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objection

Early Christians believed in theosis

Objection

Early Christians taught deification.

What is true

Christian theosis language is real.

Why it is not enough

Historic theosis means creatures share God's life by grace while remaining creatures. LDS exaltation teaches becoming gods in a stronger sense.

Key question: Do exalted humans remain creatures forever?

The shared word hides a different doctrine

Christian theosis is not embarrassing to Christianity. Eastern Orthodox and other Christian writers have used deification language for centuries.

The difference is that creatures share God's life by grace while remaining creatures. They do not become gods of the same order as the Father, and God is not one member of a divine species.

LDS exaltation includes more than participation

Official LDS material connects exaltation with heavenly parents, divine potential, eternal marriage, and becoming gods. Doctrine and Covenants 132 uses direct godhood language.

That claim has to be held beside Isaiah's denial that any God will be formed after the Lord. Psalm 82 and John 10 do not erase that boundary.

Primary references

These are the public sources behind the answer, with LDS doctrine cited from LDS material where possible.

Bible

Psalm 82

BibleRef

The passage is a rebuke, not a promise that humans become gods in the Father's order.

Bible

John 10

BibleRef

Psalm 82 language cannot be used to flatten Jesus' unique divine claim.

Bible

Isaiah 43

BibleRef

This directly challenges exalted humans becoming gods in the same order.

Official LDS

Becoming Like God

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Official essay explaining LDS divine potential and acknowledging that LDS teaching goes beyond most contemporary Christian churches.

LDS Scripture

Doctrine and Covenants 132

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Canonical LDS text tying exaltation to covenant sealing and saying the exalted shall be gods.

Christian

Nicene Creed

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Representative text of the historic Nicene confession of one God, the Trinity, and the eternal deity of Christ.