it in Acts 17.

    Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:29-31)

    Paul addressed heathens and yet called them the “offspring” (“stock”) of God.

    The judges in the Old Testament were representatives of God and as such they had the same authority as God to judge someone unto life or death (by stoning). The same thing was said of Moses.

    And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land (Exodus 7:1-2)

    It simply means that the judges and Moses were given the authority to speak and act on behalf of God. It does not mean that they were gods.

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