The Concept of Theosis in Early Patristic Thought: A Hermeneutical Perspective

Abstract

This study explores the doctrine of theosis in early patristic theology through a comparative analysis of Irenaeus of Lyons and Gregory of Nyssa. Although theosis is often identified with later Byzantine theology, its formative elements are clearly present in the writings of Irenaeus of Lyons and Gregory of Nyssa. These two thinkers, shaped by distinct contexts and methods, propose differing paths toward divine participation: Irenaeus frames theosis within his theology of recapitulation, anchored in the incarnational restoration of humanity through Christ; Gregory envisions it as an unending ascent into divine mystery, reflecting God’s boundless nature. Rather than treating their models as oppositional, this study contends that their insights—rooted respectively in historical fulfillment and mystical progression—can be held together to form a richer, more expansive understanding of deification in early patristic theology. The synthesis of their perspectives provides a richer framework for understanding the nature of salvation, divine participation, and Christian anthropology.