Early Christian Views on Deification

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

But how could we be joined to incorruptibility and immortality, unless, first, incorruptibility and immortality had become that which we also are, so that the corruptible might be swallowed up by incorruptibility, and the mortal by immortality, that we might receive the adoption of sons?

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

For, in what way could we be partaken of the adoption of sons, unless we had received from Him through the Son that fellowship which refers to Himself, unless His Word, having been made flesh, had entered into communion with us?

1 John 3:1 Supporting witness

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

...ou will die like men.” He undoubtedly speaks these words to those who have not received the gift of adoption and who despise the incarnation of the pure generation of the Word of God, defraud human nature of its elevation to God, and show themselves ungrateful to the Word of God, who became flesh for them. For it was for this purpose that the Word of God became man, and He who was the Son of God became the Son of man, so that man, being joined to the Word and receiving adoption, might become the son of God. For by no other means could we have attained incorruptibility and immortality, unless we had been united to incorruptibility and immortality. But how could we be joined to incorruptibility and immortality, unless incorruptibility and immortality first became what we are, so that the corruptible might be absorbed by incorruptibility, and the mortal by immortality, that we might receive the adoption of sons?

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness

...g aside the spirit of bondage, when by brave deeds and by progress they have received the spirit of adoption, being blessed by Him who is the Son by nature, are made sons by adoption.

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness

But these, laying aside the spirit of bondage, when by brave deeds and by progress they have received the spirit of adoption, being blessed by Him who is the Son by nature, are made sons by adoption.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, A Sectional Confession of Faith Direct teaching

... thus has the perfect Word truly begotten from Him. He is not like a spoken word, nor like a son by adoption, in the sense in which angels and men are called sons of God, but as a Son who is by nature God. And there is also the perfect Holy Spirit, given by God through the Son to the sons of adoption, living and life-giving, holy and giving holiness to those who share in Him. He is not like an unsubstantial breath breathed into them by man, but is the living Breath proceeding from God. Therefore the Trinity is to be adored, glorified, honored, and reverenced. The Father is understood in the Son, just as the Son is of Him. And the Son is glorified in the Father, since He is of the Father, and is made known in the Holy Spirit to those who are sanctified.

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Direct teaching

Come then, O man, be born again into God's adoption. And how? someone says. If you no longer practice adultery, and do not commit murder, and do not serve idols; if you are not mastered by pleasure; if you do not let pride rule you; if you wash away the filth of impurity, and put off the burden of sin; if you throw off the armor of the devil, and put on the breastplate of faith, just as Isaiah says, "Wash yourselves, and seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, and plead for the widow. And come, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are as scarlet, I will make them white as snow; and though they are like crimson, I will make them white as wool. And if you are willing, and hear my voice, you shall eat the good of the land." Do you see, beloved, how the prophet spoke beforehand about the cleansing power of baptism? For the one who goes down in faith into the washing of regeneration, and renounces the devil, and joins himself to Christ; who denies the enemy, and confesses that Christ is God; who puts off slavery, and puts on adoption—he comes up from baptism shining like the sun, sending out the rays of righteousness. And, what is indeed the ch

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...planting and His beloved vineyard, Isaiah 5:7. It contains those who have believed in His unfailing divine religion. They are the heirs, by faith, of His everlasting kingdom. They share in His divine influence and in the gift of the Holy Spirit. They are armed through Jesus and have received His fear into their hearts. They enjoy the benefit of being sprinkled with the precious and innocent blood of Christ. They have full freedom to call Almighty God "Father," being fellow heirs and joint partakers with His beloved Son. Listen to this holy teaching, you who enjoy His promises, since it has been delivered by the command of your Savior and agrees with His glorious words. Take care, you children of God, to do all things in obedience to God, and in all things please Christ our Lord. For if anyone follows unrighteousness and does those things that are contrary to the will of God, such a person will be regarded by God as one of the disobedient heathen.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ctify them, and prepare them so that they may become worthy of Your spiritual gift, and of the true adoption of Your spiritual mysteries, of being gathered together with those who are saved through Christ our Savior. Through Him, glory, honor, and worship be to You in the Holy Spirit forever. Amen. And let the deacon say: “Go out, you who are preparing for illumination.” And after that let him proclaim: “You penitents, pray. Let us all earnestly pray for our brothers in the state of penitence, that God, the lover of compassion, will show them the way of repentance, and accept their return and their confession, and bruise Satan under their feet suddenly, Romans 16:20, and redeem them from the snare of the devil and the mistreatment of the demons, and free them from every unlawful word, and every absurd practice and wicked thought. Forgive them all their offenses, both voluntary and involuntary, and blot out that handwriting which is against them, Colossians 2:13-14, and write them in the book of life, Philippians 4:3. Cleanse them from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, 2 Corinthians 7:1, and restore and unite them to His holy flock. For He knows our frame. For who can glory tha

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...p. He is the teacher of piety. Next after God, he is your father, who has begotten you again to the adoption of sons by water and the Spirit. He is your ruler and governor. He is your king and potentate. Next after God, he is your earthly god, who has a right to be honored by you. For it is about him, and those like him, that God says, "I have said, You are gods," and, "You are all children of the Most High." And, "You shall not speak evil of the gods." Exodus 22:28 So let the bishop preside over you as one honored with the authority of God, which he is to use over the clergy, and by which he is to govern all the people. But let the deacon minister to him, as Christ does to His Father. Let him serve him blamelessly in all things, as Christ does nothing of Himself, but always does those things that please His Father. Let the deaconess also be honored by you in the place of the Holy Spirit, and let her not do or say anything without the deacon, just as the Comforter neither says nor does anything of Himself, but gives glory to Christ by waiting for His pleasure. And as we cannot believe in Christ without the teaching of the Spirit, so let no woman approach the deacon or bishop wit

Galatians 4:5 Supporting witness

to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Ephesians 1:5 Supporting witness

he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

Romans 8:15 Supporting witness

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Galatians 4:6 Supporting witness

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching

For you have become God: for whatever sufferings you underwent while being a man, these He gave to you, because you were of mortal mould, but whatever it is consistent with God to impart, these God has promised to bestow upon you, because you have been deified, and begotten unto immortality.

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Supporting witness

And if he is made God by water and the Holy Spirit after the regeneration of the layer he is found to be also joint-heir with Christ after the resurrection from the dead.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, A Sectional Confession of Faith Direct teaching

For we hold that the Word of God was made man on account of our salvation, in order that we might receive the likeness of the heavenly, and be made divine after the likeness of Him who is the true Son of God by nature, and the Son of man according to the flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

but they saw also that the power which had descended into human nature, and into the midst of human miseries, and which had assumed a human soul and body, contributed through faith, along with its divine elements, to the salvation of believers, when they see that from Him there began the union of the divine with the human nature, in order that the human, by communion with the divine, might rise to be divine, not in Jesus alone, but in all those who not only believe, but enter upon the life which Jesus taught, and which elevates to friendship with God and communion with Him every one who lives according to the precepts of Jesus.

Origen, Letter to Gregory Supporting witness

May you partake in these; may you have an always increasing share of them, so that you may be able to say not only, We are partakers of Christ, Hebrews 3:14 but also We are partakers of God.

2 Peter 1:4 Supporting witness

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

1 John 3:2 Supporting witness

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Wisdom of Solomon 6:19 Supporting witness

And incorruption maketh us near unto God:

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness

...is this “body of humiliation” that the Lord will transform to conform to “the body of His glory?” Clearly, it is this body made of flesh, which is indeed humbled when it falls into the earth. Its transformation occurs in such a way that, while it is mortal and corruptible, it becomes immortal and incorruptible, not due to its own inherent nature but through the mighty working of the Lord, who can bestow immortality on the mortal and incorruption on the corruptible. Therefore, he says, “that mortality may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has also given us the guarantee of the Spirit.” He uses these words clearly in reference to the flesh; for the soul is not mortal, nor is the spirit. What is mortal will be swallowed up by life when the flesh is dead no longer, but remains living and incorruptible, praising God, who has prepared us for this very thing. Therefore, so that we may be prepared for this, he appropriately says to the Corinthians, “Glorify God in your body.” Now God is the one who brings about immortality.

Methodius, From the Discourse on the Resurrection Direct teaching

Since flesh was made to stand between incorruption and corruption, being itself neither one nor the other, and since it was overcome by corruption for the sake of pleasure, though it was the work and possession of incorruption, it therefore became corruptible and was laid in the dust of the earth. Then, when it had been overcome by corruption and handed over to death through disobedience, God did not leave it to corruption to be claimed as its possession. Instead, after conquering death by the resurrection, He gave it back again to incorruption, so that corruption might not receive the possession of incorruption, but incorruption might receive that of corruption. Therefore the apostle answers in this way: “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality,” 1 Corinthians 15:53. Now when the corruptible and mortal puts on immortality, what else is this but that which is sown in corruption and raised in incorruption, 1 Corinthians 15:42? For the soul is not corruptible or mortal, but this thing that is mortal and subject to corruption is the flesh. This is so that, as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heav

Peter of Alexandria, The Genuine Acts of Peter Supporting witness

Since the flesh was made to stand between incorruption and corruption, being itself neither one nor the other, and since it was overcome by corruption for the sake of pleasure, though it was the work and property of incorruption, it therefore became corruptible and was laid in the dust of the earth. Then, when it had been overcome by corruption and handed over to death through disobedience, God did not leave it to corruption to be claimed as its possession. Instead, after conquering death by the resurrection, He gave it back again to incorruption, so that corruption might not receive the property of incorruption, but incorruption might receive that of corruption. Therefore the apostle answers in this way: "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality," 1 Corinthians 15:53. Now when the corruptible and mortal puts on immortality, what else is this but that which "is sown in corruption and raised in incorruption," 1 Corinthians 15:42? For the soul is not corruptible or mortal. Rather, what is mortal and decaying is the flesh. This is so that, "as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly," 1 Corinthia

Methodius, From the Discourse on the Resurrection Supporting witness

..., brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption, 1 Corinthians 15:50. By flesh, he did not mean flesh itself, but the irrational impulse toward the lustful pleasures of the soul. And therefore, when he says, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,” he adds the explanation, “Neither does corruption inherit incorruption.” Now corruption is not the thing that is corrupted, but the thing that corrupts. For when death has power, the body sinks into corruption; but when life still remains in it, it stands uncorrupted. Therefore, since the flesh is the boundary between corruption and incorruption, being neither corruption nor incorruption, it was overcome by corruption because of pleasure, although it was the work and possession of incorruption. Therefore it became subject to corruption. When, then, it had been overcome by corruption and handed over to death for chastisement, He did not leave it to be overcome and handed over as an inheritance to corruption. Instead, by conquering death again through the resurrection, He restored it to incorruption, so that corruption might not inherit incorruption, but incorr

1 Corinthians 15:49 Supporting witness

And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

1 Corinthians 15:48 Supporting witness

As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.

Romans 6:8 Supporting witness

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Wisdom of Solomon 2:23 Background

For God created man to be immortal, And made him to be an image of his own eternity.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

...ared to be set among the stars? And what of the emperors who die among you, whom you deem worthy of deification, and for whom you present someone who swears he has seen the burning Caesar rise to heaven from the funeral pyre? And what kind of deeds are recorded of each of these reputed sons of Jupiter, it is unnecessary to tell to those who already know. This shall only be said, that they are written for the advantage and encouragement of young scholars, for all consider it honorable to imitate the gods. But may such thoughts concerning the gods be far from any well-conditioned soul, like the belief that Jupiter himself, the governor and creator of all things, was both a parricide and the son of a parricide, and that, overcome by the love of base and shameful pleasures, he approached Ganymede and the many women he violated, and that his sons did similar actions. But, as we said earlier, wicked devils committed these acts. And we have learned that only those who have lived near to God in holiness and virtue are deified; and we believe that those who live wickedly and do not repent are punished in everlasting fire.

Tertullian, De Corona Direct teaching

For it is the privilege of the dead also to be thus crowned, as they too straightway become idols, both by their dress and the service of deification, which (deification) is with us a second idolatry.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

From this to the deification of Hercules, eleven years;

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

So, Moses is shown to have lived six hundred and four years before Dionysus was made a god, if Dionysus was made a god in the thirty-second year of the reign of Perseus, as Apollodorus says in his Chronology. From Bacchus to Hercules and the leaders who sailed with Jason on the ship Argo, there were sixty-three years. Æsculapius and the Dioscuri sailed with them, as Apollonius Rhodius testifies in his Argonautics. And from the reign of Hercules in Argos to the making of Hercules and Æsculapius into gods, there were thirty-eight years, according to Apollodorus the chronologist. From that time to the making of Castor and Pollux into gods, there were fifty-three years. And at that time Troy was taken. And if we may believe the poet Hesiod, let us hear him:

Tertullian, Ad Nationes Supporting witness

(and this they do) by affirming that they became gods after their death.