The phrases “you are gods” and “ye are gods” appear in Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34 respectively. These verses have sparked much debate over what exactly the Bible means when calling certain people “gods.” A surface reading may lead some to believe that human beings can become like God. However, a closer examination of the context reveals that this is likely not the intended meaning.
Psalm 82:6
Psalm 82 says:
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!” (Psalm 82:1-8 ESV)
This psalm is a rebuke against unjust rulers and judges. God calls them “gods” likely because they have been appointed to positions of authority to judge and govern God’s people. As elohim, or rulers, they were to remember their accountability to the Most High God. Yet they had abused their power and perverted justice.
Calling these unrighteous judges “gods” was a way of reminding them that they were not above the law. They still answered to the ultimate Ruler and Judge, Yahweh. Although they had been called to steward God’s authority on earth, they had failed in this task.
The verse goes on to emphasize that despite being called “gods,” these wicked rulers would still face death and judgment like all humans. Their privileged position did not make them divine. The Hebrew word translated as “gods” here can also mean rulers and judges.
John 10:34
In John 10:34, Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 in response to accusations of blasphemy:
“Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 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’?” (John 10:34-36 ESV)
Once again, the context is key. Jesus references Psalm 82 to counter the idea that He was claiming equality with God and therefore blaspheming. He argues that if God called even human authorities “gods” and “sons of the Most High,” due to their role, how much more appropriate is it for Jesus, the true Son of God, to refer to Himself this way?
His opponents had accused Him of blasphemy for stating that He was God’s Son. Jesus responds that human leaders have been called “gods” in Scripture based on their God-given authority. Therefore, it cannot be blasphemy for Jesus, the one whom the Father truly sanctified and sent, to call Himself the Son of God.
The emphasis here is on Jesus’ unique sonship and authority, far above any granted to human leaders. He is not putting Himself on an equal footing with the “gods” mentioned in Psalm 82. In fact, He contrasts His divine filial relationship with the mere functional use of the term for human authorities.
Why the Term “Gods” is Used
From these passages, we see that the term “gods” does not imply that human beings can become divine or equal to God. Rather, it likely draws on the Jewish understanding of power and authority. Human leaders, judges, and magistrates acted as God’s representatives to execute His will on earth. While undertaking this vocation, they could be considered “gods” with a little “g” based on exercising God’s delegated authority.
But this in no way made them ontologically equivalent or equal to God. They were merely acting in the office of “elohim” or “gods” as God’s appointed stewards. Their authority was wholly dependent on God empowering them to carry out these tasks. Additionally, they were still subject to sin, death, and divine judgment for immorality like all humans. So these “god-like” or “elohim” figures remained distinct from and subordinate to Almighty God.
The Contrast Between Humans and Christ
Both Psalm 82 and John 10 emphasize the difference between the functional, delegated use of “gods” for humans versus Jesus’ intrinsic divine sonship. Human leaders are adopted as “sons” due to their positional authority, while Jesus is the eternal, incarnate Son in His very nature and essence.
In Psalm 82, the unjust rulers are reprimanded and reminded that they will die like all humans despite being called “gods.” In John 10, Jesus contrasts the superficial sonship of the human authorities in Psalm 82 with His own supreme, unparalleled relationship to the Father as the One He sanctified and sent.
Thus, passages that refer to humans as “gods” or “sons of God” do not legitimize the idea that we can become as God. Instead, they utilize this language in a limited, metaphorical sense to refer to the governance role delegated by God. Ultimately, human beings remain the creation, while the Creator alone is divine.
The Dangers of Misinterpreting These Passages
Some groups have taken the “you are gods” language in Psalm 82 and John 10 out of context to suggest that we can realize our own divinity and become as God. This contradicts the consistent Biblical testimony. Only Yahweh is Almighty God, while we remain limited creatures. There is an infinite gap between the Creator and the creation that cannot be bridged.
The mistake comes when the functional, delegated use of “gods” gets conflated and confused with ontological divinity. Calling human leaders “gods” in a judicial sense does not change their creaturely nature or make them divine beings. Only Christ truly shares in God’s essence and exists in the form of God (Philippians 2:6).
Unfortunately, some unorthodox sects twist these passages to undermine Biblical teachings on God’s uniqueness as the only true Deity. This can lead people into profoundly mistaken beliefs about the parameters for human nature. While we are called to bear God’s image and share in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), we will always remain finite, dependent beings. We do not have the ability to autonomously become God or divine ourselves.
The True Meaning
In light of the context, the phrases “you are gods” and “ye are gods” in Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34 are best understood as a reference to the delegated governing authority granted by God to human leaders, judges, and magistrates – not an affirmation of humans becoming ontologically divine. This functional authority does not intrinsically change their status as creatures under the sovereign rulership of the one Creator. Only Jesus Christ, as the eternal Son of God, claimed full divine sonship and oneness with the Father (John 10:30). Any confusion of the creature with the Creator strays into profound theological error.
In summary, these two passages utilize “gods” terminology in a limited metaphorical sense to refer to the God-given judicial authority of certain human figures. But this is categorically different than claiming humans can become like God or intrinsically attain divine attributes. Ultimately, the glory, majesty, and power of deity belong to the Triune God alone.