Peter said at 2Peter 1:4-“Through these you may become sharers in divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (
2 Pet. 1:4)
But, what does it actually mean to become a "sharer" or "partaker" of the divine nature, especially within the context of 1 Peter? There is nothing in the whole of Scripture that suggests mere creatures can have the full divine nature, which would mean they become gods. Either one has the full divine nature to begin with, as the Son of God did, and is therefore also truly God, or they don't and will never be a god.
So, what does Peter mean? What is he talking about in that context?
So I understand from my study of the scriptures that the hope of first-century Christians was for them to be associated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly kingdom and to be like him. (
Roman 8:17)
Okay, but what does this have to do with the discussion?
Since the Son is ‘the reflection of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very being,’ all who come to be like Jesus Christ are also like the Father. (
Hebrews 1:3)
Where is that stated in the verse? And, don't forget further context. First, in verse 2 it says that God "created the world" through the Son. That is speaking of all creation. This agrees with John 1:1-2 that when creation began, the Word, the preincarnate Son, was already in existence, which can only mean he is uncreated. That is then made very clear with John 1:3, the only logical conclusion of which is that the Word was uncreated.
Second, look at what else verse 3 says--"he upholds the universe by the word of his power." That is something God does. Notice that these are things Paul talks about in Col 1:
Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Col 1:19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (ESV)
Verses 16-17 fully agree with John 1:1-3, 10, 1 Cor 8:6, Heb 1:2-3, 10-12. There is only one logical conclusion of "by him all things were created"--he cannot have been something that was created. He is therefore eternal and has always existed. But, notice also that "in him all things hold together" and "in him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell," echoing Heb 1:3. This is also what Phil 2:6-7 is talking about.
Third, when we look at Heb 1:10-12, we see that it is the Father speaking of the Son (from verse 8). However, that is a quote about Yahweh from Psalm 102:25-27. The Father is attributing to the Son a passage about Yahweh creating. It simply cannot be any clearer than that.
The apostle John wrote at 1John 3:2,3: “Beloved ones, now we are children of God, but as yet it has not been made manifest what we shall be. We do know that whenever he is made manifest we shall be like him, because we shall see him just as he is. And everyone who has this hope set upon him purifies himself just as that one is pure.” So I understand from my study of the scriptures that the apostles of Jesus Christ will have Divine nature like Jesus has divine nature. That doesn't make any of Jesus Christ apostles or disciples God because they have divine nature like Jesus, and neither does it make Jesus Christ God because he has divine nature.
There are many ways in which we could be said to be like Christ, including simply having an immortal nature, the spiritual body that Paul mentions in 1 Cor 15. It could also include being sinless and holy. It does not follow that we will also have divine nature, at least not fully. That which is a creature
cannot become God.
I understand that you and I disagree on this matter but you haven't shown me from scripture that I'm wrong in my understanding, so you and I will have to agree to disagree.
I have given you numerous verses and passages that show your understanding is incorrect, but, like every other anti-Trinitarian in these forums, you leave the majority of them unaddressed, particularly the most difficult ones. That the Son of God is truly God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit as the one God, is without question. It is at the heart of the Christian faith.