teosis

Teosis, also spelled theosis, is a concept in Christian theology describing the process by which a human being is brought into closer participation with the divine life and is divinized. The term derives from Greek theos, meaning God, and theosis from the verb theizo, meaning to become or to be made god. In traditional usage, theosis does not imply becoming God in essence, but rather participating in the divine life through grace.

In Eastern Orthodox theology, theosis is a central idea and is understood as a transformative process that begins with baptism and continues through a life of prayer, ascetic practice, sacramental participation, and the illumination of the mind and will by God. Catholic and some Anglican writers also reflect on sanctification in terms of union with God, though the language and emphasis can differ. Theosis emphasizes cooperation between divine grace and human freedom, often described as participation in the divine energies rather than in the divine essence.

Key theological elements include the Incarnation, which makes deification possible by uniting humanity with the divine life; the role of the Holy Spirit in imparting grace; and the belief that believers become “partakers of the divine nature” (often cited from 2 Peter 1:4). Practices associated with theosis include prayer, liturgy, fasting, confession, and the reception of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, which provides spiritual sustenance for growth toward union with God.

In modern usage, theosis is sometimes discussed in ecumenical and interdenominational contexts as a framework for understanding sanctification and spiritual transformation, while remaining a distinctive doctrine most fully developed in Eastern Christianity.