@sonship saidGodliness is not the same as deification.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke
[quote] 'If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant fr ...[text shortened]... d manifest in the flesh.
That is about godliness thus DEFINED as God manifest in the flesh.
This is where you have gone down the wrong path. Godliness means 'Godlike' not God-ized.' It refers to emulating God in nature and behavior, not becoming God.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke
Ultimately the consumation of God's process in the flesh is deification.
It is the climax of a process.
Godliness is not only that which was shown in Christ.
It is also the expectation for those of His church.
You're using these synonomns of one more secular definition of deification.
adulation, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worship, worshipping (also worshiping adoration, deference, reverence, veneration
idealization, romanticization affection, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, love
appreciation, esteem, regard, respect
approval )
You've been told multiple times we do not use deification in the sense of becoming the Godhead. But you don't care because you only want to cling to disceditiing believers who have a proper realization, appreciation and usage of the word as shown.
CLOSER if not right on would be the way Greek Orthodoxy has taught deification for centuries.
IE.
A helpful illustration of deification is the sword and fire example. Imagine a steel sword thrust into a hot fire. It remains there until it takes on a red glow. The energy of the fire interpenetrates the sword, but the sword never becomes the fire itself. Instead, it merely takes on the properties of the fire.
Or pointing out that deification does MORE than just restore man back to the state of innocent Adam and Eve in the Garden.
For many Fathers, theosis goes beyond simply restoring people to their state before the Fall of Adam and Eve. In fact, some teach that because Christ united the human and divine natures in his person, it is now possible for someone to experience closer fellowship with God than Adam and Eve initially experienced in the Garden of Eden. Additionally, some teach that people can become more like God than Adam and Eve were at that time. Other Orthodox theologians go so far as to say that Jesus would have become incarnate for this reason alone, even if Adam and Eve had never sinned.
Taken from https://www.saintjohnchurch.org/deification-orthodox-salvation/
[my bolding]
This is closer to how we in the local churches mean deification.
@sonship saidNo it isn't, not for man.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke
Ultimately the consumation of God's process in the flesh is deification.
It is the climax of a process.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke
Little tit for tat one liners with fewer and fewer words doesn't mean much to me.
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@sonship saidV-Day is coming up, though, and you know he loves you in his own way. 😉
@Ghost-of-a-Duke
Little tit for tat one liners with fewer and fewer words doesn't mean much to me.
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@sonship
Back on topic, would you say that the concept of deification is compatible with the concept of panentheism (not pantheism, but panentheism), and in that case could it be said that deification is more a process of recognition and revealing more of what was already there but hidden in the person undergoing that process?
@Kevin-Eleven
I am not prepared to speak to panentheism as I would have to review that.
I know there is a difference between pantheism and panentheism.
I would want to re study that before I said anything.
I do have a book with a chapter on it.
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@sonship saidDear @sonship, I appreciate that and I will not press you for a response if it turns out that from your POV a response would not naturally be forthcoming.
@Kevin-Eleven
I am not prepared to speak to panentheism as I would have to review that.
I know there is a difference between pantheism and panentheism.
I would want to re study that before I said anything.
I do have a book with a chapter on it.
And may the Light behind the scenes continue to light your path. 🙂
@Kevin-Eleven
I have some things to read to converse with you on this.
To narrow it down since I am not a philosopher but a Bible student -
Are you talking about the philosophy / theology of, say, Alfred North Whitehead ?
If not give me some names please connected to what you're asking.