Finis Dake’s Theological Errors on Jesus’ Kenosis and Divine Nature

Introduction: Understanding the Gravity of Dake’s Errors

Finis Jennings Dake (1902-1987) was a Pentecostal minister and author whose Dake Annotated Reference Bible has influenced many Christians. However, beneath the surface of his seemingly biblical teaching lies a dangerous heresy regarding the nature of Jesus Christ. Dake’s understanding of the Kenosis—the theological term for Christ’s self-emptying described in Philippians 2:5-11—represents not merely a minor interpretive difference, but a fundamental assault on the doctrine of Christ’s deity.

The doctrine of Christ’s nature is not a secondary issue in Christianity. It strikes at the very heart of our faith. If Jesus Christ did not remain fully God while becoming fully man, then our salvation is in jeopardy. The early church councils, particularly the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, carefully defined the biblical teaching that Christ is one person with two natures—fully God and fully man—without mixture, change, division, or separation. Dake’s teaching directly contradicts this essential Christian doctrine.

What makes Dake’s errors particularly dangerous is that he uses theological terminology familiar to Christians but redefines these terms in ways that completely alter their meaning. He speaks of the Trinity, the incarnation, and the deity of Christ, but his definitions of these terms are radically different from what Christians have historically believed and what the Bible actually teaches.

Part I: Dake’s False Teaching That Christ Lost All Divine Attributes

The Complete Abandonment of Deity

At the core of Dake’s heretical teaching is his claim that Jesus Christ completely abandoned His divine nature and attributes when He became human. This is not the biblical doctrine of Kenosis, but rather a complete denial of Christ’s continued deity during His earthly ministry.

This statement reveals the heart of Dake’s error. He teaches that Christ “laid aside” not just the glory or the exercise of divine attributes, but the attributes themselves. According to Dake, Jesus ceased to be omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent when He became human. This is not a limitation of the use of divine attributes, but a complete abandonment of them.

Notice how Dake describes this as an “often reiterated doctrine,” as if this were commonly accepted Christian teaching. In reality, this represents a radical departure from orthodox Christianity. No major Christian tradition—whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant—has ever taught that Christ ceased to possess divine attributes during His incarnation.

The Claim of Complete Helplessness

Dake goes even further in his departure from biblical truth by claiming that Jesus was completely helpless apart from the Holy Spirit’s anointing:

This statement is shocking in its implications. Dake is teaching that the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, through whom all things were created (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), became “as helpless as any human being.” This is not biblical Christianity—it is a denial of Christ’s deity.

Conservative Christian Response to the Divine Attributes Error

The biblical and historically orthodox Christian position stands in direct opposition to Dake’s teaching. When we examine Philippians 2:5-11, the key passage about Christ’s self-emptying, we must understand it in light of the whole counsel of Scripture.

The Biblical Teaching: Christ did not cease to be God or lose His divine attributes. Rather, He voluntarily chose not to exercise certain divine prerogatives for the purpose of our salvation. He added humanity to His deity without subtracting from His deity.

Consider the clear biblical evidence:

• Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” This was written about Christ during His earthly ministry. Paul uses the present tense—”dwelleth”—indicating that the fullness of deity resided in Christ’s physical body.
• John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The Word who was God (John 1:1) became flesh without ceasing to be the Word.
• Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” If Christ lost His divine attributes, He would not be the same—He would have undergone fundamental change, which this verse explicitly denies.
• Matthew 28:18: After His resurrection, Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” The word “given” here does not mean He previously lacked this power as God, but that as the God-man, the mediator, He now exercises this authority in His glorified humanity.

Part II: Dake’s False Teaching That Jesus Had No Divine Power as a Baby

The Denial of Divine Nature from Birth

Dake’s errors extend to his understanding of Christ’s birth and childhood. He explicitly teaches that Jesus was born without any divine power or knowledge:

This statement represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the incarnation. While it is true that Jesus experienced genuine human development, this does not mean He lacked divine nature or was merely an ordinary human baby. The virgin birth itself demonstrates the supernatural nature of Christ’s conception and birth.

The Implications for the Incarnation

Dake’s teaching essentially reduces the incarnation to God creating an ordinary human being whom He would later empower with the Spirit. This is not incarnation—it is adoption at best, and a complete denial of the Word becoming flesh at worst.

The angel’s announcement to Mary contradicts Dake’s position entirely:

The child in Mary’s womb is called “holy” and “the Son of God”—not someone who would become the Son of God, but who already was the Son of God from conception.

Conservative Christian Response on Christ’s Birth and Childhood

The orthodox Christian position maintains that Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man from the moment of His conception in Mary’s womb. While His human nature developed normally, His divine nature remained unchanged and fully present.

Biblical Evidence:

• Luke 2:40, 52: These verses speak of Jesus growing in wisdom and stature. This refers to His human nature developing normally, not to His divine nature changing or developing.
• Matthew 1:23: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” From birth, Jesus was “God with us,” not someone who would later become God with us.
• Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” The child who is born is simultaneously “The mighty God.”

The biblical teaching is that Christ’s human nature developed while His divine nature remained unchanged. As the Westminster Confession states: “Two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion.”

Part III: Dake’s False Teaching on Christ’s Limited Knowledge

The Claim of Lost Omniscience

Dake teaches that Jesus completely lost His omniscience during His earthly ministry:

Dake uses Mark 13:32, where Jesus says that “of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father,” to argue that Jesus lacked omniscience. However, this represents a serious misunderstanding of the passage and of the nature of the incarnation.

Conservative Christian Understanding of Mark 13:32

The orthodox Christian interpretation of Mark 13:32 has never been that Christ ceased to be omniscient. Rather, several biblical explanations maintain Christ’s deity while accounting for this statement:

1. The Two Natures Distinction: As God, Christ knew all things. As man, and in His role as the Suffering Servant, there were things He did not know in His human consciousness. This does not mean He ceased to be omniscient in His divine nature.
2. The Economic Subordination: In His role as the Son during His earthly ministry, Jesus voluntarily limited the exercise of certain divine prerogatives. This was part of His submission to the Father’s will for the purpose of redemption.
3. The Revelatory Limitation: Jesus may have been indicating that this information was not part of His mission to reveal. As the Prophet of God, He spoke only what the Father gave Him to speak to humanity.

Biblical Evidence for Christ’s Omniscience During His Ministry:

• John 2:24-25: “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
• John 16:30: His disciples said, “Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee.”
• John 21:17: Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, thou knowest all things.”
• Matthew 9:4: “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?”

These passages clearly demonstrate that Jesus possessed supernatural knowledge during His earthly ministry that can only be attributed to divine omniscience.

Part IV: Dake’s False Teaching That Jesus Could Do Nothing Without the Spirit

The Denial of Christ’s Divine Power

One of Dake’s most serious errors is his teaching that Jesus had no divine power of His own and could perform no miracles without the Holy Spirit:

Furthermore, Dake states:

This teaching reduces Jesus to being merely a Spirit-anointed man rather than the God-man. It denies the fundamental truth that Jesus’ miracles were demonstrations of His divine nature, not merely the work of the Spirit through a human vessel.

The Misinterpretation of Jesus’ Dependence on the Father

Dake misinterprets Jesus’ statements about His relationship with the Father as evidence that He lacked divine power:

Dake interprets these statements to mean Jesus had no divine power, but this represents a fundamental misunderstanding of Trinitarian relationships and the nature of the incarnation.

Conservative Christian Response on Christ’s Power and Miracles

The orthodox Christian position recognizes that Jesus’ statements about His relationship with the Father demonstrate perfect Trinitarian harmony, not a lack of divine power. When Jesus says He can do nothing of Himself, He is not denying His deity but affirming the perfect unity of will and action within the Trinity.

Biblical Understanding:

1. Trinitarian Unity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always work in perfect harmony. The Son never acts independently of the Father, not because He lacks power, but because They are one in essence and will.
2. The Incarnational Mission: As the incarnate Son, Jesus came to do the Father’s will and to reveal the Father. His statements about dependence reflect His role as the Sent One, not a lack of divine power.
3. Divine Power Displayed: Jesus’ miracles were demonstrations of His divine nature:
   • He forgave sins, which only God can do (Mark 2:5-7)
   • He claimed power over the Sabbath (Mark 2:28)
   • He commanded nature (Mark 4:39)
   • He raised the dead by His own authority (John 11:43)

The Jews understood that Jesus was claiming equality with God, not denying His divine power. His works were the Father’s works precisely because He and the Father are one (John 10:30).

Part V: Dake’s Heretical Trinity Doctrine

Three Separate Gods Instead of One God in Three Persons

Perhaps the most shocking of all Dake’s errors is his redefinition of the Trinity. While using the term “Trinity,” Dake actually teaches tritheism—the belief in three separate Gods:

This is not the Christian doctrine of the Trinity but outright polytheism. Dake has redefined the Godhead as three separate beings with separate bodies, which completely contradicts the biblical and historical Christian understanding of one God in three persons.

Notice how Dake argues against God being “one person made up of three persons.” But this is a straw man—orthodox Christianity has never taught that God is “one person made up of three persons.” The doctrine is one God (one essence, one being) in three persons (three centers of consciousness, three subsistences).

The Body Parts Error

Dake goes so far as to teach that each member of the Trinity has a physical body with limitations:

This teaching demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of the nature of God. God the Father is spirit (John 4:24), and to attribute a physical body to Him is to deny His spiritual nature. The Holy Spirit, by definition, is spirit, not a physical being.

Conservative Christian Response on the Trinity

The historic Christian doctrine of the Trinity, as defined by the early church councils and maintained by all orthodox Christian traditions, teaches:

Biblical Evidence for One God in Three Persons:

• Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” This is the foundational monotheistic confession of Scripture.
• Isaiah 44:6: “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
• 1 Corinthians 8:4: “We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.”
• Matthew 28:19: “Baptizing them in the name [singular] of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Note the singular “name,” not “names.”
• 2 Corinthians 13:14: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.”

The Bible clearly teaches both the oneness of God and the distinction of persons within the Godhead. This is not three Gods but one God in three persons—a mystery that transcends human comprehension but is clearly revealed in Scripture.

Part VI: Dake’s False Teaching on Christ’s Sonship

Sonship Only in Humanity

Dake teaches that Christ’s sonship refers only to His humanity and never to His deity:

This teaching denies the eternal sonship of Christ and reduces the second person of the Trinity to someone who only became the Son at the incarnation. This is a serious departure from biblical truth.

Conservative Christian Response on Eternal Sonship

The biblical doctrine of the eternal sonship of Christ teaches that the second person of the Trinity has eternally existed as the Son of God, not merely from the incarnation:

Biblical Evidence for Eternal Sonship:

• John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” God gave His Son—He didn’t give someone who would become His Son.
• Galatians 4:4: “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman.” The Son was sent, then made of a woman—the order is significant.
• 1 John 4:9: “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world.”
• Proverbs 30:4: “What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” This Old Testament passage speaks of God having a Son before the incarnation.
• Hebrews 1:2: God “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” The Son made the worlds, indicating His pre-incarnate existence as the Son.

The relationship of Father and Son within the Trinity is eternal, not temporal. It describes an eternal relationship of love and glory that existed before the foundation of the world (John 17:5, 24).

Part VII: The Dangerous Implications of Dake’s Teaching

Undermining the Atonement

If Jesus Christ was not fully God during His earthly ministry, as Dake teaches, then His death on the cross could not provide infinite atonement for sin. Only God could pay the infinite penalty that sin deserves. A mere man, even a Spirit-anointed man, could not redeem humanity.

The book of Hebrews makes it clear that Christ’s deity was essential to His priestly work:

Only because Christ was the sinless God-man could He offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sins.

Creating a False Gospel

Dake’s teaching essentially creates a different Jesus than the one revealed in Scripture. Paul warned about this very danger:

By teaching that Jesus laid aside His divine attributes and became merely human, Dake is preaching “another Jesus”—one who cannot save because he is not the eternal God in human flesh.

Destroying the Foundation of Christian Worship

Christians worship Jesus Christ as God. If He is not fully God, then Christian worship is idolatry. Thomas worshipped Jesus, saying, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28), and Jesus accepted this worship. If Jesus were not God, He should have rebuked Thomas.

Throughout the New Testament, Jesus receives worship that belongs only to God:

• The wise men worshipped Him (Matthew 2:11)
• The disciples worshipped Him (Matthew 14:33)
• The blind man worshipped Him (John 9:38)
• The women worshipped Him after the resurrection (Matthew 28:9)
• All creation will worship Him (Philippians 2:10-11; Revelation 5:13-14)

If Dake is correct and Jesus was not God during His earthly ministry, then all these acts of worship were inappropriate and should have been rejected.

Part VIII: Examining Dake’s Misuse of Scripture

The Philippians 2 Distortion

Dake’s primary text for his kenosis doctrine is Philippians 2:5-11, but he completely misinterprets this passage. Let’s examine what the passage actually says:

The Greek word for “form” (morphē) refers to the essential nature or attributes of something. Christ was in the “form of God”—He possessed the essential nature of God. The passage says He “took upon him the form of a servant”—He added servanthood; He didn’t subtract deity.

The phrase “made himself of no reputation” (Greek: heauton ekenōsen, literally “emptied Himself”) does not mean He emptied Himself OF His divine attributes, but that He emptied Himself BY taking the form of a servant. The emptying consisted in the taking, not in a discarding.

The Misunderstanding of “Greater Works”

Dake uses John 14:12, where Jesus says believers will do “greater works” than He did, to argue that believers can have the same power Jesus had if they receive the same Spirit baptism:

This interpretation fails to understand what Jesus meant by “greater works.” The “greater” refers to extent and scope, not to power or quality. Through the church, the gospel would spread throughout the world, reaching more people than Jesus’ earthly ministry, which was limited to Israel. The book of Acts demonstrates this—3,000 converted in one day at Pentecost, the gospel spreading to the Gentiles, etc.

The Acts 10:38 Misapplication

Dake frequently cites Acts 10:38 to support his view that Jesus was just a man anointed with the Spirit:

However, this verse does not deny Christ’s deity. It describes how the God-man was anointed for His messianic ministry. The anointing of Jesus with the Spirit was not to make Him divine (He already was) but to inaugurate His public ministry as the Messiah (the Anointed One). This was the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1, which Jesus quoted in Luke 4:18.

Part IX: Historical Context – How the Church Has Always Understood the Kenosis

The Early Church Fathers

The early church fathers consistently taught that Christ retained His divine nature during the incarnation:

Athanasius (296-373 AD): “He was not man, and then became God, but He was God, and then became man, and that to deify us.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390 AD): “What He was, He continued to be; what He was not, He took to Himself.”

Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD): “We do not say that the Word of God dwelt in him who was born of the holy Virgin as in a common man, lest Christ should be thought of as a God-bearing man.”

These fathers understood that Christ did not cease to be God but added humanity to His deity.

The Reformation Understanding

The Protestant Reformers maintained the orthodox understanding of Christ’s two natures:

Martin Luther: “Christ is God and man in one person because the person of the Son of God assumed human nature and united it with Himself personally.”

John Calvin: “When it is said that the Word was made flesh, we must not understand it as if He were either changed into flesh, or confusedly intermingled with flesh, but that He made choice of the Virgin’s womb as a temple in which He might dwell.”

Modern Evangelical Consensus

Every major evangelical confession of faith affirms the full deity of Christ during His incarnation. The Baptist Faith and Message, the Westminster Confession, the Augsburg Confession, and virtually every orthodox Christian creed affirms that Christ is fully God and fully man in one person.

Part X: The Biblical Doctrine of the Hypostatic Union

Understanding the Two Natures

The biblical doctrine of the hypostatic union teaches that Jesus Christ has two complete natures—divine and human—united in one person. These natures are:

1. Without mixture: The divine and human natures do not mix to form a third kind of nature.
2. Without change: Neither nature is changed by the union.
3. Without division: Christ is not two persons but one.
4. Without separation: The two natures can never be separated.

This doctrine preserves both the full deity and full humanity of Christ while maintaining His unity as one person.

Biblical Support for the Hypostatic Union

Scripture clearly teaches both natures of Christ:

His Divine Nature:

• He is called God (John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13)
• He possesses divine attributes (eternal – Micah 5:2; omnipresent – Matthew 28:20; omniscient – John 2:24-25)
• He does divine works (creation – John 1:3; preservation – Hebrews 1:3; forgiveness – Mark 2:5-7)
• He receives divine worship (Matthew 14:33; John 9:38; Revelation 5:13-14)

His Human Nature:

• He had a human birth (Luke 2:7; Galatians 4:4)
• He experienced human development (Luke 2:52)
• He had human emotions (John 11:35; Mark 14:34)
• He experienced human limitations (hunger – Matthew 4:2; thirst – John 19:28; weariness – John 4:6)
• He died a human death (Mark 15:37; 1 Corinthians 15:3)

The Communication of Properties

Because Christ is one person with two natures, what is true of either nature can be predicated of the one person. This is called the communication of properties (communicatio idiomatum). For example:

• The Son of God died (divine person, human nature dying)
• The blood of God purchased the church (Acts 20:28)
• The Lord of glory was crucified (1 Corinthians 2:8)

This does not mean the divine nature died or suffered, but that the person who is divine died according to His human nature.

Part XI: Responding to Dake’s Proof Texts

Luke 2:52 – Growing in Wisdom

Dake uses Luke 2:52, which says Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature,” to argue that Jesus lacked divine attributes. However, this verse describes the genuine human development of Christ’s human nature. As the God-man, Jesus experienced real human growth and development without ceasing to be God.

The key to understanding this is recognizing that Christ’s human nature was not omniscient. His human mind learned and grew, while His divine nature remained unchanged. This is not a contradiction but the mystery of the incarnation—one person with two distinct natures.

Hebrews 5:8 – Learning Obedience

Hebrews 5:8 says, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Dake interprets this as evidence that Jesus lacked divine attributes. However, this verse speaks of experiential learning in His human nature. As God, Christ knew all things; as man, He experienced obedience through suffering.

This actually demonstrates the reality of Christ’s human nature while not denying His divine nature. He truly experienced human life, including the process of learning through experience, while never ceasing to be the eternal Son of God.

John 5:19 – Can Do Nothing of Himself

When Jesus says, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do,” Dake interprets this as an admission of powerlessness. However, Jesus is describing the perfect harmony within the Trinity. The Son never acts independently of the Father, not because He lacks power, but because They are perfectly united in will and action.

This same chapter actually affirms Christ’s deity. In verse 23, Jesus says, “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.” This is a claim to equal honor with God, which would be blasphemous if Jesus were not God.

Part XII: The Practical Dangers of Dake’s Teaching

Creating Confusion About Salvation

If Jesus was not God during His earthly ministry, how can we trust that His sacrifice was sufficient for our sins? The infinite value of Christ’s sacrifice depends on His being the God-man. A mere human, no matter how anointed, could not bear the sins of the world.

Furthermore, if Jesus only became fully empowered at His baptism, what about His earlier life? Was He sinful before that? Dake’s system creates more questions than it answers and undermines the clear biblical teaching about Christ.

Promoting Spiritual Pride

Dake’s teaching that believers can do the same works as Christ if they receive the same Spirit baptism can lead to spiritual pride and disappointment. When believers fail to perform the miracles Jesus did (walking on water, raising the dead after four days, etc.), they may question their faith or salvation.

This teaching also diminishes the uniqueness of Christ. Jesus’ miracles were not just displays of Spirit-anointing but revelations of His divine nature and messianic identity. To suggest that any believer can duplicate them is to miss their significance.

Opening the Door to Further Heresies

Once the deity of Christ is compromised, other essential doctrines fall like dominoes:

• If Jesus is not God, the Trinity is destroyed
• If the Trinity is destroyed, monotheism is compromised
• If Jesus is not God, His mediatorship is insufficient
• If His mediatorship is insufficient, we have no access to God
• If we have no access to God, we have no salvation

Dake’s teaching strikes at the very heart of the Christian faith, even while using Christian terminology and claiming to believe the Bible.

Part XIII: Understanding the True Biblical Kenosis

What Christ Actually Emptied Himself Of

The biblical doctrine of kenosis, properly understood, teaches that Christ emptied Himself not BY subtraction but BY addition. He did not empty Himself OF His divine attributes but emptied Himself BY taking the form of a servant.

Specifically, Christ voluntarily surrendered:

1. The independent exercise of divine attributes: He chose to live in dependence on the Father, modeling perfect human dependence on God.
2. The full manifestation of divine glory: His glory was veiled in human flesh, though it occasionally broke through (the Transfiguration).
3. The prerogatives of deity: He did not cling to His rights as God but humbled Himself to serve.
4. Divine privileges: He who was rich became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9), not losing His divine nature but choosing not to use it for His own comfort.

What Christ Retained

Throughout His incarnation, Christ retained:

1. His divine nature: He remained fully God (Colossians 2:9)
2. His divine attributes: Though not always exercised, they remained His
3. His divine identity: He was still the eternal Son of God
4. His divine authority: He forgave sins, accepted worship, and claimed equality with the Father

The Purpose of the Kenosis

Christ’s self-emptying had specific purposes:

1. To provide salvation: Only the God-man could be our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)
2. To reveal God: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9)
3. To sympathize with us: He experienced human life and can help us in our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15)
4. To model perfect humanity: He showed us how humans should live in dependence on God
5. To defeat Satan: He conquered the devil as a man, restoring what Adam lost

Part XIV: Table – Dake’s Teaching vs. Biblical Orthodoxy

Topic	Dake’s Teaching	Biblical Orthodox Position	Key Scripture
Divine Attributes	Christ completely laid aside all divine attributes	Christ retained all divine attributes but limited their use	Colossians 2:9 – “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”
Divine Power	Jesus had no divine power of His own	Jesus possessed divine power but exercised it in submission to the Father	John 10:18 – “I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again”
Omniscience	Jesus was not omniscient during His earthly ministry	Jesus was omniscient in His divine nature, limited in His human consciousness	John 16:30 – “Now are we sure that thou knowest all things”
Birth Status	Born as ordinary baby with no divine power	Born as the God-man, fully divine and fully human	Luke 1:35 – “That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”
Miracles Source	All miracles done only by the Holy Spirit’s power	Miracles done by His own divine power in harmony with the Father and Spirit	John 2:11 – “This beginning of miracles did Jesus…and manifested forth his glory”
Trinity	Three separate Gods with separate bodies	One God in three persons, one essence	Matthew 28:19 – “In the name [singular] of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”
Eternal Sonship	Sonship only refers to humanity, not deity	Eternal Son of God, eternally generated by the Father	John 3:16 – “God gave his only begotten Son”
Kenosis Meaning	Emptied OF divine attributes	Emptied BY taking human nature	Philippians 2:7 – “Took upon him the form of a servant”
Worship of Christ	Implies Jesus wasn’t truly God during ministry	Jesus rightfully received worship as God	John 20:28 – “Thomas answered…My Lord and my God”
Nature at Age 30	Became empowered only at baptism	Always God-man, anointed for messianic ministry	Luke 2:49 – “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Part XV: The Influence and Spread of Dake’s Errors

The Dake Annotated Reference Bible

Dake’s most influential work is his Annotated Reference Bible, first published in 1963. This study Bible contains over 35,000 notes and has been widely distributed, particularly in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles. Many sincere Christians have used this Bible without realizing the heretical nature of many of its notes.

The danger of the Dake Bible is that it presents heresy alongside truth, making it difficult for the average reader to discern the difference. Dake’s notes on many passages are helpful and biblical, which gives credibility to his heretical notes on other passages. This mixture of truth and error is particularly dangerous for new believers or those without solid theological grounding.

Impact on the Word of Faith Movement

Dake’s teachings have significantly influenced certain segments of the Word of Faith movement. His idea that Jesus operated as a mere man anointed by the Spirit has been adopted by some prosperity teachers who claim that believers can do everything Jesus did if they have enough faith.

This teaching has led to:

• False promises of healing and miracles
• Spiritual abuse when people fail to receive promised miracles
• A diminished view of Christ’s uniqueness
• An inflated view of human potential
• Confusion about the nature of God and salvation

The Need for Discernment

The spread of Dake’s teachings highlights the critical need for biblical discernment in the church. Many Christians assume that if something is in a study Bible or taught by a minister, it must be true. However, we are commanded to test all things:

We must be like the Bereans, who “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Part XVI: Answering Common Defenses of Dake’s Teaching

Defense 1: “Dake Believed in the Deity of Christ”

Defenders of Dake often point out that he affirmed the deity of Christ in various places. However, using orthodox terminology while redefining it is not the same as holding orthodox doctrine. Many heretics throughout history have claimed to believe in Christ’s deity while actually denying it through their teaching.

The issue is not whether Dake used the words “deity of Christ” but what he meant by them. If Christ laid aside all divine attributes and became merely human, then He was not deity during His earthly ministry, regardless of what titles are applied to Him.

Defense 2: “Dake Was Just Emphasizing Christ’s Humanity”

Some argue that Dake was simply trying to emphasize the genuine humanity of Christ against those who minimize it. While Christ’s true humanity is essential Christian doctrine, this cannot be emphasized at the expense of His deity.

The Council of Chalcedon carefully balanced both natures, declaring Christ to be “truly God and truly man.” Any teaching that diminishes either nature is heretical. Dake didn’t just emphasize humanity; he denied continuing deity during the incarnation.

Defense 3: “This Is Just a Different Interpretation”

Not all interpretative differences are equal. Some differences are within the bounds of orthodoxy; others place one outside the Christian faith. The deity of Christ is not a secondary issue where Christians can “agree to disagree.”

Paul wrote to the Galatians about those who preached “another gospel” and pronounced them accursed (Galatians 1:8-9). John wrote that those who deny that Christ came in the flesh have the spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:3). The nature of Christ is a fundamental issue that defines Christianity itself.

Part XVII: The Testimony of Scripture – Christ’s Own Claims

Jesus’ Direct Claims to Deity

Throughout His ministry, Jesus made claims that only make sense if He remained fully God:

1. The “I AM” Statements

Jesus used the divine name revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). The Jews understood this as a claim to deity and tried to stone Him for blasphemy.

2. Claim to Divine Authority

• “The Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath” (Mark 2:28)
• “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18)
• “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30)
• “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9)

3. Claim to Divine Prerogatives

• Forgiving sins (Mark 2:5-11)
• Judging the world (John 5:22)
• Giving eternal life (John 10:28)
• Raising the dead (John 5:21)

If Jesus had laid aside His divine attributes as Dake teaches, these claims would be false and blasphemous.

The Apostolic Testimony

The apostles who knew Jesus personally testified to His continued deity:

Peter’s Confession: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). This was not a future reality but a present truth.

John’s Testimony: “And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). John saw divine glory in the incarnate Christ.

Paul’s Declaration: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). Paul uses the present tense—the Godhead dwells in Christ.

The Writer of Hebrews: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). Christ upholds the universe—hardly the work of someone who laid aside divine attributes.

Part XVIII: The Chalcedonian Definition – The Orthodox Standard

The Historical Background

The Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) was convened to address various Christological heresies that threatened the church. The council produced what has become the standard orthodox definition of Christ’s person and natures.

How Dake Violates Chalcedon

Dake’s teaching violates every aspect of the Chalcedonian definition:

1. Not “perfect in Godhead”: If Christ laid aside divine attributes, He was not perfect in Godhead during His earthly ministry.
2. Not “truly God”: A God who lacks omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence is not truly God.
3. “Changeably”: Dake teaches that Christ changed by losing divine attributes, contrary to “unchangeably.”
4. “Separably”: Dake separates the divine nature from Christ during His earthly life, contrary to “inseparably.”
5. Properties not preserved: Dake denies that the properties of the divine nature were preserved during the incarnation.

Part XIX: The Consequences for Christian Worship and Practice

Impact on Worship

If Dake’s teaching were true, it would fundamentally alter Christian worship:

1. Prayer to Jesus: If Jesus was not God during His earthly ministry, then the disciples were wrong to worship Him, and we would be wrong to pray to Him as God.
2. Hymns and Songs: Countless Christian hymns that worship Christ as God would be idolatrous if He were not fully divine.
3. The Lord’s Supper: The reverence given to Christ in communion would be inappropriate if He were merely a Spirit-anointed man.
4. Baptism: Baptism “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” would be wrong if the Son is not equally God.

Impact on Salvation

The doctrine of salvation depends entirely on Christ being the God-man:

1. Mediator: Only one who is both God and man can mediate between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).
2. Sacrifice: Only an infinite sacrifice can atone for sin against an infinite God.
3. Victory: Only God could defeat Satan, death, and sin.
4. New Creation: Only the Creator can make us new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17).

If Christ were not fully God during His earthly ministry, none of these salvation realities would be possible.

Impact on Christian Living

Dake’s teaching also affects practical Christian living:

1. False Expectations: If believers can do everything Jesus did through Spirit baptism, why don’t we see believers walking on water or raising the dead after four days?
2. Spiritual Pride: Those who think they have what Jesus had may become prideful and look down on others.
3. Despair: When believers fail to perform Jesus’ miracles, they may despair of their faith.
4. Diminished Christ: Christ becomes merely our example rather than our Savior and Lord.

Part XX: Conclusion – Standing for Biblical Truth

The Unchanging Truth of Christ’s Nature

For nearly 2,000 years, the Christian church has confessed that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man in one person. This is not a doctrine invented by theologians but the clear teaching of Scripture. From the prophecies of the Old Testament to the proclamations of the New, the Bible consistently presents Christ as the eternal God who became man without ceasing to be God.

The incarnation remains a mystery that transcends human comprehension. How can infinite God become finite man? How can the omnipresent One be localized in a human body? These are mysteries we accept by faith, not contradictions we resolve by denying Christ’s deity.

The Danger of Dake’s Heresy

Finis Dake’s teaching on the Kenosis represents one of the most dangerous heresies to infiltrate segments of the modern church. By using Christian terminology while redefining fundamental doctrines, Dake has deceived many sincere believers. His teaching strikes at the very heart of Christianity—the person and work of Jesus Christ.

We must remember that sincerity is not a substitute for truth. Many false teachers are sincere in their beliefs. Many heretics think they are serving God. But sincerity without truth leads to destruction. Jesus warned that many would come in His name, deceiving many (Matthew 24:5).

The Call to Discernment

The church today desperately needs to return to biblical discernment. We cannot accept teaching simply because it comes from a popular teacher or is found in a study Bible. Every teaching must be tested against the clear word of Scripture and the testimony of the historic Christian faith.

This doesn’t mean we should be suspicious of everyone or create division over minor issues. But when it comes to the fundamental doctrines of the faith—the nature of God, the person of Christ, the way of salvation—we must stand firm and contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

The Beauty of the True Christ

The biblical Christ is far more glorious than Dake’s diminished version. The true Christ is the eternal Word who became flesh, the Creator who entered His creation, the infinite God who added finite humanity to His infinite deity. He is Emmanuel—God with us—not God who ceased to be God to be with us.

In Christ, we see perfect God and perfect man united forever. He knows our weaknesses because He experienced them, yet He has the power to help us because He is God. He sympathizes with our struggles as one who was tempted, yet He can deliver us as one who never sinned. He died as man, yet His death has infinite value because He is God.

Standing Firm in the Faith

As we conclude this examination of Dake’s errors, let us recommit ourselves to the biblical truth about Jesus Christ. Let us hold fast to the confession that has sustained the church through centuries of trial and persecution: Jesus Christ is Lord—fully God, fully man, one person, two natures, our only Savior and our eternal King.

May we never be moved from this foundation. May we never compromise this truth for the sake of novel interpretations or popular teachings. And may we always worship and serve the Christ of Scripture—the One who was, and is, and is to come, the Almighty God in human flesh, our blessed Redeemer and coming King.

Appendix: Key Scripture References Affirming Christ’s Continued Deity

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