Neville Goddard on Psalms 82:6

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard interprets Psalms 82:6 as a literal declaration of humanity's true identity. He teaches that we are the 'gods' (Elohim) who were once part of a single divine being, the 'One Man.' This being fell and fragmented into the diversity of humanity, experiencing mortality ('die like men') for the purpose of being gathered together again, but glorified by the experience.

Key Concepts

• Every individual is God; this is a scriptural truth, not a metaphor.
• Humanity is a fragmented state of a single divine being, referred to as the 'One Man' or the Lord Jesus Christ.
• The 'Fall' described in the psalm is the scattering of this One Man into countless individuals.
• The purpose of this fragmentation and experience in the world is to be ultimately reunited as one glorified being.
• Our physical bodies, regardless of appearance, are merely 'masks' or 'garments' worn by God.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard asserts that the statement “I say, ye are gods” from Psalms 82 is a fundamental truth about our identity that is often dismissed or feared. He teaches that this is not a symbolic statement but a literal one: every single person is God. This concept stands in contrast to the belief in a God that is separate and external from oneself.

The psalm explains the origin of our current human state. We are the 'gods'—identified as the Elohim—who in the beginning existed as a collective, a brotherhood that formed a single entity called the 'One Man' or the Lord Jesus Christ. This unified being is the one who 'fell as one man.'

This 'Fall' was not a punishment for wrongdoing but a deliberate act of fragmentation. The One Man was scattered, like a broken rock, and became diversified into the multitude of individuals that constitute humanity. The phrase 'you shall die like men' refers to this descent into the experience of mortality, where we wear garments of flesh and blood. Behind every physical mask, regardless of its appearance, is God.

The entire journey through this fragmented state, described as passing through 'furnaces of affliction,' has a divine purpose. We are destined to be gathered together again, reuniting into the same One Being. However, we will not return as we were; the One Man will be glorified by the sum total of the experiences gained by each of its fragmented parts.

Important Quotes

“I say, ‘you are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like men, and fall as one man, O ye princes.”

— Test Him And See

We are the gods and – in the beginning we are the brothers who actually form the One Man, the Lord Jesus Christ!

— The Most Precious Gift

So, the One Man is scattered, like a rock being broken and fragmented. And every one now is to be gathered together in the same One Being – one body, but glorified by reason of the experience.

— Who Am I

behind the mask of these bodies is God – not less than the other one.

— Test Him And See

Related Concepts

• I AM / Consciousness: The teaching that 'Ye are gods' is the scriptural basis for the principle that your own consciousness, your sense of 'I AM,' is God. The God who fell into a fragmented state is the very being that exists behind the 'mask' of your physical body.
• States: The human experience of 'dying like men' can be understood as a state—a temporary condition of being—that the one divine being entered. The ultimate destiny is to exit this state and return to the unified state of the 'One Man,' but glorified.

Common Misunderstandings

• This is a metaphor: The source material corrects the idea that this verse is not literal. Neville emphasizes that scholars and others may dismiss it, but it is a direct statement of truth that everyone is God.
• The Fall was a punishment: The teaching presented is that the Fall was not a result of wrongdoing, contrary to what some priesthoods teach. It was a purposeful descent and fragmentation of the One Man.
• Some people are more 'God' than others: This interpretation is corrected by the statement that behind all physical bodies and pigments is God, and 'not one because of the pigment of the skin is less than the other one.'

Practical Applications

The primary application of this teaching is a fundamental shift in your self-concept. The goal is to become fully convinced that you are God. This is not about arrogance, but about recognizing the true identity that lies behind the mask of your human personality. Accepting this truth is the foundation for understanding your creative power, as it moves God from an external entity to the very center of your own being.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Neville Goddard believe we are literally God?

Yes. He interprets Psalms 82:6 as a direct, scriptural statement that 'everyone is God,' a truth that he notes often frightens people who prefer an external deity.

What does it mean to 'die like men' and 'fall as one man'?

This refers to the single divine being, the 'One Man,' fragmenting into countless individuals who experience mortality. The 'fall' is this scattering into humanity, and 'dying like men' is the experience of life in a physical body.

Who is the 'One Man' that Neville says fell?

The source material identifies the 'One Man' as a collective of 'gods' or 'brothers' who together form the Lord Jesus Christ.