Theosis
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THEOSIS: PARTAKERS OF DIVINITY WITH GOD<br />
PROF. M. M. NINAN<br />
participation in the sacraments is the means by which man cooperates with God.<br />
termed synergeia (synergy).<br />
This cooperation is<br />
In theosis, man becomes filled with the divine life. He takes on God's attributes, but he does not become<br />
merged with the Holy Trinity. There is union without fusion. This is simply because the whole is always<br />
greater than the parts. Thus, a classic patristic image of theosis is a sword held in a flame—the sword<br />
gradually takes on the properties of the flame (light and heat), but remains a sword.<br />
“But we all, with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same<br />
image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.” (2Co 3:18)<br />
“till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full grown man,<br />
unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” (Eph 4:13 )<br />
We are to “grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (4:15).<br />
Rom 8 procedes to greater extent to say, we are “sons of God” (v. 14) who have received a “Spirit of<br />
adoption,” crying (as Jesus did) “Abba, Father” (v. 15). The Spirit bears witness “with our spirit”—union—that<br />
we are “children of God” (v. 16). We are children, “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ . . . that we may<br />
also be glorified together” (v. 17).<br />
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