Eric W. King ~ TSW, "The Shepherds Way": Antiochene Christian Theosis

Antiochene Christian Theosis

The Ancient Antiochene Church of God

By presbyter Eric William King

The Ancient Antiochene Church of God is the true Orthodox (Greek: "Straight Thinking") church. Jesus built us up, His true Bride. We are grateful that our Savior does not lie to us. He built His church and promised to keep it until the "catching away" - He will return for us. We praise his holy name!

Basically, the Christian doctrine of theosis becomes clear shortly after the time of Apostle Paul. St. Paul speaks of this important and sacred doctrine. The word “theosis” means deification and for us is interchangeable with the Greek word, “apotheosis” which means “making divine”.

This involves the maturing process of every Christian in their walk with Jesus Christ. It involves the process of Christian maturity. The aim of this process is for the Christian to become more fully one, in union with the “mind of Christ” in all that one does. The Ancient Antiochene Church of God defines this doctrine differently than many of the offshoots. It is very important to understand the truth of this doctrine.

It is true that the Eastern Churches practice a slightly different form of this doctrine unto this day. Its original connection is with the Ancient Antiochene Church which eventually migrated to the east of Israel to separate from the Roman Christians, those [Roman Christians] influenced more by the Alexandrian school of theological thought.

This doctrine teaches the importance of being grounded in the true doctrines of the Church and involves fasting and Scripture meditations creating a catharsis – a purification of mind and body. Those who realize that they are truly part of the elect children of God may now participate (not in salvation – salvation is free and no merit needed) in a fuller unity with Christ through synergy.

This is also realized in (by experiencing) the uncreated energies of God which contain God’s attributes. We absorb these Divine traits through the sacraments and liturgical worship with our Lord. This is not attained through Human reason and logic nor through intellectual training. It comes supernaturally in our public and private time with God – Divine Intelligence. Jesus Christ is the incarnate God and we (regenerated Christians) have become “sealed” with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). In this sense we are “little incarnate children of God”. Apostle Peter confirms that we become “partakers of the Divine Nature”. (1^st Peter 1:4)

The proper doctrine of theosis does not teach that we become God but that we are in the God family. We become Holy through our personal relationship with God [Holy Trinity]. Jesus prayed that we “become one just as He and His Father are one” (John 17:21). This is true apotheosis. We can never become the person (hypostases) of God nor can we become His essence, ousia. It is impossible for anything created by God to become God ontologically.

We never become “little gods” and we rebuke such ideas found in paganism. We do share in God’s energeia – God's eternal energies. We, through regeneration, become true Children of God. A true Christian is “born from above” or “born again” through hearing the Word of God and accepting Jesus Christ as the Messiah and incarnate God through the “gift of faith”.

The mature Christian is hoped to receive theoria, an inner illumination with the Holy Trinity. This starts by realizing what we have been saved from, our fallen Human nature. It means that we realize that our salvation has nothing to do with us, nothing from us, but completely from God alone. Those who believe that their fallen sinful nature some how participates in salvation will never experience theoria. Instead, they receive delusions of grandeur.

I hope to post more articles regarding this important subject soon. In the mean time stay with us here at “The Shepherds Way” and “Nugget of Truth”.

By presbyter Eric William King (July 23^rd 2024)