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Does the saying "God became man that man might become God/god/gods" or however it goes (please someone correct me on what the saying actually is, and which saint said it) mean that in heaven, we will be united hypostatically to God? If not, then what does it mean? And if so, what does it mean?

Dear Mor Ephrem,

Actually, a number of saints have talked about Theosis in this way, St Peter in his epistles "partaking of the Divine Nature," St Augustine, St John Chrysostom, St Gregory Palamas, but I would have to look up the specific references at home.

My place of employment has a library, but it's short on theological texts . . .

(St Augustine once exclaimed about a Christian who has just received Holy Communion, "You are God!").

Theosis or Divinization is about our actual participation in and transformation by the Uncreated Energies of God.

Through our life in Christ by means of the Holy Spirit and the Will of the Father, we are transfigured, as Christ was on Mt. Tabor, and as the Saints are.

Our very bodies become Christ-like and will be forever, just as Christ's Resurrected Body was and is and always will be.

We become by Grace what God is by nature.

We do not somehow become "God " or else indistinguishable from Him, for that would be intolerable heresy (something promoted by Garner Ted Armstrong and his binitarian group).

We will become "god-like" and our bodies will have the powers that Christ demonstrated following His Resurrection.

It is the presence of the Holy Trinity within us, as God's Temple, that effects this transfiguration in us.

Just as God completely assumed our nature in the Incarnation of Christ, so He not only saved it, but elevated it to heaven through Theosis.

My take on it, anyway!

Alex

Mor,

It goes: 'God became man that man might become God.'

I don't recall who first said this but if memory serves me correct, it was a european Christian of the Eastern Church.

And I believe the statement to be true (that is if Christianity is true) - at least in how I interpit it. I understand the statement as an attempt to say that man by mastery of the virtues and by the grace of God and by the worship of and faith in God His Son Christ. Can become God in this life time not having to wait for the next - in that we created can share in divinity as much as a created creature can. The humanity of Christ alludes to this possibility as I see it - yes of course Christ was the word of God which has no begining or end. But it is important to remember that Christ is not just our Lord and divine judge, he is our brother also. not just in expression but in reality. Remember that Christ was not known to be the Son of God by many and most people even his 12 did not recognize or understand who he was for much of the time they were among him. Yet was not his divine presence not amongst them? If one was to go by true Christian theology, then one would accept that one can bleed from his nose be named Ted and still share in divinity from the least degree to the greatest degree. But if we reject the Virgin Mary, save for the manger scene. And if we fail to recognize Christ has any bond to us as our brother. And if we fail to look for grace but only works. I don't think we can theologicaly accept the possibilty of man "becoming" God.

Saint Athanasius the Great!
That bit I'm sure about.

I think it's from De Incarnatione, but I might be wrong there.

Saint Athanasius the Great!
That bit I'm sure about.

I think it's from De Incarnatione, but I might be wrong there.

Christ is Risen!

It is important to keep in mind a distinction when speaking of sharing in the divine nature (cf 2 Peter 1:4), lest we imitate New Agers and other erroneous teachers. Sharing in the life of God is a gift. By nature the Father, Son and Holy Spirit share one divine life. By nature we humans possess human life. But by grace, by gift of the Lord the Giver of Life, we may share in the divine nature and life of God. Christ indicated this when He said: "Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:5-6. To share in God's own life is a grace, a gift of His lovingkindness. To Him be praise forever!

"HE WHO WAS GOD WAS MADE MAN, IN TAKING THAT WHICH HE WAS NOT, BUT WITHOUT LOSING THAT WHICH HE WAS: THUS GOD BECAME MAN, HEREIN THOU HAST THAT WICH IS NEEDFUL TO THY WEAKNESS, AND THOU HAST THAT ALSO WICH IS NEEDFUL TO THY PERFECTION. MAY CHRIST RAISE THEE BY HIS "BEING" AS MAN: MAY HE GUIDE THEE BY HIS "BEING" AS GOD-MAN: MAY HE BRING THEE EVEN TO HIS "BEING" AS GOD!"

St. Augustine. In Joan. XXIII,6.