The “Little gods” Heresy: A Biblical Response
- The Pilgrim's Post
- Mar 1
- 4 min read
Introduction: The Rise of a Dangerous Teaching
One of the most deceptive errors infiltrating modern charismatic circles is “Little gods” theology. Popularized by Word of Faith teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, and Creflo Dollar, this doctrine asserts that believers are, in essence, divine beings—gods in a lower sense.
At first glance, this might seem like an overstatement, but consider the claims made by these teachers:
Kenneth Copeland: “You don’t have a God in you. You are one!”
Creflo Dollar: “I am a little god… Everything that He is, I am.”
Benny Hinn: “When you say, ‘I am a Christian,’ you are saying, ‘I am a little messiah walking on earth.’”
These statements reveal a dangerous distortion of biblical truth. While Scripture teaches that believers are children of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17), it never elevates humanity to the status of deity.
This false doctrine borrows from paganism, Gnosticism, and even Mormonism, rather than the historic, biblical faith. In this article, we will expose the heresy of “Little gods” theology, provide a Reformed understanding of the believer’s authority, and offer a biblical foundation for our true identity in Christ.
What Is “Little gods” Theology?
At its core, “Little gods” theology teaches:
Since God created Adam in His image, Adam was a “little god.”
At the Fall, Adam lost his divine status, but through Christ, believers are restored as “little gods.”
Because we are “gods,” we can speak things into existence just as God does.
Faith is a force that operates on spiritual laws, allowing believers to declare and decree reality.
This doctrine misuses key Scriptures to justify its claims. Let’s examine some of their proof texts and how they are misinterpreted.
Misused Scriptures and Their Proper Context
1. Psalm 82:6 – “You are gods”
This is one of the most frequently abused verses. Word of Faith teachers claim that this passage proves believers are “little gods.”
Biblical Context:
In Psalm 82, God is rebuking the corrupt rulers of Israel, calling them “gods” (elohim) because of their authority.
However, verse 7 clarifies, “Nevertheless, like men you shall die.”
Jesus references this passage in John 10:34-36, but He is not affirming that believers are divine—He is confronting the Pharisees’ hypocrisy.
📖 Reformed Response: Humans are not divine. While we bear God’s image (Genesis 1:26), this does not mean we possess His divine nature. Instead, we are dependent creatures under His sovereign rule.
2. Genesis 1:26 – “Let us make man in our image”
Word of Faith teachers argue that because we are made in God’s image, we must be like God in nature—little gods.
Biblical Context:
Being made in God’s image means that we reflect His moral, rational, and relational attributes—not that we share His divine essence.
Adam was never divine but was a created being with a special role as God’s representative.
📖 Reformed Response: The image of God sets us apart from animals but does not make us divine. We are creatures, not creators.
3. Romans 8:17 – “Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ”
Word of Faith preachers use this verse to claim that since we are co-heirs with Christ, we share in His divine status.
Biblical Context:
The passage speaks of inheritance, not divinity.
We are co-heirs in the sense that we will share in Christ’s future glory, not that we become gods.
📖 Reformed Response: We share in Christ’s reign, not His nature. Our inheritance is eternal life, not divine essence.
A Biblical (Reformed) View of the Believer’s Authority
While “Little gods” theology promotes a false sense of power, Scripture does teach that believers have authority—but it is not the authority to declare reality or act as divine beings.
1. Our Authority Comes from Christ, Not Ourselves
📖 Matthew 28:18-20 – Christ declares, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Believers do not possess independent authority; we act under Christ’s commission.
🔹 Application:
We do not “decree” reality but submit to Christ’s sovereign will.
Our prayers are not commands but petitions to the King.
2. Our Authority Is Over Spiritual Darkness, Not Over Creation
📖 Luke 10:19 – Jesus gave His disciples authority over demons, but this is not a blanket authority to command reality.
🔹 Application:
Believers engage in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12) but do not speak things into existence.
Authority over demons is not the same as sovereignty over the universe.
3. Our Power Is in the Word and the Spirit, Not in Ourselves
📖 2 Corinthians 4:7 – “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
🔹 Application:
Our strength comes from God’s Word and Spirit, not from a divine nature within us.
The authority of the believer is exercised through prayer, faithfulness, and obedience, not declarations and affirmations.
Why “Little gods” Theology Is Dangerous
1. It Undermines the Uniqueness of God
Isaiah 43:10 – “Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.”
Isaiah 45:5 – “I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God.”
If believers are “gods,” these passages would be false. The Bible is clear—there is only one God.
2. It Leads to Pride and Self-Worship
Instead of humility, this doctrine encourages self-exaltation.
It replaces trust in God’s sovereignty with faith in human declarations.
3. It Distorts the Gospel
The good news is not that we are gods, but that God became man to redeem us.
If we were divine, we would not need salvation.
Conclusion: Worship the One True God
The “Little gods” heresy twists Scripture to elevate man to the status of deity. But Scripture teaches that:
✅ We are image-bearers, not gods.
✅ We are co-heirs, not co-divine.
✅ We have authority in Christ, not independent power.
Believers are not little gods. We are servants of the one true God. Instead of seeking divine status, let us bow before the Lord in humility, trust in His power, and proclaim His gospel.
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