Nicholaitans

Acts 6:5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

Revelation 2  ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. 6 Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’


Revelation 2  ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

The letter to the church at Pergamum specifically charged them with having seduced people into eating meat offered to idols and into acts of fornication. The decree of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:28, 29) had laid down also two specific conditions upon which Gentiles were to be admitted into Christian fellowship: they were to abstain from things offered to idols and from fornication. These were the very regulations which the Nicolaitans violated.


They were a people who used Christian liberty as an occasion for the flesh, against such Paul warned (Gal 5:13). The enticement to such a course of action was the pagan society in which Christians lived where eating meat offered to idols was common. Sex relations outside marriage were completely acceptable in such a society. The Nicolaitans attempted to establish a compromise with the pagan society of the Graeco-Roman world that surrounded them. The people most susceptible to such teaching were, no doubt, the upper classes who stood to lose the most by a separation from the culture to which they had belonged before conversion.

It may be that the doctrine of the Nicolaitans was dualistic. They prob. reasoned that the human body was evil anyway and only the spirit was good. A Christian, therefore, could do whatever he desired with his body because it had no importance. The spirit, on the other hand, was the recipient of grace which meant that grace and forgiveness were his no matter what he did. They were those ready to compromise with the world. They were judged by the author of Revelation to be most dangerous because the result of their teaching would have conformed Christianity to the world rather than have Christianity change the world. Eusebius indicated that this sect did not last very long, and in all probability the only knowledge of their teaching that is possible will be found in the slight references to them in Revelation- Encyclopedia of the Bible, Biblegateway

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"From the letters to Ephesus and the Pergamum it would be inferred
that the Nicolaitans were evil and offensive people only because they ate
food offered to idols and committed fornication; in other words, because
they were shamelessly transgressing the decree of the apostles (Acts
15:28 f.)., But it is a striking fact that John here so definitely speaks of
a teaching. It is quite clear from the letter to Thyatira that the Nicolaitans were gnostics, for the words "we know the deep things of Satan"2
in Rev. 2:24 show that they had definitely formulated their Gnosis, and
that it was antinomian and even libertine in character."

 "The sect of the Nicolaitans had its apostles' and prophets like the great church. The Apostles were the missionaries. In Ephesus the members of the church had experienced their influence and had driven them out with scorn and shame. In Thyatira a certain woman, who seems to have been particularly dangerous, is attacked as a prophetess.2 John had already given her one warning and granted her time for repentance. Now he threatens her and her followers with judgment of death if they persist in their sinful ways.3 5. This is all the information concerning the Nicolaitans which the Apocalypse of John furnishes. From the writings of the church fathers, however, we gain some further knowledge: (a) Irenaeus of Asia Minor describes them as "a branch of the movement falsely called 'gnosis"' (iii. i i. ), and regards them as forerunners of Cerinthus. This he did not learn from the Apocalypse, but from tradition. Probably he knew more about them and their teaching than he felt it necessary to tell. That they were still existing in his time is implied in i. 26. 3 (cf. also Clement of Alexandria). b) Tertullian also knew more (on the basis of tradition) than he tells. This is evident from the fact that he classes them with the satanic sect of the Cainites (de Praescr. 33.4 Cf. also Adv. Marc. i. 29; de Pudic. 19). In the epistle of Jude, also, the false teachers are described as going "in the way of Cain." c) The gnostic system of the Nicolaitans, which is referred to in the Apocalypse, in Irenaeus, and in Tertullian, is described in its main features by Hippolytus in the Syntagma.s It was a thoroughly dualistic"

 In his treatise ad Miannaeam Hippolytus says further that the Nicolaitans taught that the resurrection had already taken place in faith and baptism, and that there was no resurrection of the flesh; that they laid the greatest stress upon faith and baptism is shown by their particular type of Christianity.2 From Hippolytus' account we see that he must have had in his possession a good fund of knowledge concerning the Nicolaitans. d) Clement of Alexandria, who gives us information concerning the person of Nicolaus which does not appear elsewhere (see the exposition below), says nothing concerning the teaching of the Nicolaitans because the particular connection in which he mentions them gives no occasion to speak of their doctrine (questions of asceticism). However, he does say that these "lascivious goats" justify their wicked actions with a word of their teacher, Nicolaus: "It is proper to abuse the flesh." They no longer existed in his day. e) We have a striking statement from Victorinus of Pettau. He says that the Nicolaitans had taught "that food offered to idols might be exorcized and eaten and that anyone who might be a fornicator might obtain peace on the eighth day." This statement is very untrustworthy because it is an anachronism. Neither a lax person, nor, indeed, any sort of Christian could have made such a statement in the first century. It is suited only to the third century. The confusion may have arisen because in the third century a strict Christian may have compared with the Nicolaitans the lax Catholic party who represented this position.

Decisive testimony is given by Clement of Alexandria, who knows from the tradition of both the Nicolaitans and the church that the Nicolaitans are adherents of the deacon Nicolaus of Jerusalem, for he says in Strom. ii. ii8, after he had spoken of Aristippus: "Such also are those who call themselves followers of Nicolaus and who perversely bring forward a certain maxim of the man, viz., It is necessary to abuse the flesh"; and in Strom. iii. 25 he narrates from Nicolaitan tradition the following story of Nicolaus: "He, they say, having a beautiful wife, and being reproached for jealousy by the apostles after the ascension of the Savior, brought her into their midst and turned her over to anyone who might wish to marry the woman. For they say this act is in conformity with the saying: 'It is necessary to abuse the flesh."' Clement had made inquiry about the matter and was not able to contest the truth of the story, but he continues: "However, I learn indeed that Nicolaus had intercourse with no other woman except the one whom he married, and of her children the daughters lived to old age as virgins and the son remained uncorrupt." Accordingly there can be no doubt of a real relationship between the Nicolaitans and Nicolaus of Jerusalem,' since the sect still existing at the time of Clement of Alexandria asserted this and the opponents of the sect did not deny it, and since, moreover, a tradition concerning the person of Nicolaus of Jerusalem, his family, and a strange and offensive behavior of his was in existence which neither party denied.

- The Journal of Religion https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/480373

Nicolaitans are antinomian with indifference to commands regarding eating prohibited things.  

Job and Jethro

So you have Job right... 

Job1:1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 

And Job was the greatest of all the men of the east right, I mean that's what the text says. I was looking into what that means. who are these east people? Where are they mentioned? Well, they were around in Jacobs time

Gen 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east. 

The midianites were from Abrahams other family. 

Genesis 25:1–2 Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore to him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah.

So Midian and the sons of the east... 

Judges 7:12 Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore

Judges 6:33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the sons of the east assembled themselves; and they crossed over and camped in the valley of Jezreel.

 Judges 8:5 He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian. Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about 15,000 men, all who were left of the entire army of the sons of the east; for the fallen were 120,000 swordsmen. 11 Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and attacked the camp when the camp was unsuspecting. 12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and routed the whole army.

1 Kings 4 Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.

Isaiah 11 13 Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, And those who harass Judah will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, And Judah will not harass Ephraim. 14 They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines on the west; Together they will plunder the sons of the east; They will possess Edom and Moab, And the sons of Ammon will be subject to them.

Ezekiel 25 therefore, behold, I am going to give you to the sons of the east for a possession, and they will set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk. 10 and I will give it for a possession along with the sons of Ammon to the sons of the east, so that the sons of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations.


 If Job was from the sons of the east, and the sons of the east are midianites....

 Exodus 18 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God.

.... so Jethro the Midianite..... 

Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

... learned about the Exodus, Passover, all of it... and He praised and offered Sacrifices to YHVH. 

13 It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

This is before Moses went up the mountain on Sinai, that Moses had the Statutes and Laws of God that He was making known to the people. 

17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, 20 then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”

.... and Jethro the Midianite who has just sacrificed and worshipped YHVH for defeating the egyptians tells Moses to teach the statutes and the laws to men that they may walk the walk. 

24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. 27 Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.

... SO Jethro the Midianite heard RIGHT from MOSES OWN MOUTH everything that God had done. He offered Sacrifices to God, and then instructed that the statutes and the ways of God be taught to others, and then Jethro who instructed all this returned to Midian, the place of the sons of the east.  NOW with ALL this in mind, knowing that Jethro who has declared that there is no God but YHVH and was face to face with Moses who was teaching the Law of God, Jethro returned to home.... lets read about Job

 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.

Job IS a GENTILE who is in Median, aware of days of feasting. The feasts days were part of a cycle. Just as Israel is supposed to appear before YHVH 3 times a year, Jobs kids were instead holding the feasts each one in his house. There was a day when the sons of God were appearing before the LORD... and the sons of the east were not. 

Deuteronomy 16:16 “Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.

 Satan was traveling from Israel to Midian and all over the place looking for someone to afflict at the time of the feasts.  That is when God suggests Job who was upright, God fearing and turning away from evil. What was the first thing that Satan does to afflict Job? 

13 Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Job was still called to appear before the Lord, even though he lost everything. 

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 3 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

Jethro after being with Moses, brought the Law of God back to Midian, where Job kept it. 

The Judaizer Controversy

If the Gospel of Christ is “Sinners can repent from their sins and be reconciled to God through faith in Christ,” then what would a false Gospel be? Throughout time, since the Garden God has been saying that we are to be fruitful and multiply and walk with Him in His ways. We have rebelled against His Laws and His Holiness. If the Gospel is that we can cease from that rebellion, what is the false gospel that Paul writes about?

Galatians 1:6-7 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ

Galatians 2:1-4 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage-

What is this disturbance, what is this different Gospel that the entirety of Galatians was written to combat? What Galatians is: a rebuke to the pharisaic oral law, rabbinic customs, and those that preach that in order to be saved, one must commit a physical action or tradition and conversion to the teachings of rabbinic authority. What Galatians is not: a rebuke to those who are obeying God's Law.

1 Thessalonians 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

Acts 21:27-29 When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

To understand what is happening in Acts 10 and 15, we must understand that there was a group of Jews and Pharisees who were infiltrating what was known as the Way, trying to stop the preaching to gentiles. Rabbinic law and tradition regarded gentiles as unclean. Peter, who perhaps had mental and emotional baggage with how people perceived him after his denial of Christ three times during the night of the crucifixion, was being carried away by the influence of these men as Paul states in the book of Galatians:

Galatians 2:11-14 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

Not like Christ, not in obedience to God's Law, but like these Jews who were regarding rabbinical authority instead of the Law of God. Peter is being rebuked for participation with this group that is regarding Gentiles as unclean and compelling them to obey rabbinic law. Before we get into Acts 10, there is context needed for Peter's vision. We must first look at the prophecy in Isaiah 56 concerning gentiles.

Isaiah 56:6-11 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from His people.” Nor let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath And holds fast My covenant; 7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” 8 The Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, “Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered.”

9 All you beasts of the field, All you beasts in the forest, Come to eat.

10 His watchmen are blind, All of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs unable to bark, Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber; 11 And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied. And they are shepherds who have no understanding; They have all turned to their own way, Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one.

This states outright that gentiles are supposed to be holding to the Law of God, keeping the Sabbath, and that they are the dispersed of Israel that will be gathered to those already gathered.

Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Christ said that to a gentile woman.

Phil 3:2-3 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh

Paul says that those who are teaching that gentiles need to undergo rabbinic ritual physical circumcision and convert to Pharisaic authority are dogs, blind guides who have turned to their own way. Now with the understanding of Isaiah 56 and Christ joining gentiles who are worried about being separated from being Israel, we can understand Acts 10, starting with the gentile Cornelius of the Italian Cohort.

Acts 10:1-8 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

A gentile who has a memorial before God by his faith and his faithfulness is given a message from the Lord to summon Peter who, at this time, is being carried away with the hypocrisy of those men who were regarding gentiles as unclean and separating from them.

Acts 10:9-16 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

Gentiles are approaching at the hour Peter would be withdrawing from Gentiles to eat, as they were making preparations before eating. Peter, who is supposed to be a shepherd and a watchman. Peter, who has been blind, was regarding the gentiles that Christ came for as separate from God, despite what Isaiah 56 says. Peter was supposed to be feeding gentiles as part of his commission from the Savior to feed His sheep.

John 15:3  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you

God didn't regard the gentiles as unclean because they are saved by grace through faith in the word of Christ just as everyone who has ever been saved has been saved.

Acts 10:17-19 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.

Peter, confused by the vision that he knew wasn't about our unchanging God changing His irrevocable word and altering what He says is Holy and what is abomination in regards to what we eat.

Acts 10:22-23 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

This is only against rabbinic law.

Acts 10:23-29 And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.

Peter is met with a large gathering of gentiles. He entered their home and even stated that this is a violation of rabbinic law, stating that God's Law has no such prohibition. Peter came without reservation because the vision he was given was exclusively about gentiles.

Acts 10: 34-36 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—

Every nation, not just Jews.

Acts 10:44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

God grafts gentiles into Israel. They are saved. Peter says no one should object to these gentiles being baptized and he stayed in the house of the gentiles for a few days—against rabbinic authority.

Acts 11:1-3 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

The circumcision in Judea took issue with Peter not obeying rabbinic law against eating and entering the homes of gentiles/ uncircumcised men. Peter recounts to them that the vision was about including the gentiles in salvation.

Acts 11:8 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

Which now brings us to Acts 15 and those men of the circumcision in Judea.

Acts 15:1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

Acts 15:5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

Peter, having received correction by means of the vision and from Paul, stands up to those men.

Acts 15:6-11 The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

Peter rebukes the idea that one must ritually convert to rabbinic authority and engage in circumcision for the sake of being saved. We are not now, nor has anyone ever been, saved by works or by circumcision. Not in the Old Testament or the New Testament, but that group in Judea was teaching these manmade traditions for salvation. These burdensome traditions are what is spoken against in multiple places of which people make the faulty assumption that the passage is talking about God's Law when it is referring to the troubling rabbinic pharisaic law. They agreed that the gentiles shouldn't be under the charge to follow the Law to be saved and decided to give them four introductory, necessary commands from the Law of God, knowing that they would come every Sabbath and learn the rest of the Law.

Acts 15:19-21 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Moses here is an idiom for the commands of God. We know this is an introductory command because the Pharisees and the rabbinical authorities accused Paul of telling people to not obey God's commands, so much that Paul performed a Nazarite vow just to prove those rumors untrue:

Acts 21:17-24 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.

The concern is that Paul is teaching and telling others to not do and teach the Law of God just as Christ in Matthew 5:17-19 tells us that we are supposed to do and teach others to follow the Law of God. Suggesting a Nazarite vow would also mean offering a sacrifice. This would show everyone that there was no truth to the rumors that Paul was teaching against obeying God’s Law.

Acts 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

What did Paul do? He offered the sacrifice. What did the men of Judea who bore false reports do?

Acts 21:30 Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

They tried to kill him. Let’s continue on to Colossians in a more detailed account of these men.

Colossians 2: See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Paul points out that these Judaizers who were trying to stop gentiles from being part of the congregation unless they were circumcised in the flesh, that they were employing a hollow and deceptive philosophy based on men’s traditions, not based on the Law of God. He continued to make the point that gentiles are circumcised by the higher authority of Christ and therefore are part of Israel regardless of what these men were trying to insist. In Galatians 5, he wishes they'd cut their whole member off so that they might not reproduce. He warns that undergoing manmade traditions for the sake of trying to gain access to God is a false gospel. If you're trying to approach God by something you do in a transactional sense, then you miss the point entirely and aren't regarding the work of Christ. Instead, you’re submitting to a headship and authority of these Pharisaic men.

Galatians 5:2-12 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. 7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.

That group of men who were substituting the gift of salvation with a false gospel, a gospel that asserts one’s salvation was purchased by the blood of one’s own foreskin. This group was not in any way, shape, or form preaching the Law of God or the Gospel of Yeshua, but were teaching the traditions of men as if they were the commands of God. Paul continued to encourage gentile converts to not let these Judaizers who are teaching heresies judge them against obedience to God's commands, which are the blueprint of how we are to live like Christ.

Colossians 2 :16-23 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

We aren't keeping the law to be saved, we are saved and obeying God's Law because we now are redeemed from being lawbreakers—redeemed lawbreakers who don’t want to return to lawbreaking. Those who preach ritual circumcision are detached from the ways of God and are not holding fast to the head, which is Christ. They are the ones delighting in manmade religion, not the truth of God's word. Paul points out that these men are the ones that hold to the doctrines of "do not handle, do not taste, do not touch". We have examples of Christ himself rebuking these men and their doctrine:

Mark 7:1-8 The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5 The Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” 6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. 7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 

(As a side note on bread, I highlight the Pharisees’ issue of eating with unwashed hands because it seems to completely dismiss the decree of God that one will toil in the dirt and eat the bread from Genesis 3. Also, Christ is the Bread of Life, which we come to when we are dirty and He is the only one who can make us clean.)

Who is Christ rebuking? The Pharisees and some of their scribes. Why? For not following the commands of God and instead teaching their own manmade religious customs. What were they saying? That they, not God, have the authority to determine what is clean and unclean. Ironically enough, indifference to God's Law and what a man eats is Nicolaitan Doctrine, which is also spoken against by Christ. Christ is rebuking them for the heart that rejects the commands of God, not accidentally eating germs. Touching bread that God has already defined as food with unwashed hands doesn't make it not food, nor does it make you unclean because it passes through your system and out. Christ confirms that entire conversation was about handwashing.

Matthew 15:21 These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.

What does defile a person is ignoring God's commands in your heart, where in the New Covenant those commands are written by the Spirit. So, what do they do now with this group of believing Jews who are not part of the Pharisaic Rabbinical authority, who are now having gentiles come in and are not following matters of personal convictions as it pertains to things like fasting? What do they do with gentiles who aren't washing their hands before they eat and are intermingling with those who hold to that custom? How do you keep the peace with those who are of rabbinic persuasion, judging those gentiles and by an extension, maybe judging Christ? Let's look at Romans 14.

Romans 14:1-4 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Opinions. This verse is talking about people's opinions, not imposing laws on others. It's not about God's commandments. Not on the matter of God's law but in regard to eating and not eating, or eating versus only eating vegetables. This is not reducing God's commands to a matter of subjective interpretations; the matter is opinions regarding food, not Divine edicts from God Himself.

Romans 14:5-12 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall give praise to God.”
12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

The matter of opinions is not regarding the keeping of the Sabbath, it's regarding the days in which people were fasting.

Mark 2:18-20 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they *came and *said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

The Pharisees and John's disciples are clearly not one and the same. The matter before them is eating and not eating. Eating unto the Lord and not eating unto the Lord.

Romans 14 :13-23 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

This passage has nothing to do with the redefinition of unclean animals that provoke God when eaten now being permissible. It has to do with handwashing and fasting on the days that certain groups were fasting. Outside of national days of fasting, such as for Yom Kippur and Purim, fasting is supposed to be a private matter, but these Pharisees were making big shows of it and getting involved in everyone's business:

Matthew 6:16-18 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Romans 14, Colossians 2, Acts 10, Acts 15, and a whole bucket of Scriptures are taken out of their context to make it seem that those obedient to God and God's commands are the Judaizers. The ones who obey the Law of God because they are saved are doing it out of love for God and love for their neighbor. They're not the ones who are spoken of in 2 Thessalonians:

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

Jude, as the previous chapter illustrated, speaks of these men:

Jude 1:3-4 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The emphasis of Salvation by works is the same coin as emphasis that God's Law is only for the Jews and obeying is bondage for gentiles. They're both going to the right or to the left rather than the straight and narrow path. Salvation has always been a gift given by faith through grace. Gentiles have always been allowed to come to God and join Israel. It was the teachings and the traditions of men that said that they couldn't, and it is the teachings and traditions of men that tell us not to obey God's Law. Those that say Paul is teaching us to not obey God's law are in agreement with those who were trying to kill him. Peter even wrote to the Galatian church in 2 Peter chapter 3 to affirm that nothing in the writings of Paul should be construed as being against obedience to God's Law. 

2 Peter 3:14-18 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

2 Peter 3:17- Wicked = Greek: athesmos: one who breaks through the restraint of law and gratifies his lusts. Men can, and will, and do say all sorts of things in their struggle for power and dominance. They’ll often form committees and governments for that very purpose, but just like Peter said in Acts 5:29, “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Oh "gods" No!

 There is a scene in Batman Begins where Batman scares the crap out of a thug and interrogates him as he's held upside down and the thug blurts out "I swear to God" and Batman replies in his chain smoker cookie monster voice "SWEAR TO ME". What does that have to do with anything, why is that the intro to the conversation about "gods"? well, I thought of it so ...keep reading. However,  full disclosure, We obviously know that little wooden idols were fake gods, and that those are the type that Jacob and Rachel stole from Laban we're not talking about the little carved figurines.

 I've been been pretty vocal about how I think that the "Divine Council" in scripture are the Prophets and that God doesn't do major stuff without telling the Prophets that its about to happen. What about those places that it mentions "gods" and that passage in Psalm 82 

I said, “You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High.

On its own, without surrounding context, that seems like a weird thing to say, Especially when you look at such passages where God says there are no other "gods", just Him alone. 

Isaiah 44 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. 7 ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place.8 ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’”

[ Note that God says that He declares what is to come through people, Thats your Divine council ]

Isaiah 45 “I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God.I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other,

For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), “I am the Lord, and there is none else.19 “I have not spoken in secret,In some dark land;I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,‘Seek Me in a waste place’;I, the Lord, speak righteousness, Declaring things that are upright.

“Declare and set forth your case;Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. 22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.

Jeremiah 2:11“Has a nation changed gods when they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

No other "gods"? No other Rock or redeemer, no false Neo- Greek Mythological Mt. Olympus style lesser and greater "gods" that God sits and chats with about all the "God" work going on around the office?  No I don't think so. So what about those "gods" passages? Didn't even the Savior mention "gods" in the Gospels? 
If we're going to make a claim of no other "gods" then we have to reconcile passages like 

Psalm 136  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

and

Psalm 138 I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to You before the gods.

What does David mean by that? Does David seem to think that "gods" are real? 

 Lets look at Ex 12:12

 For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord

Notice that God had already performed all the signs and wonders that mocked the fake pagan "gods" BEFORE He mentioned that He was going to strike down the firstborn of the "gods of Egypt" ?
These gods aren't deities, they're humans that are rulers and judges over the people. Pharaoh was believed to be a "god". YHVH is executing judgements over PEOPLE who were esteemed and elevated over other people. Look at how Psalm 82 renders "gods" in the first verse in the NASB 95

Psalm 82 God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers.[gods] 2 How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah. 3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. 5 They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 I said, “You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High. 7 “Nevertheless you will die like men And fall like any one of the princes.” 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth! For it is You who possesses all the nations.

Rulers = "gods"  When we read the rest of that passage with the idea of the Passover event in mind, It is YHVH takes His stand in own congregation and judges in the midst of the [Leaders/Judges/Rulers/Mighty ones/ gods] - How long will they judge unjustly, They were put in positions of leadership to represent justice of God as Romans 13:1 points out 

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Thats what I believe is meant by "you are sons of the Most High" but you will fall like any one of the princes. God controls the nations. Lets take a closer look at these passages, do we find references to these pagan deities or do we find references to secular evil kings and rulers? 
[for His loving kindness is everlasting is repeated over and over again, so i'm going to trim that for readability so just put it back in your mind after you read each line] 

Psalm 136 To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn,...11 And brought Israel out from their midst,...12 With a strong hand and an outstretched arm,...13 To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder,...14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it,...15 But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,...16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness,...17 To Him who smote great kings,...18 And slew mighty kings,...19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,...20 And Og, king of Bashan,...21 And gave their land as a heritage,..22 Even a heritage to Israel His servant, For His lovingkindness is everlasting

That fits with the context of "gods" meaning wicked rulers and not Angelic Demon False Deities that were real but middle management in Diety Inc of Heaven. When we read that tie to Pharoah and the rulers, and not only made up fake gods we see that both are true and its not just "fake gods can't save you" but also "Your trust in wicked evil government won't save you when YHVH brings judgement" 

Exodus  15 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.5 “The deeps cover them; They went down into the depths like a stone.6 “Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy. 7 “And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You; You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.8 “At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up,The flowing waters stood up like a heap;The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.“The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be gratified against them; I will draw out my sword, my hand will destroy them.’ 10 “You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord?Who is like You, majestic in holiness,

Do we see a reference to the kings of nations in Psalm 138 also? Yes ! 

All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O Lord, When they have heard the words of Your mouth.

DO the rest of the Psalms also have this connection? 

Psalms 86   There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours.9 All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name.
14O God, arrogant men have risen up against me, And a band of violent men have sought my life, And they have not set You before them.

Psalms 95:3 For the Lord is a great God And a great King above all gods,
Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness, 9 “When your fathers tested Me, They tried Me, though they had seen My work. 10 “For forty years I loathed that generation, And said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways. 11 “Therefore I swore in My anger, Truly they shall not enter into My rest.”

Psalm 96  Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.”

Psalm 97:Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images, Who boast themselves of idols; Worship Him, all you gods. 

The connection of the heads of nations as "gods" who boast of themselves... David isn't telling the fake wooden or stone idols or the made up deities to worship YHVH, he is telling those "gods"/Judges/rulers/men/governors.  

More evidence that seems to support the idea of "gods" being human ruler/judges 

1 Samuel 4 When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp. 7 The Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Take courage and be men, O Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you; therefore, be men and fight.”

The Philistines were worried that the Hebrews as "gods" were going to enslave them just as they have enslaved the Hebrews. To be clear, I am not saying that every mention of "gods" is referring to human men, because there is still "gods" referring to idols and made up deities. 

 If we consider an idea that the leaders/ rulers/ Judges/ gods/ governments were supposed to enact YHVH's governance and righteous judgements, and that they were supposed to be a picture of Yeshua as High Priest and Law-giver then these "gods" when they give laws and commands that are not righteous or God's Law- would they not be anti-christ and making the government of worshipping the false deity and fake gods in direct opposition to YHVH? 

2 Thes 2 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

2 kings 17 They also feared the Lord and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who acted for them in the houses of the high places. 33 They feared the Lord and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile 34 To this day they do according to the earlier customs: they do not fear the Lord, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances or the law, or the commandments which the Lord commanded the sons of Jacob, whom He named Israel

Psalm 58  Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men? 2 No, in heart you work unrighteousness; On earth you weigh out the violence of your hands. 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; These who speak lies go astray from birth. 4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent; Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear, 5 So that it does not hear the voice of charmers, Or a skillful caster of spells.

David is not talking to made up deities or speaking about wooden or stone figurines. He's speaking about people who are supposed to be Judging Righteously and being that figure of Christ- but instead are as snakes and they are wicked. 

Isaiah 41 “Present your case,” the Lord says. “Bring forward your strong arguments,” The King of Jacob says.22 Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were,That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming; 23 Declare the things that are going to come afterward,That we may know that you are gods

Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together. 

“But when I look, there is no one, And there is no counselor among them Who, if I ask, can give an answer. 29 “Behold, all of them are false; Their works are worthless,

Their molten images are wind and emptiness.

The MEN who are of leadership/governing/ who are supposed to teach people the ways of YHVH and the history of what YHVH has done, they don't. They profess falsehood and set up fake gods. yet they are called "gods" 

Jeremiah 5 Why should I pardon you? Your sons have forsaken Me And sworn by those who are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, They committed adultery And trooped to the harlot’s house. 

[ I'd remind you all of Eve's temptation on eating the fruit in the garden: Gen 3 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate]

Jeremiah 46  The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, says, “Behold, I am going to punish Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt along with her gods and her kings, even Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 I shall give them over to the power of those who are seeking their lives, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of his officers. Afterwards, however, it will be inhabited as in the days of old,” declares the Lord.

Fake deities and wooden idols aren't real to be punished but people are.  They're not alive to have someone seeking their lives- but people are. We have this BIG picture of LEADERS who are NOT LEADING the way that GOD has told them to. They are those who have become wise in their own eyes and substituted God's Law for the ways, righteousness and traditions of MEN. 

Ezekiel 28: 2 “Son of man, say to the leader of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Because your heart is lifted up And you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods In the heart of the seas’;Yet you are a man and not God,Although you make your heart like the heart of God—

‘Because you have made your heart Like the heart of God, 7 Therefore, behold, I will bring strangers upon you, The most ruthless of the nations. And they will draw their swords Against the beauty of your wisdom And defile your splendor. 8 ‘They will bring you down to the pit, And you will die the death of those who are slain In the heart of the seas. 9 ‘Will you still say, “I am a god,” In the presence of your slayer, Though you are a man and not God, In the hands of those who wound you?

10 ‘You will die the death of the uncircumcised By the hand of strangers, For I have spoken!’ declares the Lord God!”’”

This will get away from me if I let it, so I'm just trying to showcase that "gods" are people. Now, lets look at the instance where Christ is being awesome against the Pharisees.

John 10 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

The Pharisees who substituted God's Law for their own traditions as written in Mark 7 and Matthew 15, who were governing entities and judges over Israel, these Pharisees who were men, were seeking to stone the ONLY one who could with any LEGITIMACY say that they are GOD. They were being rebuked for the hypocrisy and their ignorance of the scriptures. He is stating HIS authority over them and over the scriptures, and over the nations. 

37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” 39 Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.

To be absolutely 100% clear, "gods" =
non-existent make believe fake deities
wooden or stone idols which represent fake imaginary deities
people who were supposed to be representative of YHVH to the people but instead weren't

"gods" does not = 
actual lesser deities that sit around with YHVH and give input on how things should go. 

Exodus 7:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.

Peter, the Vision & the Sheep

John 21
 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Three times after Peter is restored Christ tells him to "Feed His sheep"  but who are these sheep?

John 10 
4 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 

 These sheep are both Jews and Gentiles, that are to be gathered together into one flock: Israel 

Matthew 15:24
24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

So when Christ is telling Peter to feed His sheep, He's referring to both Jews and Gentiles alike, as 1 flock, one body united under the Sheppard that is Christ Himself. 
Now, Where the problem comes in is that Peter began to get carried away with certain Jews and was regarding gentiles as unclean according to Pharisaic law. Christ is uniting the flock together, so man made Pharisaic traditions that regarded men as unclean would be contrary to the charge for Peter to Feed the sheep. 

Galatians 2 
But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned
  12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

Peter was rebuked to his face by Paul for his hypocrisy. Lets look closer at Peters vision in the context of that rebuke with the mindset that he was commanded by God to feed the sheep

Acts 10 
On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

Acts chapter 10 begins with a gentile of the Italian cohort being told  by God that his generosity is a perpetual memorial and that he is saved. Hold those two thoughts and read Isaiah 56

 Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
To minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord,
To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath
And holds fast My covenant;
7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;
For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
8 The Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares,
“Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered.”
9 All you beasts of the field,
All you beasts in the forest,
Come to eat.

Acts 10 starts with a fulfillment of this very passage where God is calling all kinds of "animals" to "come eat" . He's gathering these "wild animals" to "those already gathered". The metaphor of animals being used here is DIRECTLY emphasized in God's vision to Peter on "all kinds of animals" . Peter refusing to "eat" with Gentiles and regarding them as unclean is not only a hindrance to God uniting the flock, but is directly contrary to Christ telling Peter to Feed the sheep. 

Peter eventually understands what the vision is about and explains it to others 

acts 10
Acts 10:27As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful(by pharisaic law not God's law)  it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 

Peter is absolutely clear that the vision wasn't about God altering His word on eating unclean animals- its about Gentiles salvation  

Acts 10 
 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

Acts 11:1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

Peter explained what God has showed them about salvation for the gentiles 

Acts 11 
 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

 Peters vision isn't about eating swine- that is a Nicholatian doctrine. Its about Gentiles being Israel and God's charge to Peter and reminding Peter of his role as ambassador to the Gentiles.  Peter is still professing this very thing in Acts 15

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. 14 Simeon (Peter) has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. 15 With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 ‘After these things I will return, And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it, 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’ 18 Says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago.

 

For more on Gentiles being Israel see also:

Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved

Romans 11:13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Ephesians 2:16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household

When we see that breaking bread together in fellowship is a form of worship, that adds a whole other layer to this. 

"Sons of men "

 When we read scriptures like this 

Matthew  5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

And these : 

Romans 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

They showcase that being a son of God is tied to Obedience and Faith in Christ. What of the opposite though? Does that show that to be called "sons of men" always means "secular?" 

Perhaps secular is too strong a word but I always see the term tied to judgement and its relational to passages where men are not walking by the Spirit or by faith in God. I've listed all the places that I could find it so lets take a look. First mention I've found is Genesis 11:5 in reference to the tower of Babel. The sons of men being a reference to Nimrod and all who went with him. 

Genesis 11:5 5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

We KNOW that was self determinationism. 

1 kings 8:38-39
38 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house; 39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men

This one is  seeming that it is talking about God forgiving after trying the hearts of the sons of men-  the contexts being that they have not walked in His ways prior. This is consistent with them having walked contrary to the Spirit. 

2 Chronicles 6:29-30 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own pain, and spreading his hands toward this house, 30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men

 
It looks like its the same story of 1 Kings, that they had walked contrary to God again, and the passage  about knowing the hearts that men - forgiving them that they might fear God and then walk by the Spirit. 

Psalms has a lot of mentions 

4:2
O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah.

Sons of men = offended by honor, love what is worthless. 

11:4
The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

Neither good nor bad in this context. neither for nor against the theory. 

12:1
Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.

Direct contrast of the godly vs the sons of men. 

12:8
The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of men

Sons of men = wicked

14:2
The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God.

Sons of men, not seeking God nor understanding. 

21:8-10 :
Your hand will find out all your enemies; Your right hand will find out those who hate you. 9 You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger; The Lord will swallow them up in His wrath, And fire will devour them. 10 Their offspring You will destroy from the earth, And their descendants from among the sons of men. Their offspring You will destroy from the earth, And their descendants from among the sons of men.

Lot of God's wrath and anger to these sons of men

31:18-20
Let the lying lips be mute, Which speak arrogantly against the righteous With pride and contempt. 19 How great is Your goodness,Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of men! 20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.

God delivers those who love Him from the sons of men who speak arrogantly against the righteous. 

33:13-17
The Lord looks from heaven;  He sees all the sons of men; 14 From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth, 15 He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works. 16 The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

Son of man = one who is confident in the flesh and self determinationism. 

psalm 45:3-5 contrasts Gods grace vs the sons of men and immediately goes into destruction of opposition 

45:3-5
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. 2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

Sons of men = corrupt 

57:4
My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows And their tongue a sharp sword.

Sons of men = bad

58:1-3
Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men? 2 No, in heart you work unrighteousness; On earth you weigh out the violence of your hands.3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; These who speak lies go astray from birth.

Sons of men are compared to wicked judges/gods as in false gods who are no gods at all. They deal out violence and pervert justice. This is comparison can be made to Eve in the garden who was tempted by the fruit to be like God knowing good and evil for herself... rather than what God defines as good and evil. 

66:3-7
Say to God, “How awesome are Your works!Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You. 4 “All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.” Selah. 5 Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land; They passed through the river on foot; There let us rejoice in Him!7 He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.

When we look at verse 5 a case could be made that it directs back to verse 3 about how God's enemies have faked obedience because of God's might, and that fits with verse 7 which is about how God keeps watch so that the rebellious not exalt themselves. 

89:46-477 
How long, O Lord? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire? 47 Remember what my span of life is; For what vanity You have created all the sons of men! 

Sons of men = vanity that kindle God's wrath. 

107:4-11
They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city. 5 They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. 6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses. 7 He led them also by a straight way, To go to an inhabited city. 8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! 9 For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. 10 There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, Prisoners in misery and chains, 11 Because they had rebelled against the words of God And spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He humbled their heart with labor; They stumbled and there was none to help.13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses.

God saves the sons of men who were proud in heart and afflicted because of their rebellion against the word of God. 

115:2-17
Why should the nations say, “Where, now, is their God?” 3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see; 6 They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell; 7 They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat. 8 Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them. 9 O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. 11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. 12 The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless those who fear the Lord, The small together with the great. 14 May the Lord give you increase, You and your children. 15 May you be blessed of the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. 16 The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, But the earth He has given to the sons of men. 17 The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor do any who go down into silence

We see these fleshly nations as the sons of men here who asking where the God of believers is, which is answered: In heaven. The contrast is evident in verse 16 and 17 which shows that these sons of men have the earth, with their idols and things of the world - but believers and God have heaven. They go to the grave, not eternal life with Christ. 

145:10-12
 All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, And Your godly ones shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom And talk of Your power; 12 To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.

Godly ones are preaching of the kingdom to the sons of men.  That was a lot of Psalms. 

Proverbs 8:3
Beside the gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries out: 4 “To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. 5 “O naive ones, understand prudence; And, O fools, understand wisdom.

Sons of men are contrary to wisdom, are fools, and naive. 

Ecclesiastes 1:13-15
 13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted.

Vanity and striving after the wind/nothingness. 

Ecclesiastes 2:1-3
 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. 2 I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” 3 I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives.

Drunken pleasure and carnality = ways of the sons of men. 

Ecclesiastes 9:3
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.

Sons of men = Evil hearts and insanity throughout their whole lives. 

Jer 32:18-19
who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The Lord of hosts is His name; 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds

Sons of men = Iniquity

Lamentations 3:31-34
For the Lord will not reject forever, 32 For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness. 33 For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men.34 To crush under His feet All the prisoners of the land

Sons of men = prisoners and afflicted and rejected

Ezekiel 31:14
14 so that all the trees by the waters may not be exalted in their stature, nor set their top among the clouds, nor their well-watered mighty ones stand erect in their height. For they have all been given over to death, to the earth beneath, among the sons of men, with those who go down to the pit.”

Sons of men = those who go down into death and the pit. 

Daniel 2:36-38
36 “This was the dream; now we will tell its interpretation before the king. 37 You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory; 38 and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.

Sons of men are ruled over by the king of Babylon as God gave them into his hands. (not a good thing) 

Joel 1:11-13
Be ashamed, O farmers, Wail, O vinedressers, For the wheat and the barley; Because the harvest of the field is destroyed. 12 The vine dries up And the fig tree fails; The pomegranate, the palm also, and the apple tree, All the trees of the field dry up. Indeed, rejoicing dries up From the sons of men. 13 Gird yourselves with sackcloth And lament, O priests; Wail, O ministers of the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth O ministers of my God, For the grain offering and the drink offering Are withheld from the house of your God.

Sons of men = those suffering as God is not honored as commanded. 

Micah 5:6-8
They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, The land of Nimrod at its entrances; And He will deliver us from the Assyrian When he attacks our land And when he tramples our territory. 7 Then the remnant of Jacob Will be among many peoples Like dew from the Lord, Like showers on vegetation Which do not wait for man Or delay for the sons of men. 8 The remnant of Jacob Will be among the nations, Among many peoples Like a lion among the beasts of the forest, Like a young lion among flocks of sheep, Which, if he passes through, Tramples down and tears, And there is none to rescue.

This one seems to contrast the favor of Jacob and the Lord blessing them with that of Nimrod and the Assyrians who delay at the time of harvest and = Sons of men. 

Mark 3:28
“Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter

The sons of men here being blasphemers. 

Ephesians 3:4-6
 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel

These sons of men didn't understand the mystery of Christ, which is that Christ has allowed these gentiles, who at one time were not walking in accordance to Christ or obedience to God, who were dead in their transgressions and lawlessness - to repent and become obedient Sons of God. 

As stated at the top of this post, sons of men is the opposite of Sons of God 

1 John 3:9-10

No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother and sister.

The Sons of God are contrary to everything that we have just established in the sons of men. Sons of God do not continue in sin, like those who are sons of men have been walking in sin. 

Romans 9:25-27

“I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’

And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’”26 “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel may be like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved

 When we see that Sons of God are obedient, and faithful... 
And we see "sons of men" as a pejorative meaning those in sin and evil and licentiousness...

Then if we read Genesis 6 with these definitions, we can see that the "Sons of God" were led astray by the "daughters of men." They wouldn't be called sons of men in this connotation because they're women- but the definition would still fit in the context of everything that we have shown here because the result is forsaking God and the world engaging in violence and wickedness.