You Are Gods! (Pt 1): Psalm 82 & the Divine Council (John 10:31-42)

If you misunderstand what Yeshua is saying in John 10 by quoting Psalm 82, you miss the thrust of how he uses this to claim he is divine.

[nalubwamaestherhope]

God is just, merciful, peaceable, forgiving, gracious everything must be based in love.
God doesn't have love but He is love.
Since God is love and all men are in His image meaning His character, He is Holy and He encourages believers imitate what is just, fulfilling His law is all about loving God and doing to others what you would love be done to you.
with the above, there is no law.

[P.H.]

1 Corinthians 6 we will judge the angelic!

[maizeebunner]

This message was very helpful. The John 10 passage was one of the most confusing, maybe the hardest in the NT, for me. This provided at least a plausible complete explanation of Ps. 82 and what Jesus meant. There are a few points I want to research more, but I really appreciated the many OT references of the uses of "Elohim" as spiritual beings, to help us understand the reference to "gods."

[End_of_Days]

Psalm 82 and John 10 Explained. The position that the sons of God are “Adopted in both Old and New Testament.

Many or most bible scholars today argue the Elohim of Psalm 82 are not literal sons of God but human or a better way of putting as Jews. The Jews would be Adopted sons. They have the Levitical Priesthood with a bloody sacrificial system, Day of Atonement, the 10 Commandments, the Law and the Prophets. The word of the Lord would come to Prophets like Asaph who wrote Psalm 82, the Prophets would also speak the word of the Lord.

The argument uses a confrontation Jesus has with the Jewish leaders asking him whether or not he is the Messiah - John 10:22-30. Jesus responds by saying that he and the Father are One and the crowd (Jews) are ready to stone Him for blasphemy. However, Jesus continues by asking them why they have a problem with his admission and uses scripture to refute them - John 10:31-37. He quotes and repeats what God had spoken thru the Prophet Asaph, which Asaph wrote in Psalm 82:6 - “I said, you are gods.” John 10:34 “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”

Bible scholars think Jesus is referring to humans, the problem with most scholars and students of the Bible is that they do not expand on the 3 persons of God, who are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They also do not expand on the “word” of the Lord in 3 forms. The “word” of the Lord would come to Prophets like Asaph who wrote Psalm 82. First the “word” was either “Spoken” and Second the “word” was written. So this is TWO forms of the “word” of the Lord. The Third form is in Jesus, since we are looking at Psalm 82 and John 10, we know that John is the Inspired Author for the Gospel of John. John wrote in John 1:14 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

So form this passage of Scripture we now see the Third form of the “word/Word of the Lord, that would be Flesh (Jesus). So the Three forms of the ‘word/Word of the 1) Spoken, 2) Written, 3) Flesh (Jesus).
Jesus knows better as he is God and knows the Divine Council as Jews, because they were given the Law, like Jesus says in John 10:34 “John 10:34 “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”

In order to understand why Jesus quotes and repeats what God gives the Inspired Prophet Asaph from Psalm 82:6 ““I said, you are gods”, we must first understand the context. To do so, reading the passages before and after the text in question is always a best practice. When we read the before and after verses we find that the context is about Jesus describing his relationship with the Father as God, Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus says he is doing the will of the Father in John 10:25. Everything Jesus does, is in the name of the Father because, John 10:30 “The Father and I are one”. This is crucial context. Jesus is telling us that He and the Father are of the same God. To understand the Godhead/Trinity is 3 persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit as ONE God, Not three separate Gods.

In so doing, He(Jesus/Son) is saying He is God/Divine and this is the reason his audience wants to stone him. This crucial point is reinforced as Jesus also states it in John 10:38 “the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Therefore, any explanation of the meaning of the Psalm 82 text, must be consistent with this context in John 10. Context is so key in understanding this part of scripture the next verses after verse 34 in John 10. John 10:35-36 “If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 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’?

In these verses 35-36 we now see the “word” of God, the two forms “Written” and “Spoken”, as well as the Third form in the “Flesh” of Jesus. Also what Jesus is doing since Scripture can not be broken, Jesus links himself to Psalm 82 as the same God that Spoke and Wrote thru the Inspired Prophet Asaph, because the word of the Lord came to Prophets and to the Jews.

God is my Father; therefore I am Divine and God. Jesus continues in v.38, if this were not true (My Divinity), then I would not be able to do all the miraculous signs only the Father can do. Jesus is pointing out to these Jews that he is not like them because he does supernatural works that no man can do. He is capable of doing them because, “I and the Father are one” and “the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Jesus argues he has every right to call himself the Son of God, because the Adopted sons of God or God’s chosen people (Jews/Israel) of

Psalm 82:6 the “gods” ( Plural elohim) are in a divine status, because they were given the Law and the word/Word of the Lord. Jesus was to come thru this people group. Romans 1: 16 “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Of course Jesus holds Salvation for all who have Faith and Believe in His Sacrifice and Gospel.

Continuing on, Jesus responds to the charge of blasphemy by defending His Deity and the Jews wanting to stone Him, comes from Leviticus. Leviticus 24: 16 “And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall be put to death.”

Finally touching on the Psalms is that the Jews would sing these Psalms throughout the nation of Israel. Describing Asaph he was a prophet and also a musician, so he was involved in music. In Psalm 82 verse 1 “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.”

The word gods (Plural elohim) would be referring to Jews, because how God stands is with His “word/Word” that is Spoken and Written by the Inspired Prophet Asaph who wrote Psalm 82 for the nation of Israel (Jews). When a person uses Psalm 82 and John 10 it would be Jesus as the Son of God in the Flesh standing amongst the Jews (gods/ Plural elohim).

[Chirhopher]

YHWH Is The Only GOD. The All Knowing, All Powerful, and Only Eternal Being Says HE Knows of No Other. HE will Not give HIS Glory to another. HE Does not Create little gods. "Rulers" doesn't become a bad translation just because this man asserts it. "Gods" and "rulers" are both good translations in the context of Earthly Judges.

[cpom]

I wonder why this story is not in Matthew Mark or Luke?

[RodneyLittle-yrgm]

The JW interpretation of John 10 and Psalm 82 is much more accurate than what this preacher said.

[michaelenglish]

Excellent! The conventional interpretation never made sense to me in that it doesn't make Yeshua special. So, YHWH said you (men) are gods.. Then I'm god, too? How is that a defense for Yeshua claiming equality with YHWH? Now it makes sense. Can't wait for Part 2!

[garlandjones]

In Exodus 7:1, just off of a quick glance, Moses IS called Elohim. No like or as, but it IS specified to/for Pharoah. To is most likely the best translation of the lamed prefix. I do agree with your interpretation of Psalm 82 on the majority. I do also disagree with Heisers definition of Elohim as well, but it's peanuts in this example. I don't think it requires different realms. To me it's a divine authority, or power, and I do also agree with Heiser that it DOES involve jurisdiction. Most people don't think of that

[andthensome]

Doesn't the New Testament say that the Old Covenant was mediated through angels? That would support the idea of people accused of a crime going before gods to be judged.

[TimKollat]

12:32 "Yahweh existed from all eternity, Yahweh being the divine trinity the Father the son and the holy spirit"...Only problem with that is the so called "divine trinity" nor its description is ever once mentioned in scripture, nowhere. Yet the opposite of that is mentioned literally everywhere. That God the Father is ONE God, not 3 and that the Lord Jesus is NOT God himself, nor the 2nd part of this divine trinity, but he is the MAN, the messiah in whom God the Father dwelled in...
"The word became flesh"...When and how did this happen? Trinitarians say one thing but scripture answers this question much differently.
This doctrine formed after apostles died and is very well documented but people refuse to question it and think if the do they are rejecting God.
This is a huge mistake. Jesus our Lord denied the trinity, the apostles denied it and God himself denies it if we would just stop reading our man made doctrines into the texts

[CoinsFreedom]

Who was Jesus (Yahushua) talking to when He said, "I said, You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High"?
Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

So the Jews (people mortal men) were gods. Are were all therefore fallen and given skins to die like men (born through flesh into this world).

[domizzi]

Is there a part 2 to this?? Anyone? Help..

[edwahzephaniahjoshua]

At the appearing of Jesus Christ death was abolished and life and immortality was brought to light be the gospel of Jesus Christ, 2 Timothy 1:10 now they that seek for glory and honor and immortality. ETERNAL life will find it in Christ. They that believe the gospel of Christ receive immortality life which is Eternal life, which there is no end being everlasting life. It is the Divine Nature of God. They that have immortality life will not die like men and are enabled to judge with the mind of Christ having received the mind of the Lord 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, 2:15-16. God created the believer in Christ Ephesians 2:10 which resulted in a new creature and are the sons of God. Galatians 6:15-16 Now looking to God's purpose and loving Him in it that we be conformed to the image of His Son, Romans 8:28-30, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 4:13, 23-24, Colossians 3:10 and Jesus is the brightness of glory and the express image of His person Hebrews 1:3 The new creature God brought to fruition IN Christ hath immortality eternal life and judge having the mind of the Lord and will not die like men andare god's being the sons if God, In fact Jesus said of them that believe will never die

[permalorly]

I wanted to point out that in Deuteronomy 32:8 it is not said Sons of God as what he stipulate in the video. The translation is correct for the the "Sons of Israel". I have checked the hebrew bible version + the dead sea scroll writting and I confirm that it is written "Sons of Israel."

[psyfr]

Exactly BAD translation. King James is the last accurate translation that isn't trying to mislead.