His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that some misunderstand the phrase “partakers of the divine nature,” thinking it means sharing in God’s divinity or essence. This, however, is a grave doctrinal error that contradicts the Orthodox Christian faith.

God’s Unique Attributes
God has unique attributes that no one shares — such as eternity, infinity, omnipotence, omnipresence, and being the Creator. No human or angel can partake in these, for that would imply polytheism. The attributes man can share are moral ones — like love, mercy, righteousness, and holiness — but only as limited gifts from God, not as an intrinsic nature.

Difference Between Sharing in Work and Sharing in Nature
Man may cooperate with God in His work — God acts through him or with him — but man does not share in God’s essence or nature. Acts like redemption, salvation, and resurrection belong to God alone; man’s role is simply to believe and accept.

Difference Between God’s Holiness and Man’s Holiness
God’s holiness is essential, unchangeable, and infinite. Man’s holiness is a divine gift that can grow or be lost. Even Adam and the angels, who were created holy, fell by misusing their free will. Thus, human holiness is not a participation in God’s nature but the fruit of His grace working within.

The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit Does Not Mean Deification
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in man does not make him divine. The Holy Spirit dwells to guide, convict, and sanctify. The hypostatic union with the divine nature is unique to the Son alone. The Spirit’s presence in us is participation in divine work, not essence.

The Eucharist Does Not Mean Eating Divinity
In Communion, we receive the Body of Christ united with His divinity, but we do not consume the divinity itself, for divinity cannot be eaten or touched. Communion means abiding in Christ through faith and love, not becoming gods. Those who receive unworthily bring judgment upon themselves, proving it is not sharing in the divine essence but in His grace.

Grace Is a Gift, Not Divinity
The grace God gives is not part of His divinity but a gift from His love. Receiving grace does not mean receiving God’s essence, for the gift is distinct from the Giver in essence, though related in origin.

Spiritual Conclusion
Participation in the divine nature means sharing in God’s works, graces, and moral virtues — love, holiness, wisdom — not in His divine essence or eternal attributes. We are children of God by grace, not by nature; partakers of His grace, not His divinity. True deification in the Orthodox sense is growing in godliness and holiness, not becoming God.

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