jgnat I am not sure at this point....good question.
Psalm 82
6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;
you are all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die like mere men;
you will fall like every other ruler.”
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance.
Is this literally saying you are gods? Or is it saying you belong to god. As in you are gods children because it goes on to talk about your inheritance.
John 10
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’ e ? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
Again...I read this as saying you are gods (as in belonging to god), because he then goes on to say he set apart his very own.
But then the bible goes on to add:
Psalm 82:1 A psalm of Asaph. God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the "gods":
If he gives judgement among the "gods" there must be lesser gods.
As for the Gods worshipped by Israels neighbours. I think they are just referred to as Gods so that they knew who they talking about. This does not mean God recognises them as actual Gods.
2 Corinthians 4:4
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
I think Satan is only refered to the god of this world because he is a false god, just as the ones referred to as Israels neighbours.
confused?......me too, kinda.....but not. ha