Below are articles on the beliefs and teachings of Finis Dake. Dake, The Dake Bible, and his other books strongly depart from biblical Christianity and what Christians have believed since Christ. Dake’s defenders often try to gloss over or downplay Dake’s deviations from true Christianity, but we will expose his beliefs.
Warning: The teachings of Finis Dake contain numerous doctrinal errors that depart significantly from orthodox Christian theology. While his Dake Annotated Reference Bible remains popular in some circles, readers should be aware of the serious theological problems present in his interpretations.
Understanding Dake’s Theological Departures
Finis Jennings Dake (1902-1987) was a Pentecostal minister whose Dake Annotated Reference Bible, first published in 1963, has influenced countless readers. Despite his reputation as the “Walking Bible” for his ability to quote Scripture flawlessly, Dake promoted numerous teachings that contradict historic Christian orthodoxy and biblical truth. His defenders often minimize these departures from biblical Christianity, but a careful examination reveals teachings that fundamentally alter core Christian doctrines.
Major Theological Errors
Dake’s most significant departures from biblical truth include:
- The Gap Theory: Teaching a pre-Adamite world that existed between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, complete with a previous race of beings
- God’s Physical Body: Claiming God has a literal physical body with hands, feet, and other bodily parts, limited to one location at a time
- Racial Segregation: Promoting the permanent segregation of races as God’s will, with disturbing statements about interracial marriage
- Angels and Demons: Teaching that angels and demons have physical bodies and that angels can procreate
- Salvation Issues: Confusing statements about water baptism and its role in salvation
The Gap Theory, perhaps Dake’s most well-known teaching, suggests that millions or billions of years elapsed between the first two verses of Genesis. During this supposed gap, Dake taught that a pre-Adamite civilization existed, ruled by Lucifer on earth before his fall. This theory, while attempting to reconcile Scripture with evolutionary timeframes, lacks solid biblical foundation and was largely a reaction to Darwinian challenges rather than careful biblical exegesis.
Even more troubling is Dake’s teaching that God possesses a physical body. In his notes on Genesis 18, Dake explicitly states that “God, as well as men and angels, is limited to one place as far as the body is concerned” and that “In His body He goes from place to place like other persons.” This teaching directly contradicts the biblical doctrine of God’s omnipresence and spirituality, as Jesus clearly stated, “God is Spirit” (John 4:24).
These errors are not minor interpretive differences but fundamental departures from biblical Christianity that affect one’s understanding of God’s nature, humanity’s relationship with God, and the gospel itself. The articles linked below examine these teachings in detail, providing biblical refutation and helping readers understand why these doctrines must be rejected.
Finis Dake had Dozens of Unbiblical Teachings
- A Doctrine of Devils? The Unbiblical Teachings of Dake
- A Look at Some of The Problems in Finis Dake’s Theology
- Dake’s Dangerous Doctrine: A Short Introduction
- Dake’s Dangerous Doctrine
- Finis Dake’s Age Gap Theory vs. Literal Seven-Day Creation
- Finis Dake’s Dangerous Errors on Jesus’ Atonement and Salvation: A Biblical Analysis
- Finis Dake’s Heretical Views on God: A Comparison with Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Finis Dake’s Teaching on Men as Miniature Gods
- Finis Dake’s Teaching that Humans Will have Babies on Earth Forever
- Finis Dake’s Theological Errors in “God’s Plan for Man”
- Finis Dake’s Theological Errors on God’s Immutability
- Finis Dake’s Theological Errors on Heaven and Hell
- Finis Dake’s Tri-theistic Doctrine: A Comprehensive Examination
- Finis Dake’s Unorthodox View of God: A Comparison with Cult Teachings
- Finis Dake’s View of God: Striking Parallels with Mormon Theology
- Finis Jennings Dake and The Dake Bible
- Finis Jennings Dake: How His Theological Errors Have Corrupted Modern Prosperity Gospel Teaching
- Problems and Errors of the Dake Bible
- Understanding the Trinity: How Finis Dake Contradicts 2,000 Years of Christian Faith
