The Numerous concerns on what Michael Heiser teaches

[TBC: Some readers have asked for information regarding the teachings of Dr. Michael Heiser. Here is an excerpt from an article written by Mike Oppenheimer which well illustrates concerns regarding Heiser’s teachings.]

Many in the church have taken notice of this man’s teaching on elohim (Gn.1:26) meaning a council of gods. It important to examine the teaching to see if what he is saying is ‘Biblically accurate.’

Michael Heiser, is the Executive Director of the School of Ministry at Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida. He earned his PhD in Hebrew Bible and Semitic languages (from University of Wisconsin-Madison) (with a minor in Classical studies) 2004. He says he holds an MA in ancient history and Hebrew studies from the University of Pennsylvania (major fields: Ancient Israel and Egyptology).

He is the coeditor of Old Testament Greek Pseudepigrapha with Morphology and Semitic Inscriptions: Analyzed Texts and English Translations, and is said to do translation work in roughly a dozen ancient languages, including Biblical Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Ugaritic cuneiform. 

Having said this, I would add that it is ‘whom one learns from’ that actually matters. Degrees may be valid only in this respect. Madison is known for being a liberal college. Heiser’s pronunciations of the Hebrew language fall short from what one would expect from his credentials.

Example: Shema (“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one” Deut. 6:4; JPS Tanakh) This is not how the Hebrew is pronounced, it is sh’ma, no ‘e’.

Heiser does express certain truths in his writings as he has you journey with him, introducing you to his new interpretations. There are a few points of doctrine that can be agreed upon; however, his new hermeneutic philosophy (or principle) has led him to conclusions on certain doctrines that cannot be supported by Scripture no matter how much he insists they are….One cannot use one’s own interpretations to prove that their interpretations are correct.

Let me begin by saying, “it takes longer to correct error than to teach error”…He asks the listener[s] to enter into his “new revelations” by his new interpretations he has constructed (that bring confusion). The more I read his so-called proofs the more concerned I became.

Heiser’s understanding of God is based on: “The God of the Old Testament was part of an assembly – a pantheon – of other gods” (p. 11 Heiser, The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible, 2015).

Here we find a non-biblical concept of “other gods,” introduced, ‘a pantheon.’ 

In Scripture, however, God himself has said there is no other God, there is but One God. This is basic Judaism and Christianity 101. The God Scripture describes existed before any one thing was created and He created all things visible and invisible, living creatures and inanimate.

As Jeremiah points out Thus you shall say to them: "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens” (Jer:10:11Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
See All...). So, the question is, ‘who are these other gods’ Heiser speaks about?

He challenges Scripture, referring to divine, or deity as “God,” distinguished with a capital “G” in English. When there are “other” gods (plural) mentioned in Scripture they are ALWAYS false gods. This is non debatable (there are no true gods or divine beings that become non divine as he claims; nor angels either.)

To say there are other ‘true’ Elohim (that are created) is to reject what the Bible…which is Monotheistic. Monotheism’ does not mean no other “gods” exist, as shown by Old Testament passages but that there is Only One True God, all other elohim, those called “gods” by the nations are all false gods.

In The Unseen Realm, Heiser states that the ancient Hebrews would have interpreted Genesis:1:26-27 [26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
See All... as The Divine Council participating in the creation of human beings. If that is true than why declare to all of Israel in Deut.6:4: "Hear O’ Yisrael, listen and understand – YOUR God is echad, a united one." Deut. 6:4 emphasizes a compound unity. Our “Elohim” are One God. There is only one God who shares His attributes and nature among three persons who are equal as the one God; not more gods who were created. 

For other information: http://www.letusreason.org/Popteach129.htm