Dave Hansen wrote:
> ... discuss why you think Jesus would have offered
> PS 82:6 as a defense against those who were
> accusing him of equating himself with God?
John 10:31-39
(31) Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
(32) Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father;
for which of those works do ye stone me?
(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.
(34) Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are
gods?
(35) If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the
scripture cannot be broken;
(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?
(37) If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
(38) But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may
know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
(39) Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their
hand.
Psalms 82:6-7
(6) I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
(7) But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
>From my perspective, Jesus was addressing primarily the syntax which was at
the heart of the charge against him. The Scriptures refer to these
individuals as "gods" (Elohim) and "children of the most High" (ben elyon).
His point was not that these truly were gods, but rather that if the
Scriptures would use such loaded language, not just calling them children of
the Most High, but also "Elohim," then why should they object to his
language of "son of God"? In other words, if they were going to accuse him
of "blasphemy" based upon his phrase "son of God," then they would have to
charge the Scriptures (which cannot be broken) with blasphemy because it
uses even stronger language concerning those called to be representatives of
God.
Interestingly, this passage he is quoting speaks of judgment against these
who were "gods." It speaks of their injustices, that while it was declared
to them, "ye are gods, all of you children of the Most High," they would die
like men because they had judged unjustly and accepted the persons of the
wicked. Perhaps a secondary meaning that might be conveyed here is,
"lighten up... God will judge me along with these in Psalm 82 who were
called to a similar role if my actions do not line up with my speech." His
primary meaning was the error of thinking that his syntax alone ("son of
God") constituted blasphemy, but perhaps this secondary meaning might
register with some.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
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"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know
how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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