‘You Are Gods’: The Ancient Theology That’s Making a Comeback — and Could Help Unite East and West
Theology of deification is gaining traction and could serve as common ground for Catholic and Orthodox Christians. The article discusses the potential impact of the theology of deification on Christian unity. The concept of deification was initially perceived as potentially pagan by some, like Catholic theology student Grace Simcox.
8 days ago
The ancient Christian theology of deification, also known as divinization or theosis, is experiencing a significant revival within the Catholic Church 1. This theological approach emphasizes that salvation is not merely about being freed from sin, but more fundamentally about being united to God and sharing in His divine life 1. While never entirely lost, deification theology was largely overshadowed in the West by more juridical understandings of salvation, which focused on concepts like expiation of guilt and deliverance from punishment, particularly after the 12th century and during the Reformation 1.
The resurgence of deification began in the 20th century, largely spurred by the resourcement movement's renewed interest in Patristic theology and deepened by post-Vatican II ecumenical dialogue with Orthodox Christians 1. Experts like Dominican Father Andrew Hofer note that what was once considered a "peculiarly Eastern Christian phenomenon" is now recognized as a basic Christian doctrine 1. The prominence of deification in St. John Paul II’s Catechism and a surge in academic and devotional books since the mid-1990s underscore its growing influence 1. A major milestone in this academic renewal was the publication of the 752-page Oxford Handbook of Deification last year, co-edited by Father Hofer, Paul Gavrilyuk, and Matthew Levering 1.
The concept of deification is deeply rooted in Sacred Scripture and the teachings of revered Church Fathers 1. Key biblical passages, such as Psalm 82 ("You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you"), 2 Peter's call to "become partakers of the divine nature," and 1 John's affirmation that God's children "shall be like him," provide foundational support 1. Church Fathers like St. Athanasius taught that "the Son of God became man so that we might become God" by grace, while Dionysius the Areopagite explicitly developed deification as a process of purification, illumination, and divine union 1. Even St. Thomas Aquinas, a prominent Western theologian, affirmed that Christ "might make men gods," integrating this concept into a broader understanding of participation in divine life as the ultimate goal 1.
One of the most significant potential impacts of deification theology is its capacity to foster greater unity between Catholic and Orthodox Christians, a stated priority of Pope Leo XIV 1. Pope Leo XIV recently showed positive interest in a proposed joint declaration on deification during an audience with Orthodox theologian Paul Gavrilyuk, who is the founding president of the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) 1. Gavrilyuk believes such a declaration, which would articulate a core common understanding while allowing for different doctrinal unpackings, could serve as a "template for future ecumenical dialogue" 1. This shared doctrine, deeply embedded in both traditions, highlights that vertical union with God ultimately facilitates horizontal union among Christians 1.
Beyond ecumenism, the theology of deification offers insights into contemporary challenges and transforms the Christian life 1. Gavrilyuk warns that without a proper understanding of deification rooted in Christ's Incarnation, humanity's innate longing for divinity can lead to "misguided ways of becoming divine," such as attributing divine characteristics to AI, pursuing indefinite genetic preservation through cryogenics, or idolizing authoritarian governments 1. For individuals, embracing deification reframes the Christian life as an invitation to intimate union with God, impacting prayer, liturgy, and daily vocations 1. Converts and long-time adherents alike report that understanding deification deepens their appreciation for the Incarnation, grace, and salvation, shifting focus from mere rule-following to being filled with the Trinitarian life and entering into eternal communion with God 1.
What is the Church's teaching on divine participation?
The Catholic Church teaches that divine participation, often referred to as partaking in the divine nature or divinization, is a profound reality for believers, primarily through the Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist . This participation introduces believers into the intimacy of the Trinitarian life of God .
The Sacraments of Christian Initiation lay the foundation for Christian life and progressively draw believers into divine life .
Divine participation is a sharing in the very life of God . Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers participate in Christ's Passion by dying to sin and in His Resurrection by being born to a new life . They become members of His Body, the Church, and are grafted onto Christ as branches onto the vine . The indwelling of the Holy Spirit divinizes those in whom the Spirit dwells, making them communicants in the divine nature .
This participation enables the faithful to become part of the Church, a prophetic, priestly, and royal people called to worship God in spirit and truth . The Holy Spirit confers the ability to offer sacrifices of praise to God and to make one's life "a living and holy sacrifice, pleasing to God" .