Introduction: The Deceptive Nature of Dake’s Teachings

Finis Dake was a prolific writer whose Dake Annotated Reference Bible has influenced countless Christians. However, beneath the surface of seemingly biblical language lies a theological system that fundamentally denies core Christian doctrines about the nature of God, the person of Jesus Christ, and the means of salvation. This article will demonstrate from Dake’s own writings how his teachings represent serious departures from orthodox Christianity.

What makes Dake’s errors particularly dangerous is that he used familiar Christian terminology while completely redefining the meanings. When Dake spoke of the “Trinity,” he didn’t mean what Christians have believed for two millennia. When he discussed Jesus’ atonement, he fundamentally altered the nature of Christ’s work on the cross.

Part I: Dake’s Heretical View of the Trinity

Three Separate Beings, Not One God

The most fundamental error in Dake’s theology is his complete redefinition of the Trinity. According to Dake, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three completely separate beings with their own individual bodies, souls, and spirits.

Notice how Dake begins with seemingly orthodox language but then adds that they are “three separate and distinct persons.” But he goes much further:

This is not the Christian doctrine of the Trinity but rather tritheism – belief in three gods. Dake explicitly teaches that each member of what he calls the “Trinity” has:

• A separate physical body
• A separate soul
• A separate spirit
• Complete individuality from the others

Redefining “One” to Mean Unity of Purpose

To maintain the appearance of orthodoxy while teaching three separate gods, Dake completely redefines what Scripture means by “one”:

According to Dake, when the Bible says God is “one,” it doesn’t mean one in essence or being, but merely that three separate gods work together in unity – exactly like three humans working together on a project.

Part II: Dake’s Denial of Christ’s Divine Nature During the Incarnation

Jesus Had No Divine Power According to Dake

One of Dake’s most shocking teachings is that Jesus Christ completely ceased to be God when He became human. According to Dake, Jesus had absolutely no divine power or attributes during His earthly ministry:

Dake goes even further, claiming that Jesus was born with no more power than any other baby:

Jesus as Merely a Spirit-Filled Human

According to Dake’s system, Jesus only had power after being baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit, just like any other human being could:

This teaching completely denies the hypostatic union – the biblical doctrine that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man in one person. Dake reduces Jesus to a mere human who happened to be filled with God’s Spirit.

Part III: Dake’s Distorted View of the Atonement

The Atonement as Merely Looking Back or Forward

While Dake affirms that Christ died for sins, his understanding of the atonement is deeply flawed because of his errors about Christ’s nature. According to Dake:

While it’s true that Old Testament saints were saved by faith in the coming Messiah, Dake’s system makes the actual incarnation and atonement almost incidental. If Jesus was merely a human filled with the Spirit, how could His death have infinite value to atone for the sins of all humanity?

Salvation Through Multiple Steps

Dake’s teaching on salvation reveals a works-based system disguised as grace. According to Dake, true Christianity requires:

1. Initial salvation/new birth
2. Water baptism (which he separates from salvation)
3. A separate “baptism in the Holy Spirit” experience
4. Maintaining various levels of spiritual power

This creates a two-tier Christianity where some believers are “fully equipped” while others are not, contradicting the biblical teaching that all believers receive the Holy Spirit at conversion (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

Part IV: Dake’s Teaching on Sanctification and Justification

Confusion About Sanctification

Dake’s teaching on sanctification reveals further confusion about the nature of salvation. He appears to teach both instantaneous and progressive sanctification but in ways that contradict biblical doctrine:

In Dake’s system, sanctification becomes another work that believers must achieve rather than a position they receive in Christ and a process worked out by the Holy Spirit.

The Problem of “If It Be Thy Will” Prayers

Dake strongly condemns praying “if it be thy will” for healing, claiming this shows lack of faith:

This teaching places the burden of healing on human faith rather than God’s sovereign will, creating a works-based system where God’s blessings depend on perfect human performance.

Part V: The Dangerous Implications of Dake’s Theology

A Different Gospel

When we examine Dake’s teachings as a whole, we find a completely different gospel than what the apostles preached:

• A different God: Three separate beings instead of one God in three persons
• A different Jesus: A mere human who gained power through the Spirit rather than the God-man
• A different salvation: A multi-step process requiring special experiences rather than justification by faith alone
• A different sanctification: Human achievement rather than God’s work in us

The Problem of Redefined Terms

One of the most deceptive aspects of Dake’s teaching is his practice of using orthodox Christian terms while completely changing their meanings. When Dake writes about:

• The “Trinity” – he means three separate gods
• “Incarnation” – he means God ceased to be God
• “Atonement” – he means a human sacrifice empowered by the Spirit
• “Salvation” – he means a multi-step process of human achievement

This makes his teachings particularly dangerous for those who assume he means what Christians have always meant by these terms.

Part VI: Dake’s View of God’s Physical Limitations

God Cannot Be Omnipresent According to Dake

Perhaps most shocking is Dake’s teaching that God the Father has a physical body and therefore cannot be omnipresent:

According to Dake’s definition, if beings (including God) have bodies, they are limited to one location and cannot be omnipresent. This directly contradicts numerous Scripture passages that teach God’s omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:27-28).

This shows Dake’s fundamental misunderstanding of divine personhood versus human personhood. He applies human limitations to God, creating a god in man’s image rather than understanding man as made in God’s image.

Part VII: The Connection to Other Heretical Movements

Similarities to Mormonism

Critics have noted that Dake’s view of the Trinity is remarkably similar to Mormon theology, which also teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate beings with bodies. The letter from Dake Bible Sales, Inc. published in Christianity Today attempted to deny this but actually confirmed it:

This defense actually confirms the criticism – Dake did teach that God consists of three separate beings with separate bodies, souls, and spirits, which is exactly what Mormons teach.

The “Word of Faith” Connection

Dake’s teachings significantly influenced the Word of Faith movement. His ideas about:

• Jesus laying aside all divine attributes
• The necessity of perfect faith for healing
• The power of human words and faith
• God’s physical limitations

These teachings became foundational to many Word of Faith teachers who followed, spreading these errors throughout segments of Christianity.

Part VIII: Examining Dake’s Use of Scripture

Proof-Texting Without Context

Throughout his writings, Dake lists numerous Scripture references after his statements, giving the appearance of biblical support. However, when these verses are examined in context, they often do not support his claims. For example:

None of these verses teach that God the Father has a body. They refer to human bodies, resurrection bodies, or Christ’s incarnation – not to God the Father having a physical form.

Eisegesis Rather Than Exegesis

Dake consistently reads his preconceived ideas into Scripture (eisegesis) rather than drawing meaning out of Scripture (exegesis). He approaches the Bible with the assumption that all persons must have bodies, souls, and spirits like humans do, then forces this interpretation onto passages about God.

Part IX: The Biblical Response to Dake’s Errors

What Scripture Actually Teaches About God

The Bible clearly teaches truths that directly contradict Dake’s system:

The True Gospel

The gospel that saves is beautifully simple:

• All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23)
• The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)
• God demonstrates His love in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)
• If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9)
• Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)

This salvation is complete at the moment of faith. While believers grow in sanctification, they are fully justified, fully adopted, and fully indwelt by the Holy Spirit from the moment of conversion.

Part X: The Lasting Damage of Dake’s Teachings

Creating Confusion About Essential Doctrines

Dake’s teachings have created widespread confusion about:

• The nature of God
• The person of Christ
• The means of salvation
• The role of the Holy Spirit
• The nature of faith and prayer

Many Christians who use the Dake Bible or read his books absorb these errors without realizing they are departing from biblical Christianity.

Undermining the Sufficiency of Christ

By teaching that Jesus had no divine power and that believers need multiple experiences beyond salvation, Dake undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s work. If Jesus was merely a Spirit-filled human, then:

• His death has no more value than any other martyr’s
• His resurrection proves nothing unique about His identity
• His intercession for us lacks divine authority
• His promises lack divine power to fulfill

Creating a Performance-Based Religion

Dake’s system ultimately creates a performance-based religion where:

• Healing depends on perfect faith
• Spiritual power requires special experiences
• God’s blessings depend on human achievement
• Believers live in uncertainty about their spiritual status

This is the opposite of the gospel of grace, which declares that “it is finished” (John 19:30) and that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39).

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