Chapter 00: Introduction – Why Every Christian Needs to Know About the Dake Deception

Who Was Finis Jennings Dake?

To understand why this matters, we need to first understand who Finis Dake was and how one man’s interpretations could cause so much confusion in modern Christianity.

Finis Jennings Dake was born on October 18, 1902, in Miller County, Missouri. From his earliest days, Dake showed an intense interest in the Bible, but this interest would eventually lead him down paths that diverged dramatically from orthodox Christian teaching. By the time of his death on July 7, 1987, Dake had produced what many consider the most comprehensive – and most dangerous – study Bible ever published.

Dake grew up in a religious environment, but not one grounded in solid theological education. His family moved frequently during his childhood, and young Finis experienced a patchwork of different church teachings and interpretations. This lack of consistent, orthodox theological foundation would later show itself in his adult work. At age 17, Dake claimed to have a powerful conversion experience. He described visions and supernatural encounters that he said gave him special insight into Scripture. These experiences, rather than careful study of biblical languages and historical Christian doctrine, became the foundation for his later teachings.

What made Dake particularly influential wasn’t just his personal beliefs – it was his ability to systematize and spread them. In 1937, Dake became superintendent of the Southeastern Bible School in Houston, Texas. However, his time there was marked by controversy. His teachings were already beginning to show signs of deviation from accepted Christian doctrine, and conflicts arose with other faculty members who recognized the dangerous directions his interpretations were taking.

The real explosion of Dake’s influence came with the publication of his life’s work: the Dake Annotated Reference Bible, first released in 1963. This wasn’t just another study Bible with a few notes here and there. Dake had essentially rewritten Christian theology in the margins of Scripture. The Bible contained over 35,000 detailed notes, along with 500,000 cross-references, and claimed to answer 8,000 questions. For many Christians hungry for biblical knowledge but lacking formal theological education, it seemed like a goldmine.

Think of it this way: imagine you’re learning to cook, and someone gives you a cookbook where every recipe has been “improved” by someone who doesn’t really understand chemistry or nutrition. They’ve added notes like “salt is actually sugar in disguise” or “you can substitute motor oil for olive oil.” If you don’t know better, you’ll follow these notes and create disasters in your kitchen. That’s what Dake did with the Bible – he added thousands of notes that seemed helpful but actually poisoned the biblical text with false interpretations.

The Scope of the Problem: An Overview of Dake’s Major Errors

Before we dive deep into each error in the following chapters, let’s take a bird’s-eye view of the theological disasters Dake created. Understanding the scope of these problems will help you see why this isn’t just an academic exercise – these are beliefs that fundamentally change Christianity into something else entirely.

Error #1: Destroying the Trinity – Three Gods Instead of One

Perhaps Dake’s most serious error was his complete rejection of the Trinity. Now, the Trinity is admittedly a difficult concept – one God existing in three persons. It’s like trying to understand how water can be ice, liquid, and steam all at the same time, except even more complex. But just because something is hard to understand doesn’t mean we can simply change it to make it easier.

Dake didn’t just misunderstand the Trinity – he demolished it entirely. He taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three completely separate Gods who happen to work together, like three business partners who own a company together.¹ In Dake’s system, when the Bible says God is “one,” it doesn’t mean one in essence or being, but merely one in purpose and cooperation.

Dake elaborated extensively on this teaching, declaring: “What we mean by Divine Trinity is that there are three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead, each one having His own personal spirit body, personal soul, and personal spirit in the same sense each human being, angel, or any other being has his own body, soul, and spirit.”¹⁶ He insisted that “The word one means one in unity as well as one in number. It means unity in 1 Jn. 5:7, as it does in Jn. 17:11, 21-23, and yet these three persons, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, are spoken of as one each in number and individuality in Scripture. There is one God the Father, one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Holy Ghost (1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:3-6). Thus there are three separate persons in divine individuality and divine plurality.”¹⁷

In God’s Plan for Man, Dake stated emphatically: “There are over 500 plain scriptures that refer to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as being THREE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT PERSONS, each with His own personal body, soul, and spirit in the sense that all other persons have them.”²⁵ He went even further, arguing that “the old idea that God exists as three persons in one person is not only unscriptural, but it is ridiculous to say the least.”²⁶

Think about what this means. If the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate Gods, then Christianity isn’t monotheistic (believing in one God) anymore – it’s polytheistic (believing in multiple gods). We wouldn’t be any different from ancient religions that worshipped multiple deities. This isn’t a small mistake – it’s a complete abandonment of what the Bible teaches from Genesis to Revelation.

The Shema, which Jews have recited for thousands of years and which Jesus Himself quoted as the greatest commandment, declares: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Not three. One. When we mess with this fundamental truth, we’re not just adjusting our theology – we’re creating an entirely different religion.

Error #2: A Physical God – Giving God a Body

Dake’s second major error flows from his first. Since he believed in three separate Gods, he had to explain how they exist. His solution? Give them physical bodies. According to Dake, God the Father has a literal, physical spirit body complete with hands, feet, eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth.³ He’s supposedly about the size of a man, sits on a physical throne in a physical location in heaven, and can only be in one place at a time.

Dake wrote extensively about this physical God: “The Bible declares that God has a body, shape, image, likeness, bodily parts, a personal soul and spirit, and all other things that constitute a being or a person with a body, soul, and spirit.”¹⁸ He insisted that “Angels, cherubim, seraphim, and all other spirit beings have spirit bodies and personal souls and spirits. They have been seen with the natural eyes of men over 100 times in Scripture. If all other spirit beings have spirit bodies, could not the members of the Trinity also have spirit bodies?”¹⁹

In his systematic theology, Dake went to great lengths to describe God’s physical nature: “God is a person who is Spirit, infinite, eternal, immutable, self-existent, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, invisible, perfect, impartial, immortal, absolutely holy and just, full of knowledge and wisdom, in whom all things have their source, support and end. God is known in Scripture by over two hundred names. He is described as being like any other person as to having a body, soul, and spirit…He is a Spirit Being with a body…shape…form…”²⁷

Let that sink in for a moment. The God who created the universe, who spoke billions of galaxies into existence, who holds every atom together by His power – Dake shrinks Him down to the size of a human being with physical limitations.

This error might seem abstract, but it has practical consequences for every Christian. If God has a physical body and can only be in heaven, how can He hear your prayers directly? How can He be with you in your darkest moments? How can He live in your heart through the Holy Spirit? Dake’s God becomes distant, removed, unable to be personally present with His people.

Error #3: A Limited God – Denying God’s Infinite Attributes

Once you give God a body, you’ve automatically limited Him, and that’s exactly what happened in Dake’s theology. If God has a physical body in heaven, He can’t be everywhere at once (omnipresent). If He needs angels to report to Him about what’s happening on Earth, He doesn’t know everything (omniscient). If He’s bound by spiritual laws He created, He’s not all-powerful (omnipotent).

Dake taught that God has to “find out” about things happening on Earth. In his notes on Genesis 18:21, where God says He will “go down” to see what’s happening in Sodom, Dake interprets this literally – as if God didn’t already know and needed to investigate.⁴ This reduces God to something like a CEO who needs middle management to keep Him informed about His company.

In Dake’s own systematic theology, he wrote: “Omnipresent (not omnibody, 1 Ki. 8:27; Ps. 139:7-12). Presence is not governed by bodily contact, but by knowledge and relationship (Mt. 18:20; 28:20; cp. 1 Cor. 5:3-4). God’s body is not omnipresent, for it is only at one place at one time like others (Gen. 3:8; 11:5; 18:1-8, 33; 19:24; 32:24-32), but His presence can be realized any place where men know Him and seek Him (Mt. 18:20).”²⁰

Regarding God’s knowledge, Dake explicitly taught limitations: “Omniscient (all-knowing) as far as His nature, plan, and work are concerned (Rom. 11:33). As to free moral agents, God learns certain things about them (Gen. 6:5-7; 11:5-7; 18:21; 22:12; 2 Chr. 16:9; Job 12:22; 24:23; Ps. 7:9; 44:21; 139:1-6; Pr. 24:12; Jer. 17:10; Ez. 11:5; Zech. 4:10; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; Rom. 8:27; 1 Th. 2:4). God sends messengers on innumerable duties to help Him carry on His rulership of all things.”²¹

Dake was even more explicit in his God’s Plan for Man: “God is not a universal nothingness floating around in nowhere. He is not impersonal, immaterial, intangible—an unreal person. He is not a universal mind, soul, spirit, conscience, goodness, principle—an abstract power or force filling the whole of space and solid matter, as false cults teach. He is not omni-body; that is, His body is not everywhere at all places at the same time.”²⁸ He taught that “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.”²⁹

On the limitation of God’s knowledge, Dake wrote: “The Bible makes many simple statements that limit God’s knowledge. There would be no sense to such passages if we do not believe them literally…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 personally do everything that is done in all acts and events, nor has He known, elected, chosen, or predestinated all the acts and events from all eternity past.”³⁰

Imagine praying to a God who might not know about your situation until an angel files a report. Imagine serving a God who has to guess about the future rather than knowing it perfectly. Imagine trusting a God who might not be powerful enough to help you because He’s bound by certain limitations. That’s not the God of the Bible – that’s a superhuman being, perhaps, but not the infinite, all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present God who revealed Himself in Scripture.

Error #4: Humans as Little Gods – The Deification of Humanity

If you shrink God down, you inevitably lift humans up, and that’s exactly what Dake did. He taught that humans are “in the God class” and that believers especially are “little gods” with the same kind of authority and power that God has.⁵ This wasn’t meant metaphorically – Dake believed humans are literally a type of god-being.

This teaching has exploded in certain Christian circles today. You’ve probably heard preachers say things like “You have the same power that raised Christ from the dead” or “You can speak things into existence just like God did.” These ideas often trace back to Dake’s influence, whether the preachers know it or not.

The Bible is clear: there is only one God, and we are not Him. Isaiah 43:10 declares, “Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.” We are God’s creation, made in His image, yes, but not gods ourselves. When we blur this line, we commit the same sin as Satan, who wanted to be “like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14).

Error #5: Multiple Plans of Salvation – Making Jesus Insufficient

One of Dake’s most complex and damaging errors was his extreme form of dispensationalism. Now, many Christians believe in dispensations – different periods of time in which God dealt with humanity in different ways. That’s not necessarily wrong. But Dake took this to an extreme that actually undermines the Gospel itself.

According to Dake, people in the Old Testament were saved differently than people today. People in the future Tribulation will be saved differently than both groups. In the Millennium (the thousand-year reign of Christ), salvation will work differently again. Dake even taught that animal sacrifices will return during the Millennium and will be necessary for forgiveness of sins.⁶

Stop and think about what this means. If there are multiple ways to be saved, was Jesus’s death really necessary? The book of Hebrews makes it crystal clear that Jesus’s sacrifice was once for all time, perfect and complete. Hebrews 10:10 says, “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Not once until the Millennium. Not once except for the Tribulation. Once for all.

This isn’t just a theological fine point – it strikes at the very heart of the Gospel. If there are other ways to be saved, then Jesus’s death wasn’t absolutely necessary. If animal sacrifices will return, then Jesus’s sacrifice wasn’t sufficient. Dake’s system, perhaps without meaning to, undermines the entire foundation of Christianity.

Error #6: The Gap Theory and Pre-Adamite Races

Dake believed there was a massive gap of time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2, during which a whole previous creation existed. According to Dake, before Adam and Eve, there were other races of humans who lived on Earth for millions of years under the rule of Lucifer (before he became Satan). These pre-Adamite races supposedly built cities, had governments, and lived full lives. Then, when Lucifer rebelled, God destroyed everything in a massive flood (different from Noah’s flood), and Genesis 1:2 describes the ruined Earth before God re-created it.⁷

Dake wrote extensively about this pre-Adamite world, claiming: “Thus, it is clear that both testaments give proof of a pre-Adamite world. The actual findings of science regarding prehistoric animals and men, the age of the earth, its rock formation, and other facts can be recognized only if we believe the Bible’s revelation of a pre-Adamite social system.”²² He further argued that “The command for Adam to replenish the earth (fill it again), not plenish it, proves that the earth had been filled before this (Gen. 1:28).”²³

Regarding Lucifer’s reign over this pre-Adamite world, Dake taught: “According to Isa. 14:12-14, Lucifer actually invaded heaven from earth, hoping to defeat God and take His kingdom; but, Lucifer himself was defeated and his kingdom cursed. Before his defeat he had a throne and therefore a kingdom and subjects to rule over. His kingdom was under the clouds, under the stars, and under heaven—therefore, on earth. Having weakened the nations over whom he ruled, and wanting to be like God and take His place in heaven, Lucifer led the invasion of heaven. All this had to be before Adam’s day, for no such things have occurred since Adam was created.”²⁴

In his Ages and Dispensations book, Dake elaborated further: “The creation of the pre-Adamite world included the first inhabitants of the Earth, called ‘nations’ over whom Lucifer ruled, ‘man’ who built cities, and ‘the world (Greek, kosmos, social system) that then was.’ The pre-Adamites were Earthly creatures as proved by the fact that they were drowned in the pre-Adamite flood.”³¹ He insisted that “Before the time of Adam, men lived in cities and fruitful places on earth, so they must have eaten food and been mortal as we are today.”³²

This might sound like interesting science fiction, but it creates massive theological problems. First, it means death existed before sin entered the world through Adam. Romans 5:12 clearly states, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” If death existed for millions of years before Adam, this verse makes no sense.

Second, and perhaps more disturbingly, Dake’s theory has been used to support racist ideologies. Some have argued that different races descended from different creations – some from the pre-Adamite races, others from Adam. This has been used to justify seeing some races as inferior to others. While Dake himself may not have intended this application, his theory opened the door to it.

Error #7: Guaranteed Health and Wealth – The Prosperity Gospel

Dake taught that God wants all Christians to be healthy and wealthy. Sickness is always from Satan, poverty is a curse, and if you have enough faith, you should never experience either. He wrote, “It is God’s will for all saints to prosper and be in health even as their soul prospers.”⁸ This wasn’t meant as a general principle but as an absolute promise – true Christians should always be healthy and wealthy.

In his God’s Plan for Man, Dake was explicit about this teaching: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (3 John 2).”³³ He argued extensively: “What could be more clear? How could God express His highest will any other way? Why should we limit God and His bountifulness to us just because we fear we may backslide?”³⁴

Dake taught emphatically: “God has definitely made many promises that all His children can be prosperous and happy…It is God’s highest will that His children be in health (3 John 2).”³⁵ He insisted: “God desires to help man, and it is His highest will for man to prosper and be blessed with all good things of life.”³⁶

This teaching has exploded into what we now call the prosperity gospel, preached by television evangelists who fly in private jets while telling viewers to “sow seed” money to receive their own wealth. It’s the message that God is a cosmic vending machine – insert enough faith, receive health and wealth.

The Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, had a “thorn in the flesh” that God refused to remove despite Paul’s prayers (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Jesus Himself said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). If health and wealth are signs of faith, then Paul lacked faith and Jesus Himself failed the prosperity test.

Error #8: Racial Segregation as Divine Plan

Perhaps one of Dake’s most shocking teachings was his belief that racial segregation is God’s will. In the original version of his Bible, Dake provided “30 reasons for segregation of races” and argued that interracial marriage is sin.⁹ He even claimed that racial segregation would continue in heaven, with different races occupying different areas of the eternal kingdom.

Dake based these teachings on a complete misinterpretation of biblical passages about being “unequally yoked” and maintaining separation. He failed to understand that these passages were about spiritual separation from unbelievers, not racial segregation among believers.

The Gospel breaks down every barrier between people. The early church’s first major controversy was about whether Gentiles (non-Jews) could be saved without becoming Jewish first. The answer was a resounding yes – God shows no favoritism. Dake’s racial teachings stand in direct opposition to the unifying message of the Gospel.

While later editions of Dake’s Bible removed some of the most offensive racial content, the damage was done. These teachings were used to justify segregation in churches, to oppose the civil rights movement, and to break up marriages and families. Even today, some churches influenced by Dake’s teachings maintain subtle or not-so-subtle racial divisions.

Error #9: Extreme Spiritual Warfare and Demonology

Dake developed an elaborate system of demonology that goes far beyond anything the Bible teaches. He catalogued detailed hierarchies of demons, assigned specific demons to specific sins and problems, and taught that Christians have the authority to bind Satan and command spiritual forces just like Jesus did.¹⁰

According to Dake, every problem in life can be traced to a specific demon. Depression? There’s a demon for that. Poverty? A poverty spirit. Sickness? Always demonic. This led to an obsession with spiritual warfare that actually gives Satan more attention and credit than Scripture does.

While the Bible certainly teaches that spiritual warfare is real (Ephesians 6:12), it doesn’t support Dake’s elaborate demonology. The Bible’s approach to spiritual warfare is surprisingly simple: put on God’s armor, stand firm, resist the devil, and he will flee. There’s no complex ritual, no need to identify specific demons by name, no elaborate binding and loosing formulas.

Dake’s extreme spiritual warfare teachings have led to practices that border on superstition and magic rather than biblical faith. People spend more time rebuking demons than praying to God. They see demons behind every problem rather than taking personal responsibility or recognizing natural causes. This creates a fear-based Christianity that’s constantly looking for the next spiritual battle rather than resting in Christ’s victory.

The Spread of the Poison: How Dake’s Errors Infected Modern Christianity

You might think that such obvious errors would be quickly recognized and rejected by the broader Christian community. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened. Instead, Dake’s teachings spread like wildfire through certain segments of Christianity, particularly in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles. Understanding how this happened helps us see why these errors are still affecting churches today.

The Perfect Storm: Why Dake’s Teachings Spread

Several factors created the perfect environment for Dake’s errors to spread. First, the mid-20th century saw an explosion of interest in Bible study among laypeople. Christians wanted to dig deeper into Scripture but often lacked access to formal theological education. Dake’s Bible seemed to provide instant expertise – 35,000 notes from someone who appeared to be a biblical scholar.

Second, the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements were growing rapidly but often lacked strong theological foundations. These movements emphasized experience and supernatural power, sometimes at the expense of careful biblical interpretation. Dake’s teachings about believers having god-like authority and his elaborate spiritual warfare system appealed to those seeking supernatural power.

Third, the rise of television evangelism created a new platform for spreading teachings to millions simultaneously. Televangelists who had been influenced by Dake (whether they knew it or not) could broadcast his errors to living rooms around the world. Many of these preachers didn’t cite Dake directly – they had absorbed his teachings and presented them as biblical truth.

The Key Carriers: Ministers Who Spread Dake’s Influence

Several prominent ministers became carriers of Dake’s theological virus, spreading it throughout their own ministries and influencing countless others. Kenneth Hagin, often called the “father of the Word of Faith movement,” was known to heavily use Dake’s Bible. Hagin’s teachings about believers being “little gods,” having creative power in their words, and the guarantee of health and wealth show clear Dake influence.¹¹

Kenneth Copeland, one of Hagin’s most famous students, took these teachings even further. His proclamation that “I was shocked when I found out who the biggest failure in the Bible actually is… The biggest one is God”¹² reflects the diminished view of God and elevated view of humanity that characterizes Dake’s theology.

Benny Hinn, with his massive healing crusades and television presence, spread Dake-influenced teachings about spiritual warfare, the physical nature of God, and the god-like authority of believers to millions worldwide. His statement that “God the Father has a body, God the Son has a body, God the Holy Spirit has a body”¹³ could have been lifted directly from Dake’s notes.

These are just a few examples. The list goes on: Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen (in a more subtle form), Jesse Duplantis, and many others show influence from Dake’s teachings, whether they realize it or not. Each of these ministers has influenced thousands of other pastors, creating a multiplication effect that has spread these errors throughout Christianity.

The International Impact: Dake’s Global Reach

Dake’s influence didn’t stay in America. Through missionaries, translated materials, and international television broadcasts, his errors have infected churches worldwide. In Africa, where the prosperity gospel has exploded, many pastors use Dake’s Bible as their primary study tool. In Latin America, churches teaching the “little gods” doctrine and extreme spiritual warfare trace their beliefs back through a chain that often leads to Dake.

The prosperity gospel has been particularly damaging in developing nations. When people who are genuinely poor are told that poverty is a sign of weak faith, it adds spiritual oppression to economic hardship. When sick people in areas with limited medical care are told that seeking treatment shows lack of faith, the results can be deadly.

Why This Book? Why Now?

You might wonder why we need an entire book dedicated to exposing the errors of someone who died over 35 years ago. The answer is simple but urgent: Dake’s errors haven’t died with him. They’ve mutated, spread, and infected new generations of believers who have no idea where these teachings originated.

The Hidden Influence

Most Christians affected by Dake’s teachings have never heard his name. They learned these errors from their pastor, who learned them from a televangelist, who learned them from someone influenced by Dake. It’s like a game of theological telephone, where the errors get passed along and sometimes distorted even further, but the source is forgotten.

When someone believes God has a body, or that there are three separate Gods, or that Christians should never be sick or poor, they often can’t explain where these beliefs came from. They just “know” them to be true because they’ve heard them repeated so often. By tracing these errors back to their source in Dake, we can help people understand how and why these teachings entered the church.

The Current Crisis

We’re living in a time of theological crisis in Christianity. Survey after survey shows that many Christians, even regular churchgoers, hold beliefs that contradict basic biblical teaching. A 2020 study found that 52% of American adults who identify as Christians believe that “everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God.”¹⁴ Another study found that 30% of evangelicals believe Jesus was a created being rather than eternal God.¹⁵

These aren’t minor disagreements about secondary issues. These are fundamental errors about the nature of God, the nature of humanity, and the nature of salvation. Many of these errors can be traced back, directly or indirectly, to the influence of teachers like Dake who redefined Christianity in the margins of their study Bibles.

The Next Generation

Perhaps most urgently, we need to address these errors for the sake of the next generation. Young Christians today are bombarded with teaching from countless sources – YouTube preachers, Instagram prophets, TikTok theologians. Without a solid foundation in biblical truth, they’re vulnerable to every wind of doctrine that blows through social media.

Many young believers are drawn to the same things that made Dake’s teachings attractive: the promise of supernatural power, the appeal of secret knowledge, the excitement of spiritual warfare, the hope of health and wealth. They need to understand not just that these teachings are wrong, but why they’re wrong and where they came from.

How to Use This Book: A Practical Guide

This book isn’t meant to be an academic exercise. It’s a practical tool for identifying and correcting errors that may have crept into your own beliefs or your church’s teaching. Here’s how to get the most out of it:

For Personal Study

As you read each chapter, ask yourself honestly: Have I believed any of these errors? Have I heard them taught in my church? Have I passed them on to others? This isn’t about feeling guilty or condemned – it’s about identifying areas where your beliefs might need biblical correction.

Keep your Bible open as you read. Every claim in this book should be tested against Scripture. Don’t just take my word that Dake was wrong – look up the verses yourself. Compare Dake’s interpretation with what the Bible actually says. Develop the habit of being a Berean Christian, who “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

Use the “Big Word Alert” sections to build your theological vocabulary. Understanding terms like “Trinity,” “omnipresence,” and “dispensationalism” will help you better understand not just the errors in this book but biblical teaching in general.

For Small Group or Sunday School Study

This book can be used for group study, with each chapter serving as a week’s lesson. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter are designed to promote thoughtful conversation about these issues. Here are some tips for group study:

First, create a safe environment for questions and discussion. Some group members may have believed or taught these errors themselves. Approach the study with grace and truth, remembering that we’re all learning and growing.

Second, always bring the discussion back to Scripture. When someone shares an opinion or experience, ask, “What does the Bible say about this?” Make the Bible the final authority, not personal experience or popular opinion.

Third, pray together for wisdom and discernment. These aren’t just intellectual issues – they’re spiritual matters that affect our relationship with God and our understanding of His nature.

For Pastors and Teachers

If you’re in church leadership, this book can help you identify and address errors that may have crept into your congregation’s beliefs. You might consider preaching a series on the essential doctrines of the faith, using the errors addressed in this book as teaching opportunities.

Be prepared for some resistance. If people have believed these errors for years, they won’t abandon them easily. Some may have built their entire spiritual life on these false foundations. Approach correction with patience, love, and lots of Scripture.

Consider reviewing your church’s library and bookstore. How many books promote these errors? How many study Bibles are influenced by Dake’s teachings? You may need to remove some resources and replace them with sound biblical materials.

For Those Recovering from False Teaching

If you’ve been hurt by these false teachings – if you’ve been told your sickness is due to lack of faith, if you’ve given money you couldn’t afford to prosperity preachers, if you’ve been confused about God’s nature – this book is especially for you.

First, know that God’s love for you isn’t based on your perfect theology. He loves you despite your mistakes and misunderstandings. He’s patient with our errors and gentle in His correction.

Second, don’t throw out your entire faith because parts of it were wrong. Some people, when they discover they’ve been taught errors, abandon Christianity entirely. That’s like throwing out all your food because you found one spoiled apple. Keep what’s true, biblical, and life-giving. Discard only what’s false.

Third, be patient with yourself as you rebuild your understanding. It takes time to unlearn errors and replace them with truth. You might find yourself automatically thinking in old patterns. That’s normal. Keep returning to Scripture, keep seeking truth, and gradually your mind will be renewed.

The Structure of This Book: What to Expect

This book is organized to systematically address each of Dake’s major errors. Each chapter focuses on one specific false teaching, examining what Dake taught, why it’s wrong, what the Bible actually says, and how this error affects Christians today. Here’s a preview of what’s ahead:

Chapter 1: Three Gods Instead of One

We’ll examine Dake’s complete rejection of the Trinity and his teaching that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate Gods. This chapter will explain why the Trinity matters, how Dake misunderstood it, and what happens when we abandon this fundamental doctrine. You’ll learn why Christians have always believed in one God in three persons, not three Gods working together.

Chapter 2: A God With a Body

This chapter addresses Dake’s teaching that God the Father has a physical body. We’ll look at why God must be spirit to be infinite, how Dake misinterpreted biblical anthropomorphisms (descriptions of God using human characteristics), and what it means for our prayer and worship if God is truly spirit.

Chapter 3: A God Who Can’t Be Everywhere

Building on Chapter 2, we’ll examine how Dake’s physical God cannot be omnipresent (everywhere at once). This chapter will explore what it means for God to be personally present with every believer simultaneously and why a God who needs angels to report to Him isn’t the God of the Bible.

Chapter 4: A God Who Learns

This chapter tackles Dake’s denial of God’s omniscience (all-knowing nature). We’ll see how Dake taught that God discovers things and gains knowledge over time, and why this undermines biblical prophecy, God’s sovereignty, and our confidence in His promises.

Chapter 5: A God With Limits

We’ll examine Dake’s teaching that God is bound by spiritual laws and cannot do certain things beyond moral limitations. This chapter will explain the difference between “God cannot” and “God will not,” and why an omnipotent God is essential to the Gospel.

Chapter 6: Little Gods in Training

This crucial chapter addresses Dake’s teaching that humans are “in the God class” and that believers are “little gods.” We’ll trace how this error has exploded in the Word of Faith movement and why the creator-creature distinction is vital to biblical Christianity.

Chapter 7: Multiple Plans of Salvation

We’ll examine Dake’s extreme dispensationalism and his teaching that people are saved differently in different time periods. This chapter will show why Jesus’s sacrifice must be sufficient for all people of all times, and how Dake’s system undermines the Gospel.

Chapter 8: Pre-Adamite Races and the Gap Theory

This chapter addresses Dake’s belief in human races before Adam and a previous creation that was destroyed. We’ll see how this teaching contradicts the biblical account of creation, introduces death before sin, and has been used to support racist ideologies.

Chapter 9: Guaranteed Health and Wealth

We’ll examine Dake’s prosperity gospel teachings and their devastating effects on believers worldwide. This chapter will provide biblical balance on God’s provision while exposing the errors of expecting guaranteed health and wealth.

Chapter 10: Racial Segregation as God’s Will

This difficult but necessary chapter addresses Dake’s racist teachings about segregation. We’ll see how he misused Scripture to support racial division and why the Gospel demands unity among all peoples.

Chapter 11: Extreme Spiritual Warfare

We’ll examine Dake’s elaborate demonology and his teachings about believers’ authority over spiritual forces. This chapter will provide biblical balance on spiritual warfare while exposing the errors of seeing demons behind every problem.

Chapter 12: Dake’s Influence on Modern Movements

This final chapter traces Dake’s influence through modern Christianity, showing how his errors have spread through the Word of Faith movement, prosperity gospel, and other streams. We’ll identify current teachers and movements that perpetuate these errors.

Appendix A: How to Study the Bible Correctly

This practical guide provides tools for sound biblical interpretation, helping readers avoid the kinds of errors Dake made. You’ll learn basic principles of hermeneutics (Bible interpretation) explained in simple terms.

Appendix B: Resources for Sound Biblical Teaching

A curated list of trustworthy study Bibles, commentaries, and teachers to help readers grow in sound doctrine.

Appendix C: Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about Dake, his teachings, and their influence on modern Christianity.

A Word of Caution and Compassion

Before we dive into examining these errors, I want to address two important matters of the heart: the spirit in which we approach this study and our attitude toward those who have been influenced by these teachings.

The Right Spirit: Truth in Love

It would be easy to approach this study with a sense of spiritual superiority, looking down on those who have believed these errors. That would be both wrong and dangerous. The Bible warns us, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).

The goal of this book isn’t to make anyone feel stupid or condemned. We’ve all believed things that turned out to be wrong. We’ve all misunderstood Scripture at times. The difference is that Dake systematized his errors and spread them widely, causing damage that continues today. We address these errors not to attack Dake personally (he’s been gone for decades) or those influenced by him, but to restore biblical truth in love.

Remember, many sincere Christians have believed these errors while genuinely loving Jesus and trying to serve Him faithfully. Your grandmother who loves her Dake Bible isn’t an enemy of the faith. Your pastor who occasionally quotes Dake-influenced teachings isn’t a heretic. They’re brothers and sisters who need patient, loving correction, just as we all do in various areas of our lives.

Compassion for the Deceived

Throughout this book, we’ll share stories of people whose lives have been damaged by these false teachings. When you read about parents who lost children because they refused medical treatment, families bankrupted by prosperity gospel manipulation, or marriages broken by racist theology, remember that these are real people with real pain.

Many people who fall into these errors are searching for something legitimate: a deeper relationship with God, understanding of Scripture, supernatural power for ministry, or hope in difficult circumstances. The errors often appeal to genuine spiritual desires. The problem isn’t the desire but the false solution.

If you’ve been influenced by these teachings, don’t despair. God’s grace is bigger than our theological errors. He’s patient with our mistakes and gentle in His correction. The fact that you’re reading this book shows a desire for truth, and Jesus promised, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

The Stakes: Why Truth Matters

Some people might argue that we’re making too big a deal about theological differences. “Does it really matter,” they ask, “as long as people love Jesus?” This sounds humble and loving, but it misunderstands the nature of truth and its importance to faith.

Truth About God Matters

What we believe about God affects everything else in our spiritual lives. If we believe God has a physical body and can only be in one place, our prayers become long-distance calls rather than intimate conversations with a present Father. If we believe God doesn’t know the future, we can’t trust His promises. If we believe there are three Gods instead of one, we’re not even practicing biblical Christianity anymore.

Jesus said we must worship “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Not just in spirit – with sincere emotions and good intentions. And not just in truth – with cold, correct doctrine. Both spirit AND truth. Our worship must be sincere AND accurate. Our love for God must be passionate AND informed by who He really is.

Truth About Salvation Matters

If there are multiple ways to be saved, then the Gospel itself is undermined. Paul was so serious about this that he said if anyone preaches a different gospel, “let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:8). That seems harsh until you realize that a false gospel can’t save anyone. It’s like giving someone fake medicine when they have a deadly disease – it might make them feel better temporarily, but it won’t cure them.

Dake’s multiple salvation plans confuse the simple Gospel message. Instead of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, we get a complicated system where the rules keep changing. This isn’t just a theological problem – it’s a pastoral disaster. How can we assure anyone of salvation if we’re not sure which plan applies to them?

Truth About Christian Living Matters

False teaching about health, wealth, and spiritual authority creates false expectations that lead to devastating disappointment. When a mother is told her child’s cancer is due to lack of faith, that’s not just bad theology – it’s spiritual abuse. When a poor family gives their last dollar to a prosperity preacher, expecting a hundredfold return, that’s not just error – it’s exploitation.

These teachings also create a works-based Christianity where your faith is measured by your health and bank account rather than your love for God and others. They turn Christianity into a performance-based religion where you’re constantly trying to have enough faith, speak the right words, and fight the right spiritual battles to earn God’s blessings.

Truth About Human Unity Matters

Dake’s racist teachings didn’t just misinterpret Scripture – they provided religious justification for oppression and division. When the church, which should be the most unified body on Earth, is divided by race, it undermines our witness to the world. Jesus prayed that we would be one so that the world would believe in Him (John 17:21). Racial division in the church is a direct assault on Jesus’s prayer and mission.

The Hope: Restoration and Renewal

This book isn’t just about tearing down false teaching. It’s about building up biblical truth. For every error we expose, we’ll present the beautiful, life-giving truth of Scripture. For every false promise we reject, we’ll embrace God’s real promises. For every distortion we correct, we’ll see God’s character more clearly.

Rediscovering the True God

When we reject Dake’s three gods, we discover the beautiful mystery of the Trinity – one God who is inherently relational, eternally loving within Himself, who invited us into His divine fellowship. When we reject a physical, limited God, we discover the infinite, omnipresent Spirit who is closer than our next breath, who knows us completely and loves us perfectly.

The true God doesn’t need angels to inform Him about our situations – He knows the number of hairs on our heads. He doesn’t learn about the future through investigation – He declares the end from the beginning. He isn’t limited by spiritual laws – He is sovereign over all creation. This is a God worthy of our complete trust, worship, and devotion.

Rediscovering the True Gospel

When we reject multiple salvation plans, we rediscover the simple, powerful Gospel: salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. One sacrifice, sufficient for all time. One way of salvation for all people. One Gospel that truly is good news for everyone.

This Gospel doesn’t promise health and wealth in this life, but it promises something infinitely better: forgiveness of sins, adoption as God’s children, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and eternal life with God. It’s a Gospel that works in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness, in life and death.

Rediscovering True Christian Community

When we reject racial division and the elevation of some believers as “little gods” with special authority, we rediscover the biblical vision of the church: one body with many parts, all essential, all valued, all unified in Christ. A community where there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, but all are one in Christ Jesus.

This is a community where the weak are honored, the suffering are comforted, and the poor are blessed. Where spiritual maturity is measured not by supernatural power or material success but by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

A Personal Word from the Author

Before we begin this journey together, I want to share my heart with you. I didn’t write this book because I enjoy criticizing others or because I think I have perfect theology. I wrote it because I’ve seen the damage these false teachings cause, and I believe God’s people deserve the truth.

I’ve sat with parents whose children died because they were told seeking medical treatment showed lack of faith. I’ve counseled couples whose marriages were strained by prosperity gospel demands they couldn’t meet. I’ve watched young people abandon Christianity entirely because the false promises they were taught didn’t materialize. These aren’t just theological errors – they’re pastoral tragedies that break the heart of God.

I’ve also seen the joy and freedom that come when people discover the truth. I’ve watched faces light up when someone finally understands that God really is present with them, not distant in heaven. I’ve seen the relief when people realize their sickness isn’t punishment for weak faith. I’ve witnessed the beauty of racial reconciliation when churches reject division and embrace biblical unity.

My prayer for you as you read this book is that you would fall more deeply in love with the true God revealed in Scripture. That you would find freedom from false expectations and false guilt. That you would be equipped to recognize and reject error while embracing and celebrating truth. And that you would join the great cloud of witnesses throughout history who have held fast to the faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

How to Read This Book: Practical Suggestions

Start with Prayer

Before each chapter, ask God for wisdom and discernment. Pray something like this: “Lord, help me to see truth clearly and reject error completely. Give me humility to admit where I’ve been wrong and courage to embrace what’s right. Help me to test everything against Your Word and hold fast to what is good. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

Keep Your Bible Handy

Don’t just trust my interpretation of Scripture – look it up yourself. When I quote a verse, read it in context. When I make a biblical argument, test it against the whole counsel of God’s Word. Be a Berean who searches the Scriptures daily to see if these things are true.

Take Notes

Keep a notebook or journal as you read. Write down questions that arise. Note areas where you need further study. Record insights God gives you. Mark passages you want to share with others. This isn’t passive reading – it’s active engagement with important truth.

Discuss with Others

If possible, read this book with others – a spouse, friend, small group, or Sunday school class. Discussing these issues helps clarify thinking, reveals blind spots, and provides accountability. Iron sharpens iron, and we need each other to grow in truth.

Apply What You Learn

Don’t just accumulate knowledge – let it transform your life. When you discover an error in your thinking, confess it to God and ask Him to renew your mind. When you learn a truth about God’s character, worship Him for it. When you understand the Gospel more clearly, share it with others.

Final Thoughts Before We Begin

As we prepare to examine Dake’s errors in detail, remember that our goal isn’t to win arguments but to win hearts to the truth. We’re not trying to prove how smart we are but to help others see how good God is. We’re not building walls between believers but tearing down false walls that divide us.

The church today desperately needs theological renewal. Surveys consistently show that biblical literacy is at an all-time low, even among regular churchgoers. Many Christians can’t explain the Trinity, don’t understand justification by faith, and couldn’t defend the resurrection if challenged. Into this vacuum of biblical knowledge, false teachings rush in like flood waters.

But there’s hope. Throughout history, God has raised up voices to call His people back to biblical truth. From the early church fathers who fought against heresies, to the Reformers who recovered justification by faith, to modern teachers who faithfully expound Scripture – God preserves His truth in every generation.

You’re part of this ongoing story. By taking time to understand these issues, to identify error and embrace truth, you’re joining the long line of faithful believers who contend for the faith. You’re not just learning facts – you’re preparing to pass on the faith intact to the next generation.

The stakes are high. The errors we’ll examine aren’t minor differences of opinion – they strike at the heart of Christianity. They affect our understanding of God, salvation, and Christian living. They influence how we pray, how we worship, how we evangelize, and how we live together as the body of Christ.

But don’t be discouraged by the size of the task. Remember, “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The same Holy Spirit who inspired Scripture illuminates our minds to understand it. The same Jesus who promised to build His church preserves it from error. The same Father who revealed Himself in His Word continues to make Himself known to those who seek Him.

As we begin this journey together, let me leave you with Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church, which is my prayer for you:

May God give you wisdom to recognize error, courage to reject it, and joy in embracing His truth. May He use this book to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding, and equip you to help others find freedom in biblical truth.

Welcome to the journey. Let’s discover together the beauty of biblical Christianity, freed from the errors that would distort it. Let’s rediscover the God who is infinitely greater than Dake imagined, the Gospel that is simpler and more powerful than his system allowed, and the Christian life that is both more challenging and more satisfying than his promises suggested.

Turn the page, and let’s begin with Dake’s most fundamental error: his denial of the Trinity and his teaching that there are three Gods instead of one. Understanding this error and its correction will lay the foundation for everything else we’ll discuss.

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Citations

¹ Dake, Finis Jennings. Dake Annotated Reference Bible. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963, New Testament p. 96, note on Matthew 3:16-17.

² Ibid., New Testament p. 280, note on John 10:30.

³ Dake, Finis Jennings. God’s Plan for Man. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1949, pp. 35-36.

⁴ Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, Old Testament p. 19, note on Genesis 18:21.

⁵ Ibid., Old Testament p. 1, note on Genesis 1:26.

⁶ Dake, God’s Plan for Man, pp. 959-960.

⁷ Ibid., pp. 35-55.

⁸ Dake, Dake Annotated Reference Bible, New Testament p. 229, note on 3 John 2.

⁹ Ibid., New Testament p. 159, note on Acts 17:26 (original 1963 edition).

¹⁰ Ibid., New Testament p. 97, notes on Matthew 4:1-11.

¹¹ Hanegraaff, Hank. Christianity in Crisis. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1993, pp. 339-340.

¹² Copeland, Kenneth. Praise the Lord television broadcast, Trinity Broadcasting Network, April 1988.

¹³ Hinn, Benny. Good Morning, Holy Spirit. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1990, p. 73.

¹⁴ Barna Group. “American Worldview Inventory 2020.” Released May 19, 2020.

¹⁵ Ligonier Ministries. “The State of Theology 2020.” Released September 8, 2020.

¹⁶ Dake, Finis Jennings. Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible – Combined All Topics Except Segregation. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963, section on “89 Proofs of A Divine Trinity.”

¹⁷ Ibid.

¹⁸ Ibid.

¹⁹ Ibid.

²⁰ Ibid., section on “Attributes of God.”

²¹ Ibid.

²² Ibid., section on “The Pre-Adamite World.”

²³ Ibid.

²⁴ Ibid.

²⁵ Dake, Finis Jennings. God’s Plan for Man. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1977, p. 499.

²⁶ Ibid., p. 65.

²⁷ Ibid., p. 53.

²⁸ Ibid., p. 60.

²⁹ Ibid., p. 60.

³⁰ Ibid., p. 62.

³¹ Dake, Finis Jennings. Ages and Dispensations. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Publishing, chapter 2, section “The Original Creations.”

³² Dake, Finis Jennings. Heavenly Hosts. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Publishing, 1995, chapter 6, section “Lucifer Was the First Ruler of Earth.”

³³ Dake, God’s Plan for Man, p. 170.

³⁴ Ibid., p. 169.

³⁵ Dake, Finis Jennings. Bible Truth Unmasked. Bible Research Foundation, 1950, chapter 15.

³⁶ Dake, God’s Plan for Man, p. 176.

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