What does the Bible mean by “you are gods” in Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34? | GotQuestions.org

Psalm 82 and Jesus’ Use of “You Are Gods”

Today's question is, what does the Bible mean by, you are gods, in Psalm 82 .6 and John 10 .34? In this video I'll answer that question from a biblical perspective. Then afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.

Psalm 82 .6 reads, I said, you are gods, you are all sons of the Most High. But you will die like mere mortals, you will fall like every other ruler. In John 10, Jesus cites Psalm 82 .6 and repeats the statement that you are gods.

The context is a confrontation between Jesus and the Jews at the festival of dedication. They ask Him to reveal plainly if He is the Messiah, John 10 .24. Jesus responds that His actions prove He is the Messiah, and then He claims equality with God by saying, I and the Father are one, John 10 .30.

At that, the Jews pick up stones to stone Him for blasphemy, but Jesus reasons with them by quoting Psalm 82 .6, Is it not written in your law, I have said, you are gods? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came and Scripture cannot be set aside, what about the one whom the Father set apart as His very own and sent into the world?

John 10 .34–36. Who are the gods of Psalm 82 .6 and what exactly is Jesus' point in saying you are gods in John 10 .34? Let's start with a look at Psalm 82, the psalm that Jesus quotes in John 10 .34.

The Meaning of Elohim in Psalm 82

The Hebrew word translated gods in Psalm 82 .6 is Elohim. The term Elohim is most frequently used to refer to the one true God, but it does have other uses. Yahweh is referred to as the Elohim above all Elohim, Psalm 95, verse 3.

Other uses of the term Elohim include spiritual beings such as angels, demons, idols, and gods of foreign nations and the disembodied dead. The Hebrew word Elohim is also translated judges in Exodus 21, verse 6, chapter 22, verse 8, verse 9, and verse 28.

Whom then does God call gods in Psalm 82, verse 6? There are two main views. First, the gods are supernatural beings who rule under God. Psalm 82, verse 1 says, God presides in the great assembly. He gives judgment among the gods.

In the Hebrew, the phrase translated great assembly speaks of a divine congregation or a divine council. Some interpret this passage as God warning that those in the divine council who continue making unjust decisions will die like mere mortals and fall like all other rulers, Psalm 82, verse 2 and verses 6 -8.

God created hell for Satan and his angels, and we know He will bring justice to them at the right time. They will fall like mere mortals. The second main view is the gods of Psalm 82 are human magistrates, judges, and rulers who haven't granted authority in the earth.

In this view, the whole point of Psalm 82 is that earthly judges must act with impartiality and true justice, because even judges must stand someday before the judge. Psalm 82, verse 6 and verse 7 warn human magistrates that they too must be judged.

I said, you are gods, you are all sons of the Most High, but you will die like mere men, you will fall like every other ruler. According to this view, God has appointed men to positions of authority in which they are considered as gods among the people, see Exodus 7, verse 1.

Calling a human magistrate a god indicates three things. First, he has authority over other human beings. Second, the power he wields as a civil authority is to be feared. And third, he derives his power and authority from God Himself, who is pictured as judging the whole earth in Psalm 82, verse 8.

Human rulers are to remember that even though they are representing God in this world, they are mortal and must eventually give an account to God for how they use that authority. Now, let's look at how Jesus uses this passage.

Jesus’ Defense of His Claim to Be the Son of God

When Jesus quotes Psalm 82, He says that the statement, you are gods, was directed to those to whom the Word of God came, John 10, verse 35. That is, those who received the message of God were called gods.

Jesus had just claimed to be the Son of God, John 10, verses 25 -30. The unbelieving Jews responded by charging Jesus with blasphemy since He claimed to be God, verse 33. Jesus then quotes Psalm 82, verse 6, and says, if He called them gods to whom the Word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, what about the one whom the Father set apart as His very own and sent into the world?

Jesus' point is this. You charge me with blasphemy based on my use of the title Son of God. Yet your own Scriptures apply the same term to those besides God. If those who hold a divinely appointed office or those who have a divine position in the spiritual realm can be considered gods, how much more can the one whom God has chosen and sent?

Why Mormonism Cannot Use Psalm 82 and John 10 to Teach Godhood

Mormonism uses these texts as proof texts to show the eventual divinity of man. However, neither of these passages is proof that man can attain godhood. We must beware of the lie that the serpent used to deceive Eve in the garden, "'Your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God.'" Genesis 3, verse 5.

This was a half-truth. Their eyes were opened, verse 7, but they did not become like God. In fact, they lost authority rather than gaining it. Satan deceived Eve about her ability to become like the one true God and so led her into a lie.

Jesus defended His claim to be the Son of God on biblical and semantic grounds. There is a sense in which influential men and spiritual beings can be referred to as gods. Therefore, the Messiah can rightly apply the term to Himself.

Human beings are not gods or little gods. They will never become gods. God is God, and we who know Christ are His children. Want to learn more? Subscribe so you don't miss the next video! Visit GotQuestions .org for more great content.

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