The Question of Theosis in the Perspective of Lutheran Christology

Green, Lowell C. "The Question of Theosis in the Perspective of Lutheran Christology." All Theology Is Christology: Essays in Honor of David P. Scaer. Fort Wayne, IN: Concordia Theological Seminary Press.  2000.  163-180.

Theosis is the point of view that in salvation the individual is in some way deified.  Some have recently claimed that Luther points to a version of theosis in his view of the atonemtn.  Green reviews the history of theosis, the way this relates to traditional Lutheran views of Christology, and how a doctrine of theosis moves us to be theologians of glory rather than theologians of the cross.

Green discusses theosis in Greek paganism, observing that it seems to be a very common view of life and salvation.  He moves to the early Church and observes that, contrary to the first five centuries of the Christian era being a high point in the life of the Church, in fact during this time Christians entered into all sorts of heresies, including a neo-Platonic view of theosis.  These weaknesses in theology have existed throughout Church history.  Continuing into the Medieval Church we see the same sort of mysticism and radical fanatical movements.  All these views of theosis are centered in the idea that by man's work it is possible to draw near to God and prove ourselves worthy before him.

Are there Scriptural arguments in favor of a view of theosis?  Green discusses Psalm 8s.6, Galatians 2.20, and 2 Peter 1.4, observing that while they can be used in some way to point people to a view of theosis that is not their most sensible interpretation.  2 Peter 1.4, however, causes more difficulty.  Interestingly enough, in Luther's writings, including his lectures which deal with 2 Peter a good deal, he hardly makes mention of 2 Peter 1.4, never in defense of theosis.  It appears that Luther did not view salvation as happening through any sort of deification, but quite the opposite, that it happens by God humbling himself to die as a man in man's stead.

So what of the claims that the believer participates in the divine nature?   In Luther, the believer never loses his identity even in light of the indwelling of God.  The change is not a change of being, but a change of relationship.  There does not appear to be any credible evidence that Luther thought man was deified in salvation.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com