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The Use of the Word "God"

Text: John 10: 34-35

THE USE OF THE WORD “GOD”

The Jews regarded the name of God as so sacred that they did not use it as far as possible. Anyone who used the name of God blasphemously would be condemned.

“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 the Scripture cannot be broken).’”

John 10:34-35

1. “Jesus answered them”

a. He was prepared to discuss or even debate with the Jews on the use of the word “god”.

b. Jesus was a Master of the Scriptures.

2. “Is it not written in your law”

a. Jesus needed to show the Jews that He knew the Scriptures thoroughly.

b. He knew what the law said about the use of the word “god”.

3. “I said, ‘You are gods’”

a. Jesus cited Psalm 82 (a psalm written by Asaph).

b. Two verses using the word “god” may be found in this Psalm.

i. “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.”  Psalm 82:1

ii. “I said, ‘You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.’” Psalm 82: 6

c. What is the meaning of the use of the word “god” in this context?

i. The reference in context is a reference to the judges of Israel.

ii. They had the power to judge people.

iii. They had power to release a person from the penalty of the law.

iv. They also had the power to execute punishment.

v. In this manner they were like “god”.

4. “If He called them gods”

a. God was One who said these words.

b. Thus, God validated the use of the word “god” for human beings.

5. “To whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)”

a. It was men who received this word of God and it became Scripture.

b. And Scripture cannot be broken; thus, Jesus was not guilty of blasphemy when He used this word.

经文：约翰福音 10：34-35

使用“上帝”这个词语

犹太人认为上帝的名字是如此神圣的，他们尽可能不使用。任何亵渎上帝的名的人都会受到谴责。

“耶稣说：‘你们的律法上岂不是写着‘我曾说你们是神’吗？ 经上的话是不能废的。若那些承受神道的人尚且称为神。’”

《约翰福音 10：34-35》

1. “耶稣说”

a. 祂准备与犹太人讨论甚至辩论如何使用“上帝”这个词句

b. 耶稣是圣经的主宰

2. “你们的律法上岂不是写着”

a. 耶稣需要向犹太人证明祂彻底了解圣经

b. 祂知道法律对使用“上帝”这词的说法

3. “我曾说你们是神”

a. 耶稣引用《诗篇82》（亚萨的诗篇）

b. 在这诗篇中可以找到两节使用“神”这个词的经文

i. “神站在有权力者的会中，在诸神中行审判。”《诗篇 82：1》

ii. “我曾说：‘你们是神，都是至高者的儿子。” 《诗篇 82：6》

c. 在这种情况下使用“神”这个词的含义是什么？

i. 文中的参考是对以色列法官的提及

ii. 他们有权判断人

iii. 他们有权释放一个人免受法律惩罚

iv. 他们也有权执行惩罚

v. 以这种方式，他们就像“神”

4. “若那些承受神道的人尚且称为神”

a. 上帝是说出这些话的人

b. 因此，上帝验证了人类使用“神”这个词。

5. “经上的话是不能废的”

a. 是人类接受上帝这个词句，而且成了圣经

b. 圣经不能被毁灭；因此，当耶稣使用这个词时，耶稣并没有犯亵渎罪。