Finis Dake’s Errors on the Nature of God: An Examination of His Spirit Body Doctrine

Introduction: Among the various theological errors propagated by Finis Jennings Dake (1902-1987) in his widely circulated Dake Annotated Reference Bible and numerous publications, perhaps none is more problematic than his teaching on the nature of man. While many conservative Christians hold to either a trichotomist view (body, soul, and spirit as three distinct parts) or a dichotomist view (body and soul/spirit as two parts), Dake’s version of trichotomy ventures into dangerous theological territory by teaching that the human spirit is literally a physical “spirit body” dwelling inside the physical body—essentially a tangible person within a person.

This extensive examination will document Dake’s teachings directly from his own writings, compare them with orthodox Christian doctrine, and demonstrate how his aberrant views negatively impact Christian faith and practice. By the end of this article, readers will understand why Dake’s teaching on this subject represents a serious departure from biblical Christianity and why it matters for believers today.

Direct Quote from Dake’s “God’s Plan for Man” (Chapter heading: “II. True Interpretation of God as Spirit, John 4:24”)

“Dake teaches that each of the three God’s has their own spirit, soul, and body. This body can only be in one place at a time (God has the same limitations as us) and can be touched. This includes the Holy Spirit and Father.”

Source: God’s Plan for Man, as shown in annotated study Bible notes

From “God’s Plan for Man” (Page 62):

“In this sense Jesus Himself, who has a flesh and bone body and who is local in body—one place at a time, is with all men everywhere even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:19-20)… 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.”

From “Heavenly Hosts” (Chapter 2: “The Nature of Angels”):

“The Bible reveals that angels have a three-part nature consisting of a body, soul and spirit, and all the faculties associated with each. They are similar to men in this respect, as Scripture abundantly proves… Angels have always appeared in Scripture as men. Contrary to many representations of angels, not one Bible verse portrays them as beautiful women or fat little babies! They look like real men in real bodies. We know, however, that their bodies are spirit bodies because Hebrews 1:14 calls them ‘ministering spirits.’ They have feet (Gen. 19:2), hands (Gen. 19:10; 2 Sam. 24:16), eyes (1 Tim. 3:16), faces and bodily appearance (Judg. 13:6).”

From “Ages and Dispensations”:

“The penalty for man was death. Death simply means separation. Physical death is the separation of the inner man from the body (Jas. 2:26). The first death, or spiritual death, is the separation of the soul from God through sin (Eph. 2:1-9; 1 Tim. 5:6); and the second death, or eternal death, is eternal separation from God in the lake of fire (Mt. 25:41, 46; Rev. 14:9-11; 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).”

From “Revelation Expounded”:

“This, to my mind, proves that angels have bodies that are of material substance, but in an incorruptible, immortal, indestructible and glorified spiritual state, something like the body of Christ after the resurrection and like our bodies after they will have been glorified. Did not men handle the body of Christ after the resurrection while at the same time it could appear and disappear at will? The same then can be said of the angels else they could not fight against one another as here stated. If they are not objects that can be pushed back by another, how could Satan and his angels be cast down to the earth by the force of other beings of like nature?”

From “The Truth about Baptism in the Holy Spirit” (Chapter XIV):

“The Bible does not teach that Satan, the Holy Spirit, Christ, or God ever comes into and dwells in any man in the sense of incarnation. This means that they always exist as separate persons outside of man and never enter bodily into him to dwell. They all have their own separate and personal bodies, souls, and spirits, and could not enter into anyone bodily. They all dwell in man in a different sense entirely. They dwell in man only in the sense of union with him to a common purpose in life.”

Key Biblical Texts on the Nature of Spirit:

• John 4:24: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” This verse establishes that God’s essential nature is spiritual, not physical.
• Luke 24:39: “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Jesus explicitly contrasts spirit with physical flesh and bones.
• 1 Corinthians 15:44: “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” Paul distinguishes between natural and spiritual bodies, not between two physical bodies.
• 2 Corinthians 4:18: “As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” The spiritual realm is explicitly described as unseen, not merely invisible physical matter.

Biblical Support for Dichotomy:

• Genesis 2:7: “Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Two elements: dust (body) and breath of life (soul/spirit).
• Matthew 10:28: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus speaks of two parts: body and soul.
• James 2:26: “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” Two components: body and spirit.
• 2 Corinthians 5:1-8: Paul speaks of being “away from the body and at home with the Lord,” indicating two aspects of human existence.

Biblical Support for Trichotomy:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse mentions all three parts.
• Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” This suggests a distinction between soul and spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14-15: Paul distinguishes between the “natural person” (psychikos—soulish) and the “spiritual person” (pneumatikos), suggesting different aspects of human nature.

Biblical Teaching on the Intermediate State:

• 2 Corinthians 5:8: “We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Paul envisions existence without the body.
• Philippians 1:23: “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” Paul anticipates conscious existence with Christ after death.
• Revelation 6:9-10: The souls of martyrs are depicted as conscious and communicating, though they await the resurrection of their bodies.
• Luke 23:43: Jesus tells the thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” indicating immediate conscious existence after death.

Characteristics of the Resurrection Body (1 Corinthians 15:35-58):

• Imperishable: “What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable” (v. 42)
• Glorious: “It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory” (v. 43)
• Powerful: “It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power” (v. 43)
• Spiritual: “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body” (v. 44)
• Heavenly: “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (v. 49)

1. Denial of God’s Omnipresence

By teaching that God the Father and the Holy Spirit have physical bodies that can only be in one place at a time, Dake effectively denies God’s omnipresence. This contradicts numerous scriptures:

• Psalm 139:7-10: “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!”
• Jeremiah 23:24: “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.”
• Acts 17:27-28: “He is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being.'”

2. Materialistic Worldview

Dake’s inability to conceive of truly immaterial reality reflects a fundamentally materialistic worldview. He cannot imagine existence without physical substance, leading him to physicalize even God Himself. This represents a failure to understand the biblical distinction between Creator and creation, infinite and finite, spiritual and material.

3. Misunderstanding of the Incarnation

If the Father and Spirit already have physical bodies, the uniqueness of the Son’s incarnation is undermined. Scripture presents the incarnation as an unprecedented event—the Word becoming flesh (John 1:14). If the Father and Spirit already possessed physical bodies, the incarnation loses its distinctive character as God taking on human nature.

4. Confusion About Spiritual Warfare

Dake’s physical understanding of spiritual beings leads to a mechanical view of spiritual warfare. He imagines demons and angels physically wrestling and pushing each other, rather than understanding spiritual conflict in truly spiritual terms. This can lead believers to misunderstand the nature of their spiritual battles and the weapons needed to fight them.

1. Over-Literalization

Dake consistently fails to recognize anthropomorphic language in Scripture. When the Bible speaks of God’s “eyes,” “hands,” or “face,” these are anthropomorphisms—human characteristics attributed to God to help us understand His actions and attributes. Dake takes these literally, concluding that God must have a physical body with literal eyes, hands, and face.

2. Category Confusion

Dake regularly confuses categories, failing to distinguish between:

• Manifestation and essence (angels appearing in human form vs. having physical bodies)
• Metaphor and literality (spiritual “body” as metaphor vs. literal physical body)
• Accommodation and actuality (God described in human terms vs. God having human limitations)

3. Eisegesis Rather Than Exegesis

Dake reads his preconceived ideas into the text rather than drawing meaning out of it. His materialistic assumptions force him to interpret all references to spirit in physical terms, even when the text explicitly distinguishes between spirit and flesh.

When believers accept Dake’s teaching that God the Father and the Holy Spirit have physical bodies limited to one location, their understanding of God’s greatness is drastically reduced. Instead of an infinite, omnipresent God who fills all things, they envision a limited being who can only be in one place at a time. This affects:

• Prayer life: Why pray if God might be too far away to hear?
• Comfort in trials: How can God be with me if He’s limited to one location?
• Worship: How can we worship God “in spirit and truth” if God Himself is physical?
• Trust: Can a spatially limited God really be in control of all things?

Dake’s denial of the Holy Spirit’s actual indwelling creates serious confusion about salvation and sanctification:

• Assurance: If the Spirit doesn’t really dwell within us, how can He bear witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16)?
• Sanctification: How can we be transformed if the Spirit only influences us externally rather than working within us?
• Empowerment: The promise of power when the Holy Spirit comes upon believers (Acts 1:8) is reduced to mere external influence rather than internal transformation.
• Temple imagery: Paul’s teaching that believers are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) becomes meaningless if the Spirit doesn’t actually dwell within.

Believers who accept Dake’s teaching may develop unbiblical expectations about what happens at death:

• They may expect to have a fully functional physical body immediately after death, rather than awaiting the resurrection.
• They may fear death unnecessarily, imagining their “spirit body” being trapped or confined.
• They may misunderstand the nature of the intermediate state and the purpose of the resurrection.
• They may develop superstitious ideas about ghosts and spirits based on the idea of physical spirit bodies roaming the earth.

A physical understanding of spiritual warfare can leave believers ill-equipped for actual spiritual battle:

• Wrong weapons: They may rely on physical actions rather than spiritual disciplines.
• Wrong battleground: They may look for physical manifestations rather than recognizing spiritual attacks on the mind and heart.
• Wrong enemy: They may fight against flesh and blood rather than spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12).
• Wrong victory: They may expect physical deliverance rather than spiritual transformation.

Dake’s errors create a domino effect of theological confusion:

• Trinity: If all three persons have separate physical bodies, how are they one God?
• Creation: If spirit is just refined matter, is there really a distinction between Creator and creation?
• Angels and demons: Misunderstanding their nature leads to wrong approaches in spiritual matters.
• Biblical interpretation: Once materialistic assumptions are accepted, all spiritual truths become physicalized.

Ministers and teachers influenced by Dake’s errors may:

• Teach unbiblical concepts that confuse their congregations
• Fail to properly prepare believers for spiritual realities
• Misrepresent God’s nature and attributes
• Create unnecessary doubts and fears about death and the afterlife
• Lead people into superstitious rather than biblical spirituality

As noted in the introduction, Dake “often uses the correct theological terms but like a cult has reinterpreted them to mean something other than what it traditionally means.” This creates serious problems:

• Communication barriers: Believers think they’re agreeing on doctrine when they’re actually talking about different things.
• Doctrinal confusion: Traditional terms are emptied of their meaning and filled with aberrant content.
• Ecumenical problems: Unity with other Christians becomes difficult when fundamental terms are redefined.
• Apologetic weakness: Believers cannot effectively defend the faith when their understanding of basic terms is flawed.

John 4:24 – “God is spirit”

This fundamental declaration by Jesus establishes that God’s essential nature is spiritual, not physical. The Greek construction (pneuma ho theos) emphasizes the quality of God’s being. He is not a spirit among many, but spirit in His essential nature—completely different from physical, material creation.

When Jesus adds “and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth,” He’s not suggesting we need to activate our internal “spirit body,” but rather that true worship transcends physical location and material offerings. It’s a matter of the heart and mind aligned with truth, not a physical spirit body connecting with God’s physical spirit body.

1 Timothy 1:17 – “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God”

God is described as invisible (Greek: aoratos)—not merely unseen but inherently unable to be seen with physical eyes because He is not physical. This invisibility is not a matter of God hiding His physical body, but of His essentially spiritual nature that transcends physical sight.

Colossians 1:15 – Christ as “the image of the invisible God”

The incarnation was necessary precisely because God is invisible. Christ made the invisible God visible by taking on human nature. If God the Father already had a visible, physical body, the incarnation would not serve this revelatory purpose.

John 3:6 – “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”

Jesus makes a fundamental distinction between two different categories of existence. Flesh gives birth to flesh—physical begets physical. Spirit gives birth to spirit—spiritual begets spiritual. These are not two types of physical bodies but two entirely different modes of being.

Romans 8:5-9 – The Flesh/Spirit Contrast

Paul extensively contrasts life according to the flesh with life according to the Spirit. This is not a contrast between the outer physical body and an inner physical “spirit body,” but between life dominated by fallen human nature and life controlled by the Holy Spirit. The fact that believers can be “in the Spirit” while still in their physical bodies shows this is not about having a separate spirit body.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 – Paul’s Vision of Paradise

Paul speaks of being “caught up to the third heaven” and explicitly states he doesn’t know whether this was “in the body or out of the body.” This shows Paul’s understanding that conscious existence is possible apart from any physical body—not a transfer from one physical body to another, but genuine bodiless existence.

Matthew 17:3 – Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration

Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus, yet Moses had died centuries earlier and his body was buried (Deuteronomy 34:5-6). Elijah had been taken up bodily. Their appearance together shows conscious existence doesn’t require a physical body—Moses existed consciously without his body awaiting resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 – The Nature of the Resurrection Body

Paul carefully explains the relationship between our current bodies and resurrection bodies using the analogy of a seed:

“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.”

The “spiritual body” (soma pneumatikon) is not a spirit body that we already possess, but our physical body transformed and made suitable for eternal, spiritual existence. If we already had spirit bodies, the resurrection would be unnecessary.

1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you”

Paul explicitly states the Holy Spirit is “within you” (en humin). This is not metaphorical or merely a union of purpose as Dake claims, but actual spiritual indwelling. The temple imagery requires actual presence—a temple without the divine presence is just a building.

Galatians 2:20 – “Christ lives in me”

Paul’s testimony is not that Christ influences him from outside or is united with him in purpose only, but that Christ actually lives in him. This mystical union is real spiritual indwelling, not possible if Christ were limited to a physical body in one location.

John 14:23 – “We will come to him and make our home with him”

Jesus promises that both He and the Father will make their dwelling with believers. This promise would be impossible if the Father and Son were limited to physical bodies in single locations. The promise assumes spiritual omnipresence and the ability to truly indwell believers.

1. Anthropomorphism

The early church faced similar challenges from those who took anthropomorphic language about God literally. The church fathers consistently taught that such language was accommodative—God describing Himself in human terms for our understanding, not literal description of God having body parts.

2. Stoic Materialism

The Stoics believed everything, including God and the soul, was material. They conceived of spirit as refined matter—very similar to Dake’s view. The church rejected this, maintaining the fundamental distinction between spirit and matter, Creator and creation.

3. Mormon Parallels

Dake’s teaching bears striking resemblance to Mormon doctrine, which teaches that God the Father has a physical body of flesh and bones, and that spirit is refined matter. This parallel should concern those who accept Dake’s teaching, as Mormonism is recognized as outside orthodox Christianity precisely because of such doctrines.

The Early Church Fathers

• Origen (185-254 AD): Clearly distinguished between corporeal and incorporeal existence, teaching that God and spirits are truly incorporeal.
• Augustine (354-430 AD): Extensively wrote on the spiritual nature of God and the immaterial nature of the soul.
• John of Damascus (676-749 AD): Systematically explained that God is “uncircumscribed” – not limited by space or place.

The Reformers

• Martin Luther: Strongly affirmed God’s spiritual nature and omnipresence, rejecting any physical limitations on God.
• John Calvin: Taught clearly on the distinction between Creator and creature, spirit and matter, emphasizing God’s infinity and spirituality.
• Reformed Confessions: The Westminster Confession states God is “a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal.”

• Wayne Grudem: “God is spirit means that God exists as a being that is not made of matter, has no parts or dimensions, is unable to be perceived by our bodily senses, and is more excellent than any other kind of existence.”
• Millard Erickson: Emphasizes the incorporeal nature of God and the immaterial aspect of human nature.
• Norman Geisler: Extensively refutes materialistic views of spirit, maintaining orthodox distinctions.

1. Recognize the Error

Acknowledge that Dake’s teaching about spirit bodies contradicts both Scripture and orthodox Christian doctrine. This is not a minor disagreement but a fundamental error about the nature of God and humanity.

2. Return to Scripture

Study the biblical passages about God’s nature, human composition, and spiritual realities without Dake’s interpretive framework. Let Scripture speak for itself rather than forcing it into materialistic categories.

3. Embrace Mystery

Accept that spiritual realities transcend our physical experience. We don’t need to physicalize everything to believe it’s real. Faith involves trusting in “things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

4. Seek Sound Teaching

Find teachers and resources that present orthodox biblical doctrine. Compare any teaching with Scripture and the historical faith of the church.

For Prayer

Understand that you can pray anywhere, anytime, knowing that God is truly omnipresent—not limited to a physical body in one location. The Spirit actually dwells within you, making your body a temple of continuous prayer.

For Worship

Worship “in spirit and truth” means engaging with God from your innermost being, not activating a physical spirit body. True worship transcends physical location and material offerings.

For Spiritual Warfare

Recognize that spiritual battles are fought with spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Put on the spiritual armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), understanding these are spiritual, not physical realities.

For Death and Hope

Face death without fear, knowing that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). You don’t need a physical spirit body to exist consciously with God—His spiritual presence is sufficient.

For Daily Living

Live in the reality of the Spirit’s actual indwelling. You are never alone, never without divine resources, never separated from God’s presence. The Spirit within you is greater than any challenge you face (1 John 4:4).

Finis Dake’s teaching about spirit bodies represents a serious departure from biblical Christianity. By materializing the spiritual and limiting God to physical categories, Dake has created a theological system that:

• Denies God’s infinite, omnipresent nature
• Confuses the distinction between Creator and creation
• Misrepresents the nature of humanity
• Undermines the uniqueness of the incarnation
• Denies the reality of the Spirit’s indwelling
• Creates confusion about death and resurrection
• Weakens believers’ spiritual understanding and practice

This is not merely an academic dispute but a matter that affects the very heart of Christian faith and life. When we misunderstand God’s nature, we cannot properly worship Him. When we misunderstand our own nature, we cannot properly understand salvation. When we misunderstand spiritual reality, we cannot effectively live the Christian life.

The words of Paul to Timothy remain relevant: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16). Sound doctrine matters because truth matters, and truth matters because God matters.

Let us return to the biblical teaching that God is truly spirit—infinite, omnipresent, not limited by physical form. Let us understand ourselves as created beings with physical bodies and immaterial souls/spirits, awaiting the resurrection when we will receive glorified bodies. And let us rejoice in the reality of the Spirit’s actual indwelling, knowing that the infinite God truly dwells within His people.

As Jesus declared, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). This is not a limitation but a liberation—we have access to the infinite, omnipresent God who is not confined to physical limitations but is able to be truly present with all His people at all times. This is the God of the Bible, and this is the God we worship.

Primary Sources by Finis Jennings Dake:

• Dake, Finis Jennings. God’s Plan for Man. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1949.
• Dake, Finis Jennings. Revelation Expounded. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1950.
• Dake, Finis Jennings. Bible Truths Unmasked. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1936.
• Dake, Finis Jennings. The Truth about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales.
• Dake, Finis Jennings. Heavenly Hosts. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales.
• Dake, Finis Jennings. Ages and Dispensations. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales.
• Dake, Finis Jennings. Dake Annotated Reference Bible. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963.

Scripture References:

All Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Recommended Orthodox Resources:

• Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
• Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
• Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013.
• Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology. 3 vols. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2003.
• Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Edited by John T. McNeill. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006.

Final Warning: This article has documented serious theological errors in Finis Dake’s teaching. While Dake may have been sincere in his beliefs, sincerity does not equal truth. Christians must test all teaching against Scripture (Acts 17:11) and hold fast to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). May God grant His people discernment to distinguish truth from error, and may His truth prevail in His church.

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).