What does the Bible talk about other “gods” when there is only One True God the Father?

Let’s start with a look at Psalm 82, the psalm that the Nazarene master teacher Jeshua (Ishi – Isa – Issou – Jesus) quotes in John 10:34.

“1  (82:2) ‎حتى متى تقضون جورا وترفعون وجوه الاشرار.سلاه‎ . 2 (82:3) ‎اقضوا للذليل ولليتيم.انصفوا المسكين والبائس‎ .” (مز 82:1-2 Arabic)

“1  <A Psalm. Of Asaph.> God is in the meeting-place of God; he is judging among the gods. 2 How long will you go on judging falsely, having respect for the persons of evil-doers? (Selah.)” (Ps 82:1-2 BBE)

“اجابهم يسوع أليس مكتوبا في ناموسكم انا قلت انكم آلهة.” (يو 10:34 Arabic)

“In answer, Jesus said, Is there not a saying in your law, I said, You are gods?” (Joh 10:34 BBE)

The Hebrew word translated “gods” in Psalm 82:6 is Elohim. It usually refers to the One True God, but it does have other uses. Psalm 82:1 says,

“God presides in the great assembly; He gives judgment among the gods.”

It is clear from the next three verses that the word “gods” refers to magistrates, judges, and other people who hold positions of authority and rule. Calling a human magistrate a “god” indicates three things:

1) he has authority over other human beings,
2) the power he wields as a civil authority is to be feared, and
3) he derives his power and authority from God Himself, who is pictured as judging the whole earth in verse 8.

This use of the word “gods” to refer to humans is rare, but it is found elsewhere in the Old Testament. For example, when God sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said,

“See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1).

“فقال الرب لموسى انظر.انا جعلتك الها لفرعون.وهرون اخوك يكون نبيّك.” (خر 7:1 Arabic)

This simply means that Moses, as the messenger of God, was speaking God’s words and would therefore be God’s representative to the king. The Hebrew word Elohim is translated “judges” in Exodus 21:6 and 22:8, 9, and 28.

“يقدمه سيده الى الله ويقربه الى الباب او الى القائمة ويثقب سيده اذنه بالمثقب.فيخدمه الى الابد.” (خر 21:6 Arabic)

“8 وان لم يوجد السارق يقدم صاحب البيت الى الله ليحكم هل لم يمدّ يده الى ملك صاحبه. 9 في كل دعوى جناية من جهة ثور او حمار او شاة او ثوب او مفقود ما يقال ان هذا هو تقدم الى الله دعواهما.فالذي يحكم الله بذنبه يعوّض صاحبه باثنين.” (خر 22:8-9 Arabic)

“لا تسبّ الله.ولا تلعن رئيسا في شعبك.” (خر 22:28 Arabic)

“Then his master is to take him to the gods of the house, and at the door, or at its framework, he is to make a hole in his ear with a sharp-pointed instrument; and he will be his servant for ever.” (Ex 21:6 BBE)“8 If they do not get the thief, let the master of the house come before the judges and take an oath that he has not put his hand on his neighbour’s goods. 9 In any question about an ox or an ass or a sheep or clothing, or about the loss of any property which anyone says is his, let the two sides put their cause before God; and he who is judged to be in the wrong is to make payment to his neighbour of twice the value.” (Ex 22:8-9 BBE)

“You may not say evil of the judges, or put a curse on the ruler of your people.” (Ex 22:28 BBE)

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. Verses 6 and 7 warn human magistrates that they, too, must be judged:

“6  (82:7) ‎لكن مثل الناس تموتون وكاحد الرؤساء تسقطون‎ . 7 (82:8) ‎قم يا الله.دن الارض.لانك انت تمتلك كل الامم” (مز 82:6-7 Arabic)

“6  I said, You are gods; all of you are the sons of the Most High: 7 But you will come to death like men, falling like one of the rulers of the earth.” (Ps 82:6-7 BBE)

The judges also shall have to come before Al-Aliyy, the Higher God. Even when they are gods; they are all sons of the Most High.for them it is the same as for other people. They too will die like mere men; they will fall like every other ruler.

This passage is saying that God has appointed men to positions of authority in which they are considered as gods among the people. They 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 used that authority.

Now, let’s look at how Jesus uses this passage. Jesus had just claimed to be the Son of God (John 10:25-30).

“25 اجابهم يسوع اني قلت لكم ولستم تؤمنون.الاعمال التي انا اعملها باسم ابي هي تشهد لي. 26 ولكنكم لستم تؤمنون لانكم لستم من خرافي كما قلت لكم. 27 خرافي تسمع صوتي وانا اعرفها فتتبعني. 28 وانا اعطيها حياة ابدية ولن تهلك الى الابد ولا يخطفها احد من يدي. 29 ابي الذي اعطاني اياها هو اعظم من الكل ولا يقدر احد ان يخطف من يد ابي. 30 انا والآب واحد” (يو 10:25-30 Arabic)

“25 Jesus said in answer, I have said it and you have no belief: the works which I do in my Father’s name, these give witness about me. 26 But you have no belief because you are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep give ear to my voice, and I have knowledge of them, and they come after me: 28 And I give them eternal life; they will never come to destruction, and no one will ever take them out of my hand. 29 That which my Father has given to me has more value than all; and no one is able to take anything out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.” (Joh 10:25-30 BBE)

The unbelieving Jews responded by charging Jesus with blasphemy, since they believed he claimed to be God (verse 33).

“اجابه اليهود قائلين لسنا نرجمك لاجل عمل حسن بل لاجل تجديف.فانك وانت انسان تجعل نفسك الها.” (يو 10:33 Arabic)

“This was their answer: We are not stoning you for a good work but for evil words; because being a man you make yourself God.” (Joh 10:33 BBE)

Jesus then quotes Psalm 82:6, reminding the Jews that the Law refers to mere men — albeit men of authority and prestige — as “gods.” 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 magistrates in general.

If those who hold a divine office can be considered “gods”, while Jesus did not even say that he was God, why should he not consider himself a child of God? Nowhere did Jesus ever claim to be God. He did state that he was a Son of God. This is where Jews misunderstood him.

Lots of people who call themselves Christian also make the same fault as those ancient Jews. Instead of taking Jesus as the sent one from God, the son of man and son of God, they have made him into ‘god the son’ (something totally different then what Jesus is saying he is.) The majority of Christians do not want to see what it means to be a son of man. Some consider it being one of his names, instead of recognising it is a term or title given to any male human being. Those name-Christians even do not hear or do not want to hear what Jesus says about himself, or worse what Allah says about him.

“وصوت من السموات قائلا هذا هو ابني الحبيب الذي به سررت” (مت 3:17 Arabic)

“And a voice came out of heaven, saying, This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:17 BBE)

In still other places in the Holy Scriptures, the position of Jesus is clarified by what God says about him or what the apostles say about him, as well as by what Jesus says about himself and his heavenly Father

Jesus defended his claim to be the son of God on biblical and semantic grounds – there is a sense in which influential people can be regarded as gods. People are not “gods” or “little gods”. We are not God, nor are those who are called gods, such as Moses, Pharaoh, Baal, Apollo, for there is only one the One True God, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah.

The word Allah has only a singular form, because there is not more than one God. Allah is God, and does not exist out of two or more entities. He is a spiritual being no man can see.

“وقال لا تقدر ان ترى وجهي.لان الانسان لا يراني ويعيش.” (خر 33:20 Arabic)

“الله روح.والذين يسجدون له فبالروح والحق ينبغي ان يسجدوا.” (يو 4:24 Arabic)

“But it is not possible for you to see my face, for no man may see me and still go on living.” (Ex 33:20 BBE)

“God is Spirit: then let his worshippers give him worship in the true way of the spirit.” (Joh 4:24 BBE)

Spirits are supposed to have no corporeal forms and no attachment to bones, flesh and blood, things that Jesus demonstrated by his visible wounds, to prove that he is not a spirit but a flesh-and-blood human being.

“25 فقال له التلاميذ الآخرون قد رأينا الرب.فقال لهم ان لم أبصر في يديه اثر المسامير واضع اصبعي في اثر المسامير واضع يدي في جنبه لا أؤمن 26 ¶ وبعد ثمانية ايام كان تلاميذه ايضا داخلا وتوما معهم.فجاء يسوع والابواب مغلقة ووقف في الوسط وقال سلام لكم. 27 ثم قال لتوما هات اصبعك الى هنا وابصر يديّ وهات يدك وضعها في جنبي ولا تكن غير مؤمن بل مؤمنا.” (يو 20:25-27 Arabic)

“انظروا يديّ ورجليّ اني انا هو.جسوني وانظروا فان الروح ليس له لحم وعظام كما ترون لي.” (لو 24:39 Arabic)

“25 So the other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, If I do not see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and if I do not put my hand into his side, I will never have belief. 26 ¶ And after eight days, his disciples were again in the house and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were shut, Jesus came, and taking his place in the middle of them, he said, May peace be with you! 27 Then he said to Thomas, Put out your finger, and see my hands; and put your hand here into my side: and be no longer in doubt but have belief.” (Joh 20:25-27 BBE)

“See; my hands and my feet: it is I myself; put your hands on me and make certain; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Lu 24:39 BBE)

Jesus, by the way, admitted that he was only able to do those things he did because it was his Heavenly Father who allowed him to do them. Jesus was also aware that God is a much higher person than him.

“فاجاب يسوع وقال لهم الحق الحق اقول لكم لا يقدر الابن ان يعمل من نفسه شيئا الا ما ينظر الآب يعمل.لان مهما عمل ذاك فهذا يعمله الابن كذلك.” (يو 5:19 Arabic)

“انا لا اقدر ان افعل من نفسي شيئا.كما اسمع ادين ودينونتي عادلة لاني لا اطلب مشيئتي بل مشيئة الآب الذي ارسلني” (يو 5:30 Arabic)

“28 فقال لهم يسوع متى رفعتم ابن الانسان فحينئذ تفهمون اني انا هو ولست افعل شيئا من نفسي بل اتكلم بهذا كما علّمني ابي. 29 والذي ارسلني هو معي ولم يتركني الآب وحدي لاني في كل حين افعل ما يرضيه” (يو 8:28-29 Arabic)

“لاني لم اتكلم من نفسي لكن الآب الذي ارسلني هو اعطاني وصية ماذا اقول وبماذا اتكلم.” (يو 12:49 Arabic)

“So Jesus made answer and said, Truly I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything himself; he is able to do only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does the Son does it in the same way.” (Joh 5:19 BBE)

“Of myself I am unable to do anything: as the voice comes to me so I give a decision: and my decision is right because I have no desire to do what is pleasing to myself, but only what is pleasing to him who sent me.” (Joh 5:30 BBE)

“28 So Jesus said, When the Son of man has been lifted up by you, then it will be clear to you who I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but say as the Father gave me teaching. 29 He who sent me is with me; he has not gone from me, because at all times I do the things which are pleasing to him.” (Joh 8:28-29 BBE)

“For I have not said it on my authority, but the Father who sent me gave me orders what to say and how to say it.” (Joh 12:49 BBE)

Those Christians who have taken Jesus as their god simply ignore these words of Jesus, just as they do not want to accept the statements of Jesus his heavenly Father as a statement to be believed.

The True Christians, who adhere to the same God Jesus prayed to, and want to be brothers and sisters of Christ, are like their example, children of God. We do know that several people may be called god but for sure we would not consider being The Almighty God. We know that when Jesus is called ‘god’ or ‘a god’ at certain places or by certain people, this means that he is a mighty one, having been empowered by his God and Holy Father the Only One Allah, Eh-heh-yeh ashair Ehheh- yeh (I Am Who I Am  or I am that I am) YHWH, Jehovah but not God in a divine sense because we have only One True Divine God and that is the Holy and Almighty Father YHWH, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah.

 

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Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: Wat zegt de Bijbel over andere “goden” als er maar Eén ware God de Vader is?

Preceding

Looking for answers on the question Is there a God #1 Many gods

Looking for answers on the question Is there a God #2 Pantheon of gods and celebrations

Looking for answers on the question Is there a God #3 Transcendence or Surpassing other gods and man

4th Question: Who or What is God

A 1st reply to the 4th Question Who is God 2 A Singular Supreme Spirit Being

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Additional reading

1. Approachers of ideas around gods, philosophers and theologiansThe Question is this…
2. A Book to trust #3 Creation and Creator
3. A Book to trust #6 True God and true words
4. A Book to trust #15 Writings to show The God #2 Importance of Being
5. God or a god
6. Possible arguments and proofs about the existence of God #2
7. Glory of only One God Who gives His Word
8. Bible sayings about God
9. A Triple God or simply a rather simple One God
10. A God between many gods
11. Almighty God above all other gods greater than all gods
12. People Seeking for God 7 The Lord and lords
13. God Our Refuge
14. Are there certain books essential to come to faith
15. Biblical characters given as example
16. The wrong hero
17. Who Is Jesus? God, or unique Man?
18. Jesus son of God or God the son
19. A Father Who begat a son
20. Jesus son of God
21. The sent one from God
22. The saviour Jesus his godly side
23. A Ransom for all 1 Eternal torment
24. Memorizing wonderfully 46 Believe in the sent one from God, who is the Way to God
25. Should we think that the sons of the Most High, the sons of God, are man-made gods?
26. If thousands of years and millions of testimonies about the workings of God are mere foolishness
27. Trinitarians making their proof for existence of God look ridiculous #9
28. Souls and Religions with Nirvana and light
29. False opposite true worship which exalts the God of Israel
30. Reflect on how much idolizing happens
31. Hello America and atheists
32. Today’s thought “God has sent the spirit of his Son” (April 3)
33. Today’s Thought “Idols are nothing against the first and the last God” (June 20)
34. Today’s Thought “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? ” (June 22)
35. Today’s thought “nonsense surrounding the many gods” (July 28)
36. Today’s thought “Nature declaring God” (December 27)
37. A vital question for believers
38. Engagement in an actual two-way conversation with your deities
39. Religion and the essence of devotion

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