I have said, ‘You are GODS'

[tonychanyt]

There was this confrontation between some Jews and Jesus in John 10:

30 "I and the Father are one.”

Jesus claimed to be one with the Father.

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

They accused Jesus of blasphemy. To me, that's a reasonably valid point of contention from the Jews.

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?

What was Jesus doing here saying that "you are gods"? He couldn't be serious, could he?

Picking up on the word "god", Jesus cited Psalm 82:6 "You are gods; you are all sons of the most high". Jesus pointed out this precedence in the OT. The gods were God's representatives or delegates. God gave them authority to judge (Ps 82:2). These 'gods' were judges.

35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

Jesus was making a comparison. Those people were called "gods" by the Scripture. What about Jesus, who was specially set apart by the Father? If the Scripture (Ps 82:6) called the sons of the Most High judges 'gods', how much more Jesus could call himself the son of God. Jesus didn't even say that he was God but only that he was the Son of God. Why do you guys (the Jews) make a big deal about blasphemy on this?

In case the Jews would not accept this How-Much-More argument, Jesus added more evidence:

37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

Even with this extra argument, they didn't accept Jesus. Again, Jesus claimed to be one with the Father.

39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

I tell you: if I were a Jew at this time listening to this, I too would have trouble believing Jesus' incredible claims.

What was Jesus talking about in John when he said everybody was a god?

Jesus didn't say that everybody was god. He pointed out that in the Old Testament, a particular group of sons of the Most High judges were called gods. Given that, relatively speaking, the Jews should not be surprised that Jesus claimed to be the son of God. However, the bigger claim that Jesus was one with the Father was tough for the Jews, or anyone, to swallow. Today, Christians do not have so much trouble with that claim because of the hindsight of the Cross.

Ps 82:

6 I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; 7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”

These gods could die.

See also

• God is the judge of judges: Ps 82

 

[One God and Father of All]

Berean Standard Bible, Psalm 82:


The psalm opened with seemingly a scene in heaven.

Strong's Hebrew: 430. אֱלֹהִים (elohim) — 2598 Occurrences


These so-called gods were human judges on earth.


They were corrupt judges.


These gods are God's representatives. They were humans holding the office of judges appointed by God.


They were supposed to represent God and render judgments according to God's justice.


God could not rely on human judges to deliver his judgments. Eventually, God will judge everyone himself.

What’s interesting is the Jews said Jesus was making himself equal with God by claiming he was the son of God. But Jesus said that the judges of old were called Elohim and sons of God so why couldn’t he be referred to as the same?

Would it be blasphemy to be called Elohim and sons of God if the men who whom the word of God had come could be called Elohim and sons of God?

it seems to be simply a matter of knowing that there is only one true God.

 

[One God and Father of All]

Why would Jesus say he was Elohim and son of God if they didn't even know that the judges of old, who were men, could be called Elohim? But he didn’t reply he was Elohim but just son of God. Perhaps if they could get what son of God means they might get how Jesus can be called Elohim.
All believers are his brethren and sons of God because they believe it was he through whom the word of God has come.
it seems that all believers can be called Elohim and sons of God. But they only have one Lord, Jesus. and only one God, the Father..
So, just as Jesus has one Elohim, so do the believers have one Elohim. Jesus is the Elohim of Elohim and Lord of lords. Excepting the Father of course, who is the Father of all.

Blessed be the Elohim, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[One God and Father of All]

Would it be correct to say Jesus is Gods of Gods?

I don’t think so, because Jesus is not multiple persons but only one person.

Makes more sense to say Jesus is God(singular)of gods(many).

without denying that Jesus himself has a God(singular)…the Father (singular) of all.

 

[Reasonably Sane]

Berean Standard Bible, Psalm 82:


The psalm opened with seemingly a scene in heaven.

Strong's Hebrew: 430. אֱלֹהִים (elohim) — 2598 Occurrences


These so-called gods were human judges on earth.


They were corrupt judges.


These gods are God's representatives. They were humans holding the office of judges appointed by God.


They were supposed to represent God and render judgments according to God's justice.


God could not rely on human judges to deliver his judgments. Eventually, God will judge everyone himself.

Psalm 82 is what opened the late Dr. Michael Heiser's eyes. It resulted in a fantastic book called "Unseen Realm".

 

[Reasonably Sane]

Why would Jesus say he was Elohim and son of God if they didn't even know that the judges of old, who were men, could be called Elohim? But he didn’t reply he was Elohim but just son of God. Perhaps if they could get what son of God means they might get how Jesus can be called Elohim.
All believers are his brethren and sons of God because they believe it was he through whom the word of God has come.
it seems that all believers can be called Elohim and sons of God. But they only have one Lord, Jesus. and only one God, the Father..
So, just as Jesus has one Elohim, so do the believers have one Elohim. Jesus is the Elohim of Elohim and Lord of lords. Excepting the Father of course, who is the Father of all.

Blessed be the Elohim, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

They were spiritual beings. It's like we call some land creatures and some sea creatures. Those beings that live in the sea are called sea creatures. Those beings that live in the unseen realm are called elohim. And God is the head Elohim. it's why Psalm 82 is worded the way it is. It's not talking about humans. It's why it says, "like mortals". It's because they are not mortals. They are elohim. Creatures of the unseen realm., like seraphim, angels, etc. And seraphim and angel are merely job titles. Angels are messengers.

At least, that is my opinion on this. Things are a lot more complicated than we can imagine. Literally. And psalm 82 gives a peek.

 

[One God and Father of All]

If I were to say “Jesus is the one son or only son”, I would understand that he is the son by whom many others are to become sons.

Just as I would understand Jesus to be the Elohim by whom many are made Elohim.

 

[One God and Father of All]

They were spiritual beings. It's like we call some land creatures and some sea creatures. Those beings that live in the sea are called sea creatures. Those beings that live in the unseen realm are called elohim. And God is the head Elohim. it's why Psalm 82 is worded the way it is. It's not talking about humans. It's why it says, "like mortals". It's because they are not mortals. They are elohim. Creatures of the unseen realm., like seraphim, angels, etc. And seraphim and angel are merely job titles. Angels are messengers.

At least, that is my opinion on this. Things are a lot more complicated than we can imagine. Literally. And psalm 82 gives a peek.

I think mortals could be called Elohim because they hold the promise of immortal life. Those through whom the word of God has come. In fact, Jesus said that those who believed already possessed it but not that they couldn’t lose it IF they continued to believe and have faith.

 

[One God and Father of All]

A judge who through the word of God had come, could be called Elohim and son of God but who could lose the promise of that possession by falling away.

 

[Reasonably Sane]

I think mortals could be called Elohim because they hold the promise of immortal life. Those through whom the word of God has come. In fact, Jesus said that those who believed already possessed it but not that they couldn’t lose it IF they continued to believe and have faith.

Mortals are not in the unseen realm. They are in the physical world. Words have meaning, as Rush Limbaugh used to say. It is not logical to call a human being an occupant of the unseen realm. IMO, of course.