What do Orthodox Christians Believe About Deification?
Deification is the ancient theological word used to describe the process by which a Christian becomes more like God. St. Peter speaks of this process when he writes, “As His divine power had given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.., you may be partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:3, 4). Deification means we are to become more like God through His grace or divine energies. In creation, humans were made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26) according to human nature. When the Son of God assumed our humanity in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, the process of our being renewed in God’s image and likeness was begun. Thus, those who are joined to Christ through faith in Holy Baptism begin a re-creation process, being renewed in God’s image and likeness. We become, as St. Peter writes, “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). By application, the divine energies interpenetrate the human nature of Christ. Being joined to Christ, our humanity is inte
