Would it be okay if I distributed your text to a few friends,
even posted it on a web site?

Tony

Revelations 21:7

Of course redeemed man will, in a real and wonderful sense, be “exalted” by God. Resurrection itself can be said to be an exaltation. Addressing the issue of the future of the “body” of the redeemed, Paul declares that it will be “raised in glory,” that it will be “raised in incorruption,” that it shall be “raised a spiritual body,” that it will be “raised incorruptible,” that it will “put on incorruption,” and that it will “put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:42-53).

Although Paul does not employ the word “exalted” in this great resurrection passage, the transformation of the human body that he describes can certainly be described as a form of “exaltation” – a consummation devoutly to be wished. However, neither here nor elsewhere in the 66 books of the Bible is there the slightest hint that any human has ever been, or ever can be, “exalted to godhood.” Such exaltation is simply not included in the many wonderful promises of Almighty God – probably because the province of “godhood” belongs alone and uniquely to the Almighty.

The word “exalt” or “exalted” appears about 96 times in the Old and New Testaments. No less than 23 Hebrew words and five Greek words are translated by the English “exalt” or “exalted.” Invariably the words in both of the original languages convey the idea of “lifting up” or being “lifted up” or “elevated.”

There is much biblical reference to self-exaltation, and this sin is universally condemned. The sin of envisioning exaltation to godhood is the subject of biblical warnings that portend the most horrible of outcomes. Lucifer boasted, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God … I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14). Lucifer lusted for godhood. The destiny of that prince of evil, who is designated “the devil,” is not one that any wise or thoughtful individual would want to share. He who mouthed his determination to “be like the Most High” will end his nefarious career as per the Word of the Living God: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). Even to think of such a destiny for humans is to weep.

Frequently the word “exalted” in inspired biblical literature refers to exalting God in worship (Psalm 34:3; 99:5 & 9; 107:32; 118:28). God humbles the mighty and exalts people of low degree (Luke 1:52). Capernaum, a city that was “exalted unto Heaven,” will be “brought down to hell” (Matthew 12:23).

Much more is revealed, but these references are sufficient to summarize the biblical doctrine of exaltation, which provides no suggestion that humans can be “exalted to godhood” and specifies the most terrible of judgments awaiting the prince of darkness for his foul plot to achieve Godhood.

From the ill fated tower of Babel project to construct a tower “whose top may reach unto heaven” (Genesis 11:4) to the self-exaltation of Lucifer and Capernaum, God has executed or promised the most horrible of judgments against personages who would intrude into the province that belongs to Him alone.

How can these facts not stand as a God-given warning to all of us? Would it not be wise for all people of all denominations, churches and faiths, to eschew and abandon any idea of “exaltation to godhood?” Something for all of us to pray about. Grace and mercy.

This is Ed and I’m responding to a request that I comment on the 18 biblical scriptures offered by Manaen in #91 to prove that man can be exalted to “Godhood.” My response in #111 was too brief to be of much value to the discussion, so I’ll offer a more adequate response now, with apologies that it will need to be more lengthy than I could wish. I have pasted the list of scriptural citations below. To distinguish my comments I will place a dash after each citation and proceed with my comment following the dash. Please know that no comment of mine is intended to be abraisive or disrespectful. Now to the comments:

MAN, POTENTIAL TO BECOME LIKE HEAVENLY FATHER – “Like” Heavenly Father, if it means having “Godlike” or “Godly” or “Christlike” characteristics and graces poses no conflict with the Bible. I could devoutly wish that more people were “Godly.” But “likeness” is not “sameness.” To be “like Jesus” or “like God” in no way implies achievement of Deity or “Godhood.” It appears that some correspondents now deny that “Godhood” means to LDS people that “Godhood” has been or can be attained. This, itself, appears to be a subject of disagreement among people of LDS faith. However, some official LDS writings have been cited which affirm clearly that Heavenly Father was once a man, and that man can, through a process of “eternal progression,” achieve “Godhood.” Respectfully I ask, if “Godhood” does not mean “Godhood,” then what does it mean?

Gen. 1: 26 (Moses 2: 26) let them have dominion.- Yes, God gave man dominion over the beast creation, but that does not imply that man has achieved “Godhood.”
Gen. 3: 22 (Moses 4: 28) man is become as one of us.- The context clarifies the meaning : “as” one of us in the sense of distinguishing good from evil. There is a vast difference between “as” one of us and “one of us.” “As” does not imply sameness with God or “Godhood.”
Lev. 19: 2 (1 Pet. 1: 16) be holy: for I . . . am holy. – Throughout the Bible God exhorts His people to holiness. The word means “separateness” from the evil world, but it does not imply a leap to Godhood.
Ps. 8: 5 thou hast made him a little lower than the angels. – “lower than the angels” – but even angels have never attained “Godhood.” The one who tried it is destined to end up in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
Ps. 8: 6 madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands. – “Dominion” over the creation was granted in Eden. Men were given authority to rule over the most voracious of beasts and use the soil and minerals and crude oil deposits for their own purposes. This prerogative is God’s will and purpose for man, but it does not mean that “Godhood” is bestowed or achieved. If “Godhood” could be attained by man, then man would have power to create, rather than mere power to rule over what has already been created.
Ps. 82: 6 ye are gods, and all of you are children of the most High. – The Hebrew word that is translated “gods” here is “EL” and this word must be understood in its Old Testament usage and also within the context of this Psalm. “EL” also refers to mighty men, human judges and leaders, and false gods of the heathen. Open Young’s Concordance and look up the word “gods.” You’ll find that about 300 times in the OT “EL” refers to false gods and heathen idols. Example: Deuteronomy 7:25 (“… graven images of their gods shall ye burn”). All scriptures must be read in context if they are to be understood. If you read verse 7 in Psalm 82, you find that the “gods” mentioned in verse 6 will come to their doom: “But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” Obviously “gods” (“EL”) in verse 6 are the same as the “gods” mentioned in verse 1, who are condemned in verse 2 for judging “unjustly,” and who are doomed to “die like men and fall like one of the princes” in verse 7. It is impossible to conclude from anything in this Psalm that man can achieve “Godhood” in the sense that Jehovah God possesses “Godhood” (Deity).
Matt. 5: 48 (3 Ne. 12: 48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father. – God’s standard is always “perfection” throughout the Bible. The Greek word (teleion) means “maturity” and spiritual maturity is the goal of redeemed people. However, a human who is spiritually mature has not attained “Godhood.” The Word of God exhorts redeemed people to be “perfect” (teleion), but never are they exhorted to achieve “Godhood” … a position that belongs exclusively and uniquely to the great Creator of the universe who never was begotten by another, who had no predecessor, will have no successor, and who has no peer.
Luke 24: 39 spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. – Yes, Jesus in His resurrection body had flesh and bones. However, that does not imply that any man can or will achieve “Godhood.”
John 10: 34 (Ps. 82: 1-8; D&C 76: 58) Is it not written in your law . . . Ye are gods. – Here Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6, on which I commented above. Here in John 10:35 Jesus identifies the “gods” of Psalm 82:6 as those “unto whom the word of God came.” Clearly the ones “unto whom the word of God came” are humans, for God is the giver, not the receiver, of the word of God. Again, there is no revelation here that “Godhood” can be attained by humans.
Acts 17: 29 we are the offspring of God. – This is a reference to creation. The fact that God created man does not imply that man can achieve “Godhood.”
Rom. 8: 17 heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. – An “heir” receives blessings from his father, but he can never attain to the same standing as his father. Joint heirship with Christ is not “Godhood.” Christians are heirs of eternal life and all of the spiritual blessings that relate to that status, but they cannot achieve “Godhood.”
2 Cor. 3: 18 changed into the same image from glory to glory. – This passage speaks of spiritual growth through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It does not state or suggest that a Christian can achieve “Godhead.”
Gal. 4: 7 if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. – Heirship is not “Godhood.”
Eph. 4: 13 Till we all come . . . unto a perfect man. – Perfection (spiritual maturity) is not “Godhood.”
Heb. 12: 9 be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live. – Our place is “subjection” to the Father of Spirits (God), not equivalence with Him (“Godhood”).
1 Jn. 3: 2 when he shall appear, we shall be like him. – Likeness does not mean sameness or “Godhood.”
Rev. 3: 21 him that overcometh will . . . sit with me in my throne. – He who owns the throne is the King, but he who shares it is subordinate to the King. To sit with God on His throne is not to achieve the status of “Godhood” which belongs to Him alone.

I won’t.

I quoted some LDS Church teaching manuals that say that Heavenly Father learned his salvation and exaltation beyond the grave and became a God.

They or may not agree with what she is teaching to her students. If they wish to check, they may inquire to the http://www.ldsces.org and http://www.ldscatalog.com sites.

Tony

I was merely stating what I grew up with and believe, not the official Church view (however you wish to interpret it). Besides, I’m more interested in the Judicial Nomination thread.

Ed’s #111. This was supposed to be an answer to my question about the references in the Topical Guides section entitled, “Man, Potential to Become Like Heavenly Father.” Specifically how they “do not even hint” (his words) that exaltation is possible. Instead he tried to say that “like” in the heading means to have characterstics of, but not to become as God — now saying that the Church’s own website is not saying what he complains the Church does say.

Tony’s #121. He wrote, “Joseph Smith revealed some people would be glorified to have the same power (“equal”) as God himself in the resurrection: “And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion” (D&C 76:95).”

This is after I asked him in #103 to look at the immediately preceding verses:

92 And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever and ever;
93 Before whose throne all things bow in humble areverence, and give him glory forever and ever.
94 They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace;
95 And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.

And he acknowledged the correction in #109 and quoted it:

“Manaen,

“This is in reference to your post # 103.

” ‘From this we see the doctrine as taught in the Church:
* that God the Father will reign over us forever and ever
* that he will make those of us with him in the celestial kingdom equal *to each other*; none of these will reign over any other of these but we all will continue to worship only God our Father.

” ‘This is the doctrine I’ve always heard in the Church. We don’t know the theology that you proposed because it isn’t what God said’.

“I understand what you are saying”

and then came back with his original misstatement and selective quoting at the end of his #121.

I sincerely mean what I said about gentleness with these visitors. I hoped to engage them in friendly, open discussion and sharing of God’s grace. But, I won’t spend as much time with them while they hold to their old ways. This isn’t in the spirit of anger, but to avoid casting pearls where they won’t be appreciated.