Why did Jesus say to his accusers "You are gods"?

score:12

Accepted answer

Here is one of those times where context helps quite a bit.

John 10:33-36 (NIV)

 33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?

Emphasis mine, of course. The part in bold made me think that these were prophets, but let's check the reference to be sure.

Psalm 82 (NIV)
A psalm of Asaph.
 1 God presides in the great assembly;
   he renders judgment among the “gods”:
 2 “How long will you defend the unjust
   and show partiality to the wicked?
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;
   uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
   deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
 5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
   They walk about in darkness;
   all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
 6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;
   you are all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die like mere mortals;
   you will fall like every other ruler.”
 8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
   for all the nations are your inheritance.

Huh, this passage seems to be talking about judges, not prophets. However, remember that in ancient Israel, judges and prophets were often the same people1.

Now the question becomes: why call these people "gods"? One readily apparent reason is that God is the great Judge, hence these judges are gods in that sense. Another, less clear and more speculative reason, has to do with them being prophets. Taking parts of two verses and putting them near each other...

John 10:35b - to whom the word of God came

Psalm 82:6b - you are all sons of the Most High

...it would seem like they are related by God's Spirit somehow. An analogue can be found in the New Testament with regards to Christians being brothers and sisters in Christ.

Hebrews 2:11 (NIV)
11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

Romans 8:29 (NIV)
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Similarly, God's prophets could be called "gods" due to their association with the Holy Spirit.

1 If someone could point me to a source for this, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Upvote:-3

I think the emphasis shouldn't be on the "ye are gods" part, but on "you are all sons of the Most High." Because on Psalms that is what gives meaning to the text. We are ALL sons of the Most High, including Jesus. Now becoming a Son of Man is a different thing and can only come through being born of water and spirit.

Upvote:2

In referencing John 10:34 at least I would look at several other translations of that verse in the process too...

John 10:34 References

KJV (King James Version) Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

AMP (Amplified Bible) 34 Jesus answered, Is it not written in your Law, I said, You are gods?

CJB (Complete Jewish Bible) 34 Yeshua answered them, “Isn’t it written in your Torah, ‘I have said, “You people are Elohim’ ”?[b] b: Psalm 82:6

(ERV) Easy-to-Read Version 34 Jesus answered, “It is written in your law that God said, ‘I said you are gods.’ [d] Psalm 82:6

(CEV) Contemporary English Version In your Scriptures doesn’t God say, “You are gods”?

Or at least read these different bible versions, especially the CJB one from John 10:34-36.

Note: I'm not trying to answer answers here, but I am just pointing out that maybe looking at scripture from different bibles could help out with what was said in the article in some way.

Upvote:3

It's a reference to Psalm 82 6-7 [NASB]:

I said, "You are gods,

And all of you are sons of the Most High

"Nevertheless you will die like men

And fall like any one of the princes."

It's not refering to literal godhood, but the position of judges (Psalms 82:2), so it does not refer to literal godhood (personal opinion follows) but rather probably to the right to rule and execute judgements.

Upvote:3

What I love so much about Jesus is He never backed down from His position and would often times leave His challengers scratching their heads. To understand what He is saying, one has to pause and read it very slowly. Then focus your attention on the first part which says “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said ..." emphasis on "I have said ... ." Well, how could Jesus have said anything in the law that was written hundreds perhaps thousands of years before that time unless He is God? So, what I believe Jesus is saying here, clearly, is that He Himself is God and His Word is the written law, with Moses as the lawgiver and writer of the first five books of the Bible, in particular, Genesis 1, where God said let us make man in our image. Now since His Word is the law, who can challenge Him on what He said in the law?

In my opinion, this is an intellectual admonishment, or beat down, for anyone who would challenge what the Lord has done or said at any time, especially before their time. Remember Job's verbal admonishment from God when He said, paraphrased, 'Where were you Job when I created the earth...Behemoth ... and the Leviathon?.. . Gird up your loins Job and answer Me like a man. Where were you Job?... .' Job's admonishment was a long one and lasted from Job chapter 38 through chapter 41.

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