Exaltation of Mankind

by Robert Rosskopf

The idea that man can progress to the point of godhood is not new, nor is it unique to Latter-Day Saints. Although far from clear on the subject, the Bible does tell us some intriguing things.

"26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star. "
(Revelations 2)

"Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne."

(Revelations 3:21)

"5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:"
(Psalms 8)

"12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:"
(2 Timothy 2)

Apparently there are some advantages to obedience to the principles of the gospel. According to the fathers of the Christian faith, as quoted in the following verses, this includes Godhood.

"The Word was made flesh in order that we might be enabled to be made gods. . . . Just as the Lord, putting on the body, became a man, so also we men are both deified through his flesh, and henceforth inherit everlasting life."
(Athanasius, Against the Arians, 1.39, 3.39. )

"But he himself that justifies also deifies, for by justifying he makes sons of God. 'For he has given them power to become the sons of God' [John 1:12]. If then we have been made sons of god, we have also been made gods."
(Augustine, On the Psalms, 50:2).

"yea, I say, the Word of God became a man so that you might learn from a man how to become a god."
(Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Greeks, 1).

Joseph Smith, Jr.'s doctrine of eternal progression went against the teachings of his day and ours. Some have even said that this doctrine puts Mormons outside the definition of a Christian. It is apparent that such a judgment would also exclude the Christian Fathers; Athanasious, Augustine and Clement. Indeed the thought makes reason stare.

If, as many modern Christians suggest, the heavens are sealed, and there will be no new revelation, and God is hiding his face, and there will be no more prophets, then what authority gives them the right to change their beliefs from those of the Christian fathers and preach some new gospel?

"22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:..."
(Genesis 3)

"17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
(Romans 8)

"18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
(2 Corinthians 3)

"13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"
(Ephesians 4)