Irenaeus on Theosis

Irenaeus

Irenaeus

How, then, shall he become a God, who has not as yet been made a man? Or how can he be perfect who was but lately created? How, again, can he be immortal, who in his mortal nature did not obey his maker? For it must be that thou, at the outset, shouldest hold the rank of a man, and then afterwards partake of the glory of God.

Against Heresies, The Ante-Nicene Fathers, pages Book 4, Chapter 39, Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994

Related Quotes

Wilford WoodruffWilford Woodruff

President Young asked Elder Orson Pratt what he thought of his preaching that intelligent beings would continue to learn to all eternity. Pratt said that he believed the Gods had a knowledge at the present time of every thing that ever did exist to the endless ages of all eternity. . . . President Young remarked that . . . it was not true: it was false doctrine, for the Gods and all intelligent beings would never cease to learn.

Basil the GreatBasil the Great

Just as when a sunbeam falls on bright and transparent bodies, they themselves become brilliant too, and shed forth a fresh brightness from themselves, so souls wherein the Spirit dwells, illuminated by the Spirit, themselves become spiritual, and send forth their grace to others. Hence comes foreknowledge of the future, understanding of mysteries, apprehension of what is hidden, distribution of good gifts, the heavenly citizenship, a place in the chorus of angels, joy without end, abiding in God, the being made like to God, and, highest of all, the being made God.

Brigham YoungBrigham Young

[The sons of perdition] will be decomposed, both soul and body, and return to their native element. I do not say that they will be annihilated; but they will be disorganized, and will be as though they never had been, while we will live and retain our identity, and contend against those principles which tend to death or dissolution.

More from Irenaeus