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Understanding Psalm 82 and Michael Heiser’s Divine Council Theology
Sound Theology and Discernment with Justin Peters
Episode Summary
Psalm 82 opens with the words, “God takes His stand in the congregation of God, He judges in the midst of the gods.” What does that mean, and does it support Michael Heiser’s “divine council” theology or the idea of many gods under one supreme God?In this episode of Sound Theology and Discernment, Justin Peters is joined by Fred Butler to walk through Michael Heiser’s teaching on Psalm 82, Deuteronomy 32, Genesis 6, Job, and related passages. Together they examine claims about the “divine council,” watchers, Nephilim, and multiple Elohim, and they compare these ideas with clear, historic, biblical doctrine about the one true God.This conversation aims to warn believers about speculative theology that borrows from liberal scholarship and ancient Near Eastern myth, and to encourage Christians to stand firmly on the sufficiency and authority of Scripture, not to exceed what is written.Listen to the Episode
Watch the Episode
Key Scriptures
- Psalm 82
- Deuteronomy 32
- Genesis 6
- Job 1–2
- Romans 5:12
- John 10:30–38
- Deuteronomy 6:4
About the Guest, Fred Butler
Fred Butler serves at Grace to You where he oversees volunteer ministries that help assemble and ship biblical resources around the world. He is a member of Grace Community Church in Los Angeles and has written on a variety of theological and apologetic issues at his blog Hip and Thigh.Episode Highlights
- Who Michael Heiser was and why his work has become popular among some evangelicals.
- How his “divine council” reading of Psalm 82 shapes his entire biblical narrative.
- Why importing liberal Old Testament scholarship and ANE myth into theology is dangerous.
- The difference between biblical monotheism and theism or henotheism.
- How Psalm 82 is best understood as a rebuke of unjust human judges, not many true gods.
- How Jesus uses Psalm 82 in John 10 and why this does not support “little gods” teaching.
- Parallels between Heiser’s ideas and Mormonism, Word of Faith, and charismatic excesses.
- The importance of creeds, confessions, and the historic teaching of the church.
- The call to stay within the bounds of Scripture and not exceed what is written.
Resources Mentioned
- Hip and Thigh blog by Fred Butler, hipandthigh.wordpress.com
Reflection and Application
- How does Psalm 82 help you see the holiness, justice, and uniqueness of the one true God more clearly?
- Where do you see the temptation to chase novelty, speculation, or extra biblical ideas instead of resting in Scripture?
- How can you grow in discernment so that you test teachers and movements by the whole counsel of God?
Stay Connected
If this episode of Sound Theology and Discernment with Justin Peters was helpful, please consider sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, and praying that the Lord would use it to strengthen His people in sound doctrine and humble discernment.For more articles, podcasts, and resources, visit his page here at Servants of Grace or at our YouTube.This episode first appeared at Justin’s YouTube and is posted here with his permission Dr. Michael Heiser: God Is The Highest Of Many Gods – Was He Right? – YouTube
Born and reared in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Justin earned his undergraduate at Mississippi State University (1995) and then a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology (2000, 2002) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Justin met his bride, Kathy, at an evangelism conference near Los Angeles, California, in 2009. They were married in August of 2010. From 2014 until 2019, they lived in Sandpoint, Idaho, and were members of Kootenai Community Church.
They now reside outside of Billings, Montana, along with their little dog, Mia. They are members of Laurel Bible Church, where Justin currently serves as an elder.
