Anti-Mormons frequently bring up the LDS doctrine of eternal progression (becoming like God) in an attempt to illustrate that we are blasphemous. They misrepresent the doctrine as a way to demean the glory of God and assert that this is what we believe. Obviously, their assessment of our doctrine is poor, as well as their grasp of the historical consistency of this doctrine. Is it just the Saints who believe in this potential of man? Unfortunately for the anti-Mormon, Christ, His Apostles, and early Christians believed this exact same doctrine – and openly taught it.
The Jewish leaders wanted to stone Jesus for teaching this very concept. He asked the leaders, “For which of those works do ye stone me?” They replied, “because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” To which Jesus acknowledged, “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” Christ affirmed that not only was He like God but that so were we (John 10:32-34). The Apostle Paul taught that we are “heirs of God” and “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16-17). Timothy taught that if we suffer with Him, then “we shall also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12). The Savior Himself promised “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21). We shall sit on the throne of Godhood, and reign with Christ. The New Testament is clear, those who choose Christ, will inherit what Christ inherited, reign as Christ reigns, and sit on the throne as Christ sits. Christ is God, and we, being His offspring, posses the potential to be like God.
The following is a partial summary of the incredible research performed by Tad R. Callister in his book titled The Inevitable Apostasy and the Promised Restoration, (Chapter 14, pages 146-160). Callister uses both scriptural and historical evidence to show that the earliest Christians believed in the human potential to be like God through Christ.
Jordan Vajda, a former Catholic priest, concluded in his master’s thesis the following, “The historic Christian doctrine of salvation – theosis, meaning, human divinization [becoming like God] – for too long has been forgotten by too many Christians, despite the fact that this teaching is part of the common inheritance – first millennium Christianity” (Callister, 149). St. Irenaeus of Lyons: “the Word of God, Jesus Christ our Lord, who because of his immeasurable love became what we are in order to make us what he is.” St. Athanasius of Alexandria: “God became man, so that we might be made gods.” Justin Martyr: “We have learned that those only are deified who have lived near to God in holiness and virtue.” Theophilus stated that if man kept God’s commandments, then “he should receive a reward from Him immortality, and should become God.” Hippolytus: "If, therefore, man has become immortal, he will also be God. And if he is made God by water and the Holy Spirit after the regeneration of the laver, he is found to be also joint-heir with Christ after the resurrection from the dead.” Cyprian: “What Christ is, we Christians shall be, if we imitate Christ.” Clement of Alexandria, taught that faithful Christians would be “destined to sit on thrones with the other gods that have been first put in their places by the Savior.” Irenaeus speaking on exalted man again: “Passing beyond the angles and be made after the image and likeness of God.” Clement of Alexandria on those who are righteous: “Knowing God, he will be made like God… and that man becomes God, since God so wills.” Heraclitus: “Men are gods and gods are men.” (Callister, 149-151).
Even with man’s potential to be like God through Christ, this does not diminish the glory of God. There is a hierarchy among the gods. Obviously, God the Father is at the top, followed by God the Son, even Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead. After that reigns those former mortals who have been sanctified and exalted by the power and grace of Christ. That is how we can say that God is eternally our God, but that we shall be like Him.
Of course, this evidence on its own is not proof that the doctrine is correct, only the Spirit of God can convince the critic, and lead the humble searcher for truth to this conclusion. This evidence does prove beyond reasonable doubt that Christ, His ancient Apostles, and the earliest Christians, all taught and believed in the potential of man to become like God. The anti-Mormon must concede that while they do not believe this doctrine, it is not a blasphemous doctrine, for it elevates mankind, and does not debase the supremacy of God in any way. If it weren’t so, then Christ, His ancient Apostles, and the earliest Christians must also be branded as blasphemous. And as I pointed out earlier, those who were against Christ already tried to erroneously label this doctrine blasphemous – and failed.
I appreciate you sharing your research on this topic. I had no idea that the idea of becoming like God was so prevalent not only in the ancient world but in the early A.D. centuries. Makes sense though.