Finis Jennings Dake and The Dake Bible
Teachings Of Finis Jennings Dake
I became interested in studying Finis Jenings Dake after a speaker at our church mentioned to the Church how good the Dake’s study Bible was. I looked in the library but was able to find very little information on Dake. I was finally able to find a few articles in Christianity Today, and some newspaper clippings and things at the A\G archives. I had originally believed that Dake was just a little off in just a couple of minor doctrines. As I studied his materials (not just the His study Bible), I became greatly alarmed. I could not believe some of the things I learned from studying his materials. Here are some of the things I learned: Dake teaches tritheism, does not believe God is omniscient, nor omnipresent, he believes God is composed of a body, soul, and spirit; can move only in this body (can only be in one place at one time-including the Holy Spirit), does not believe the Holy Spirit indwells us, and other heretical doctrines.
Some people might say, "But Dake says God is Omnipresent, or that Dake Teaches the Trinity!" What I found is that in comparing his different works, he changes and distorts the meaning of key words and their theological meaning. For example His idea of the trinity is three separate Gods who are one only in unity, not substance (or essence). I do not want this study to create division, but I hope it will bring a warning to be careful of what we accept as Christian.
In this study, there are several symbols for references that are used. Here are their meanins:
B. = the Dakes Bible.
GPFM = The book written by Dake entitled, "God’s Plan for Man". It is published by "Dake Bible Sales, Inc., Lawrenceville, Georgia. (It is carried at Radiant Book Store, and the AGTS Library).
* =an asterisk and then a page number is used to identify New Testament References in the Dakes Bible. If there is no * it would be an Old Testament Reference.
Col. = is the column the reference is found in, in the Dakes Bible.
For example: B. p.*280: Col.4 [B.(Bible)p. *280(page 280 in the New Testament) Col.4(column four).]
First, we will look at Dakes teaching on the Divine Trinity. Christians have held that we serve One God with three persons. Or three persons who are One God (only one essence or substance, not three completely different Gods, not just three Gods working together). Dake teaches 3 completely different Gods (tritheism).
Teachings on Trinity:
1. "The Trinity-18 Fallacies" (Dake classifies these as being false teachings):
1. "That there is only one person or one being called God" (B. p*280: Col 1,#1).
2. "That there is a difference in meaning of three human persons and three divine persons" (B. p*280: Col 1, #2).
6. "That the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are essential parts of one being, just as man is made up of body, soul, and spirit"
B. p*280: Col 1, #6).
In Dakes Bible see also: p*280: Col. 2, 1st para; p.*280: Col. 2, #1; p*281: Col. 2, #59; p*281: Col. 3, #62
In "God’s Plan for Man":
". . . God can be three distinct persons as separate and distinct as any three persons we know of in this life." (GPFM: p. 53, last para).
"If there are three persons in the Godhead and they exist as one, we must understand this oneness to be the same as in the case of several men being one-one in unity, as in John 17:11, . . ." (GPFM: p. 54, last para).
"What is there hard to understand about three persons in the Godhead being three separate persons in the same sense we can conceive of any other three persons? What is there hard to understand about three persons being one in unity as we can conceive of any number of persons? Do we have to believe that three persons must become one person in order to be three in one? Is this the case with three men who are one in unity? If not, then this is not the case of the three separate persons in the Godhead. Is it necessary for all persons who are one in unity to lose their own personality, their own bodies, souls, and spirits, and all get inside one person in order for them to be one in unity?. . . Could not God exist as three separate persons with three separate bodies, souls, and spirits, and still be one in unity?" (GPFM: p. 55, 1st para). see also page 55, 2nd para.
Attributes Of God
Essence/Composition of God:
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit all: have a body, soul, and spirit. Each also: eats, wears cloths, has hair, eyes, lips, and all othe bodily parts as we do. God is "confined" to this body, soul, and spirit: meaning He can only be in one place at any one time. God goes from place to place in a body just as we do. God (all three) are our size and all three wear cloths. see: (for body characteristics see Bible p.*96, col. 1, bottem; col. 2, bottom; p. *97, col. 1#R and 2, bottom. Also GPFM p. 56-57, last para. and top para on 57).
Invisibility: Dake states as a fallacy that: "That God is invisible reality and cannot be seen by natural eyes." (B. 280, Col 1, #11).
"When we use the word invisible we must not think of it altogether in the terms of substance, but mainly as distance-beyond eyesight, beyond natural visibility" (GPFM p. 51, last para).
"No man, therefore, can say with Scriptural authority, that God consists of a kind of invisible substance which cannot be seen or touched by man." (GPFM: p. 52: 1st para).
"The reason we do not comprehend God more than we do by the senses is that He is bodily too far from us." (GPFM p. 58, 2nd para).
"There is no such thing as a world of creations made up of invisible substance. The so-called spirit-world must be understood simply as spirit beings inhabiting material worlds created by God. Heaven itself is a material planet. . . having cities, mansions, furniture, inhabitants, living conditions, etc." (B. *280: col. 2, 3rd para). See also: Bible p. 562: col 1#D; and GPFM p. 57: 2nd para). This material planet heaven is located in the north part of the universe. (B. p.120: col. 2#N).
"A spirit being can and does have real, material, and tangible spirit form, shape, and size, with bodily parts, soul passions, and spirit faculties." (GPFM p. 56: 4th para).
". . . he cannot see God’s body due to the distance from earth to heaven where He dwells" (B. 613, col 4#r). See also:
Bible p.10: col. 1#a; p.807: col. 1#B; p. 64: col 3#44; p. 388: Col. 1#B; p. 467: col. 1#F; p. 453: col. 1#C., and GPFM p.53: 1st para).
Omnipresence:
Dake believes that because each of the three persons who work together as one (unity) God each have their own body, soul, and spirit, God can only be in one place at one time. He can not be everywhere. God’s presence can be felt everwhere, but Dakes meaning for "presence" is different than what we would mean.
" God’s body is like that of a man, for man was created in His likeness. . . . God also has many other means of travel and goes from one place to another bodily as all other beings in existence." (B. 807, col. 1#B).
"Spirit beings, including God, Himself, cannot be omnipresent in body, for their bodies are of ordinary size and must be at one place at a time, in the same way that bodies of men are always localized, being in one place at a time. God, angels, and other spirit beings go from place to place bodily as men do; . . . . Christ is a true example of what we mean by omnipresence. He said, "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. . . In what sense is He in the midst of so many gatherings? This could
not mean that He is bodily present, for His body is in heaven seated at the right hand of God. . ." (GPFM p. 60, last para).
What does Dake mean by God’s presence being felt everywhere then? "Presence is governed by relationship, not bodily sight. When the body of anyone is not literally present, one cannot say that it is present. The presence of two persons may be felt though thousands of miles may separate them bodily. In such a case, presence consists of union, relationship, memory, acquaintance, and association to the same end in life. The closer two persons are to each other in any relationship, the more they feel each other’s presence in the thought life. So it is with God. God dwells in Heaven and persons on Earth that know Him and are in union with Him in spirit can feel His presence in their lives regardless of where they are on the Earth or under the Earth. This is what is meant by statements men use to prove that God personally fills the whole of space and matter" (GPFM p. 61 3rd para). Also: "We must understand all like passages, as teaching the omnipresence of God, but not the omnibody of God. While I write I feel the presence of my wife and children who are hundreds of miles away at this time. . . Thus presence is governed by relationship, not bodily contact only. Man has the same faculty that God has to make his presence felt by others, only it is on a finite scale. God’s attribute of presence is infinite, but it works literally on the same principle as that of man." (GPFM p. 61, 5th para).
"In this same sense Paul was with the Corinthians in spirit when they delivered the fornicator to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. In this sense, Paul and other believers dwelled in each other regardless of personal bodily distance from each other. . . We know that the personal body of Christ, or those of believers, are not omnipresent when they are in the lives of others in spirit presence, so the same thing is true of the Father and the Holy Spirit." (p. 62, 1st para). See also B. 613: col. 4#R; B. 623: col. 4#8).
Omniscience:
"God gets to know things concerning the free moral actions of men as others do. . . God sends messengers throughout the Earth who report to Him of all that they find in the Earth that goes on. . . God does not take care of every detail of His vast business in all the kingdoms of the universe. His agents help Him and they are found in every part of the universe on missions for God. . . God sends messengers throughout the whole of His vast creations to find out for Him what He wants to know, the same as the head of any other business would be likely to do, so that plans may be made and actions taken accordingly. (GPFM p. 62, 2nd and 3rd para.).
"We have no statement in the entire Bible saying that God knows or even would like to know all acts and particular events of all vast creations of free moral agents from all eternity past; or that He has fixed decrees choosing and predestinating all the thoughts, acts, and deeds of free wills from all eternity past to all eternity future.
God’s eternal plan for man is known from the beginning to the end and what He plans to bring to pass on Earth He has power to do, but concerning the free actions of free moral agents He does not know from all eternity what they will do before they are in existence and are here to have a part in His plan. He does not know which ones will be saved and which ones will be lost." (GPFM p. 63, 2nd and 3rd para). See also Bible p. 2: col. 4#U; p.6: col. 1#Q; p.15: col 4#M; p. 67: col. 1#H; p. 232: col. 4#B; p. 623: col. 4#9.
Holy Spirit:
"The Holy Spirit dwells IN men only in the sense of UNION WITH, but never by bodily entrance into the human body to live there like an incarnation. God and man are in perfect union and are considered as being one and dwelling in each other." (GPFM p. 453, middle para).
The Holy Spirit: "Dwells in men in the sence of union with, not bodily entrance into the human body" (Bible cyclpedic index, p. 108: #65). See also: B p.*86: col. 4#N; and GPFM p. 50: 2nd para.).
Dake teaches a doctrine he calls "interpenetration," which means that no being or person (whether a demon, angel, nor God the Holy Spirit) can enter or be inside of another person or human. (B. p.*86: col. 4#N).
Jesus:
Became the Christ 30 years after He was born: Bible p.1: col. 1#A; and GPFM p. 482: 2nd para.
Other Doctrines:
1. Natural men will live forever in eternity here on the New Earth, AND HAVE BABIES!
"All future saints will never be resurrected due to the fact that it is God’s plan to permit earthly saints in the millennium and the New Earth to continue eternally as natural earthly people as Adam and the whole race would have lived if man had not fallen. After the resurrection from the dead is past, people will continue to be born forever, as we have proved in supplement two." (GPFM p. 722, Question #4). See also: GPFM p. 74:#2.; B. p. 562: col. 1#A.
2. We will retain our sex in heaven, whether male or female: GPFM p. 557: #3.
3. Dake teaches we will see the people burning in hell for all eternity (how depressing!):
"Did you not know that…" "That men in all eternity who live on the New Earth will be able to see people in hell? . . . It is clear that people in hell will be seen by others outside Hell who will be living on the New Earth." (GPFM p. 112:#5). [God and us will be on the earth then].
4. God is also not Immutable: God learns new things He did not know before, He learns things as they happen, etc. Dake uses the term "Immutable" and applies it to God, but he has changed the meaning as he does many other theological words. See: B. p.930:Col. 4, top para; and also B. p. 623: col. 4#12.
5. Dake, whether a racist or not, taught racism. On the last attached page is a photocopy of a 1963 edition Dakes Bible, and a 1993 printing of the Dakes Bible. Dake died in 1987 but did not change the racist readings while alive. His family as can be see did change many of the readings and the heading in 1990.
Compare especially #2, #4, #23, and #24, under the heading "30 reasons for segregation of races" (remember he wrote this in 1963 when segregation was widespread).
Conclusion:
Finnis Dake and his Dake Bible differ drastically from almost every major orthodox Christian doctrine. It is difficult for me to understand why his study bible is so popular in pentecostal and charismatic churches.
Michael Robichaud
01/09/2010 @ 3:29 pm
I applaud your efforts in revealing the fallacies of Finnis Dake in light of the Bible (KJV as such) and orthodox Christianity. I had a acquired a copy of “God’s Plan For Man” copyright 1977 by friends that were moving, and up until recently I had not opened the book. Observations that seemed odd to me at first glance were as follows. Finnis Dake’s work was not endorsed or recommended by any notable pastors, bible scholars or theologians. There were no personal academic accomplishments, and what little personal information that was provided was vague at best.
Randomly, and in no particular order I turned to Lesson Nineteen entitled, “The Dispensation of Grace”. Finnis Dake makes the asumption that God’s grace is subject to ones performance, which in turn would make His grace conditional. If Gods grace is conditional and performance based it is no longer grace, but instead becomes favoritism. Jesus makes it clear that He was no respector of any person. Jesus died for the sins of all without partiality, John 3:16, Romans 5:8. This is the universal grace of God to all mankind through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ. If God’s grace is conditional why would His Son die for all mankind? Wouldn’t it make more sense to make atonement for those that would receive His Son? But instead God’s grace is freely given to all, even those that refuse to believe. Furthermore, if grace is conditional that would make eternal security conditional. That is to say that those who placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their personal savior would be jeopardizing their eternal security every time they would sin irregardless of repenting in accordance with 1john 1:9…..I thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ that His grace does abound, which is a testimony to His sovereignty. And that as far as eternal security goes we have Jesus words in John 10:28 “And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand”.
Best Regards,
In Christ,
Michael Robichaud
admin
01/09/2010 @ 7:36 pm
Hi Michael:
Thanks for the response. I am planning on posting articles on specific issues (that are more in depth than some of the articles I have or have been given now) such as the Trinity etc.
I think it is good that you have an older copy of GPFM. Dake’s family has made many changes to the Dake Study Bible after Dake’s death. I am not sure how much they have ‘massaged’ the teachings of Dake in the newer printings of his other books. If someone really wants to know what Dake taught, they need to look at his older materials. (He died in 1987… his family it seems started having changes made in the early 90’s).
I am still surprised that the major Christian book sellers (like Christianbooks (dot) com) all sell his publications.
Gena Dake
01/23/2010 @ 9:40 pm
I believe my great great Grandfather just meant for people to take a look at what you believe and ask yourself what you really believe in.He use to tell my grandfather “think for yourself don’t let others think for you.His books were just his interpretation of what he read/study of the bible.You don’t have to believe a word he said.That is your right as a child of god.That’s what god gave us freewill. And his teachings were just that freewill
admin
01/24/2010 @ 11:30 am
Hi Gena:
Thank you for commenting.
Finis Dake did much more than than just ask believers to examine what they really believe. He went into great depth in his attempt to teach people what to believe. According to Dake, his knowledge and memory came straight from God.
Yes I agree that we have the ability to chose to accept or reject what he taught. One of the problems though I have found is that very few people have really looked in depth at what he taught. I believe his teachings to be dangerous and against what has been the belief of Christians for centuries.
If the beliefs/doctrines that he taught were just minor things (such as when the rapture will occur) I would not have listed him in the cult section. Dake though twisted, changed, and distorted almost every major doctrine Christians believe. I won’t have time for a couple of months, but I am planning to discuss some of the more important doctrines, especially those dealing with the Trinity, God’s Nature and Attributes, and some others.
I would like to add Gena, that I know it may be hard to see your great, great grandfather ‘attacked.’ It is not my intention to attack him as a person, but to share with others his true teachings.
Matthew
stefanus
02/20/2010 @ 1:44 am
There is no one is right in his whole teaching,but only the right attitude God will judge. I don’t agree with Dake’s teaching about salvation,I believe in eternal security,if not,then what Christ did on the cross would have been inferior to what first Adam did.But the truth is Grace swallow up sin. Yet I agree with his teaching that God is indeed three persons,where were God the Father when Jesus was hanging on the cross? Where was He when Jesus went down to hell.He was on His throne on heaven.As God,He can not and might not be crucified.Therefore distinctively there are more than just One person in that occasion.But we know and understand God’s trinity is difficult to be understand by our fallen mind,therefore let’s not debate,because there is not one satisfactory explanation until now, and that’s where other religions attacks to Christians doctrine.
admin
02/23/2010 @ 8:38 am
Hi Stefanus:
I agree that the Trinity can be difficult to understand. That does not mean we should not try though.
Dake completely misinterprets the Bible’s teachings on there being one God. Dake teaches that that the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the Father do NOT share the same essence (only the same goals). He teaching is that there are three completely separate God’s (not just 3 personalities who share one essence). For Dake there is not one God but several completely separate Gods (each with his own physical body and spirit). Just as with his teachings that God does not know everything (He has to learn as we do), Dake rejects almost every important/major doctrine the Christian church has taught for thousands of years.
brian mcnamee
02/23/2010 @ 12:24 am
what a sad thing it is when the majority follow leaders who abandon righteous doctrine..the relative who is somewhat standing up for her relative ought to rather denounce him as a fraud, he was not trying to get men to think for themselves but rather to assume the conclusion he had reached which are contrary to scripture. This bible as well as the men promoting it 125. from Benny lol prove it is not about God..any repuatiable bible is on ly 40-50 bucks///
Kevin Stutler
05/14/2010 @ 11:02 am
Hello Folks,
I continue to be amazed by how many people call something heresy
that they actually believe. An example is how Dake viewed the Trinity.
As pastors and teachers sit in church pews and sing, “the only thing
there (Heaven) that’s been made by man…are the scars in the hands of
Jesus” these same refuse to believe (Theologically) that Jesus has a body separate from the “Father” GOD. [Rest of Post Edited]
Stand fast in the liberty where
Christ makes us free…
Bro. Kevin Stutler
Free-Will Baptist Ordained Reverend
and University Lecturer (18yr experience)
admin
05/19/2010 @ 12:02 pm
Hi Kevin:
Thanks for posting. Since this site is focused on cults, I edited out your comments on the NIV. (If you want to post on Bible versions please post in the theology section).
Dake, as you know, does not believe in the Trinity. He teaches what is often called “Tri-Theism” or a belief in three separate God’s (only working together in unity). You can believe anything you want, but you can’t call it Christianity. While Christians may disagree on ‘minor’ issues or doctrines such as when the rapture will occur, etc., they agree on the foundation of what Christianity is. One important part of that foundation is a believe int he Trinity. Dake disagrees in his teachings with almost every single historic Christian belief. While I admire his dedication to reading the Bible, he got it wrong. Dake teaches ‘another gospel’ not the true gospel of the Bible. I hope to sometime this supper post an indepth article on Dake and his views of the Trinity (we have articles on the Trinity in our theology section – learntheology.com, but I want to really pull out Dake’s teachings on this topic). Leon Bible in his Biography of Dake has a section on Dake’s view of the Trinity. He attempts to make Dake look orthodox… but does so by leaving out many, many parts of Dake’s teachings. I hope to correct this misrepresentation of Dake’s false theology.
Bob Fryman
11/11/2010 @ 11:26 pm
Hi Folks:
I continue to be amazed by how many people have commented on the errors in the Dake Bible, I recieved a Dake Bible at my retirement in 1993 but I did’t use it very much because the print was so small. I rarely used his notes at all, a couple of years ago I bought a large print Dake Bible and began to use it in bible study at our church, when we were studing in Revelation – was the first time I really noticed his notes that much, and I noticed his teaching that the 144,000 Jews are symbolized by the man child. Since I had stopped using it at all at church studies, but noted manny errors later at home study. I’m really sorry I ever bought this bible, but now I’m stuck with it, I surely wouldn’t give it to some new believer.
Marian Elder
02/03/2011 @ 11:23 am
I bought a Dake’s Study Bible from an estate sale seven yrs. ago, but only recently began to study from it. I had a favorite study bible already, but I was impressed with the vastness of the notes and commentary in Dake’s, seeming to make studying easier. I was studying in it for very little time when I was stunned by some of the teachings, and hadn’t even gotten to the above mentioned ones.
I will most likely destroy this bible. I am a mature christian, a Sunday school teacher, and might be prone to believe that I can always divide the word rightly, however, I understand that in the end times,many learned ones will be decieved.If this were the only study bible in the world, I might attempt to pick my way through it, pulling out those nuggets of truth that ARE there, but why walk through a minefield unneccesarily.
We know two things: 1. looking for the easiest possible route to anything is risky business, do the studying! and 2.NO human commentary, or religious denomination, has the complete and infallible Truth. Pray, fast, and meditate as you study. The Holy Spirit will give you understanding.
God Bless the readers of His Holy Word!