Psalms 82:6 "Ye are gods?"

Psalms 82:1-8 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

This psalm is directed to the wicked judges in Israel. God begins the psalm by referring to the grand heavenly council (sod qedoshim) during the pre-mortal existence. God says that He stood among the congregation and judged among the other gods present as a Judge of judges. But the Palm doesn't refer to those in attendance judges, God refers to them as gods. And God refers to Himself as the Most High God of gods and the Great Judge of judges.

This verse clearly suggests that the wicked judges were ordained as judges in the heavenly council similar to God's revelation to the prophet Jeremiah that he too was chosen and ordained in the pre-existence to his great calling. This isn't just talking the foreknowledge of God, because it specifically says that before Jeremiah was formed in the belly, he was ordained like Christ was anointed to be the Savior of the world and is known as the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13: 8).

Jer. 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Then God chastises the wicked judges for neglecting the poor, afflicted, and needy while at the same time supporting and lifting up the wicked. God says "all the foundations of the earth are out of course" meaning that nothing of what the judges committed to in the Heavenly Council is come to past.

Then God says something startling, "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men." Some interpret this to mean the wicked judges are pridefully claiming they are gods, after which God sharply reminds them that they will "die like men." But this cannot be because it isn't the judges which are speaking. It is God. It says, "I have said, Ye are gods" not "Ye have said, ye are gods."

Some interpret this that God is using the words god and judge interchangeably and no additional meaning should be read into the text. I agree that God is using god and judge interchangeably, but I cannot believe God doesn't have a reason for doing it. What is that reason? God is trying to motivate the wicked judges to deal justly with the poor and needy by reminding them of the great worth of souls. Even the least of man is a "god en embryo."

God is teaching those wicked judges that all mankind are children of God the Father regardless of our acceptance of him here because we already accepted him in the pre-mortal existence when he stood as judge in the the congregation of the mighty (i.e. great heavenly council). God doesn't just say, you wicked judges are my children, but He says, "all of you are children of the most High."

The Scriptures do speak of becoming the sons and daughters of Christ when we become born-again. Christ then becomes the adopted or figurative Father of our new life as a disciple of Christ, the Father of our Resurrected bodies, and the Father of our eternal life. While this status as child of Christ is contingent upon our acceptance of Christ here in mortality, our status as literal children of Our Eternal Father is not conditional because God is the Father and Creator of all the spirits of mankind (Acts 17:28-29, Heb 12:9).

Is there any other biblical support that Psalms 82:6 is referring to man as gods? Yes, from Christ Himself. During His ministry, Jesus Christ was confronted by those asking Him to come out and clearly state if he claimed to be the Messiah. Jesus told those assembled that the miracles he performed were a sign of His calling and then said, "I and my Father are one." In response the Jews picked up stones to kill him. Then the story continues:

John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 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. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

So, Jesus Christ himself used Psalms 82:6 to prove to the Jews that it is not blasphemy to equate man with god because God made the comparison first. Christ is saying, if God referred to the wicked judges and all men in Palms 82 as gods, then how can you call Me a blasphemer for declaring that I am the Son of God.

Nevertheless, at the end of Psalms 82, God reminds the wicked judges that although He is equating men with gods, without God the Father, we are nothing and will die. In the end, the Psalm suggests that righteous judgement will never be fully realized on Earth until God Himself arises, comes to earth and judges the earth. This last line foretells the Millennium when Christ will come again a second time to rule and reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords. From this scripture we know Christ will also be the God of gods and the Great Judge of judges who will finally inherit (unify) all nations.

Many Christians consider it blasphemy that LDS belief that men are "gods in embryo" because this means that men are considered gods now. Only an Abortionist would consider a human embryo sub-human or not human. In the same sense, as "gods in embryo," we should all recognize the seeds of divinity within each person regardless of their status in this life. Every soul born into this world has the potential to become like our Heavenly Father.

Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Rev. 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

C.S. Lewis a favorite protestant writer and theologian agreed with this interpretation:

He said (in the Bible) that we were 'gods' and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him - for we can prevent Him, if we choose - He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said. C. S. Lewis, Beyond Personality (London: The Centenary Press, 1945), P48

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship. C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1949), P14-15