What is the biblical basis for Theosis?

> ***Theosis*** ([Ancient Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_language "Ancient Greek language"): θέωσις), or **deification** (deification may also refer to *[apotheosis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apotheosis "Apotheosis")*, lit. "making divine"), is a transformative process whose aim is likeness to or union with [God](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God "God"), as taught by the [Eastern Catholic Churches](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churches "Eastern Catholic Churches") and the [Eastern Orthodox Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church "Eastern Orthodox Church"); the same concept is also found in the [Latin Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Church "Latin Church") of the [Catholic Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church "Catholic Church"), where it is termed "[divinization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divinization_(Christian) "Divinization (Christian)")". As a process of transformation, *theosis* is brought about by the effects of *[catharsis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharsis "Catharsis")* (purification of mind and body) and *[theoria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theoria#Eastern_Orthodox_Catholic_and_Byzantine_Catholic_Churches "Theoria")* ('illumination' with the 'vision' of God). According to [Eastern Christian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Christianity "Eastern Christianity") teachings, *theosis* is very much the purpose of human life. It is considered achievable only through synergy (or cooperation) of human activity and God's uncreated energies (or operations).[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosis_(Eastern_Christian_theology)#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBartos1999253Kapsanis2006-1) According to Metropolitan [Hierotheos (Vlachos)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierotheos_(Vlachos) "Hierotheos (Vlachos)"), the primacy of *theosis* in [Eastern Orthodox Christian theology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Christian_theology "Eastern Orthodox Christian theology") is directly related to the fact that Byzantine theology (as historically conceived by its principal exponents) is based to a greater extent than [Latin Catholic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Church "Latin Church") [theology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_theology "Catholic theology") on the direct spiritual insights of the saints or [mystics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysticism "Mysticism") of the church rather than the often seen more as [rational thought](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_thought "Rational thought") tradition of the West.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosis_(Eastern_Christian_theology)#cite_note-FOOTNOTEVlachos1994-2) Byzantine Christians consider that "no one who does not follow the path of union with God can be a theologian"[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosis_(Eastern_Christian_theology)#cite_note-FOOTNOTELossky200239-3) in the proper sense. Thus theology in Byzantine Christianity is not treated primarily as an academic pursuit. Instead it is based on applied revelation (see [gnosiology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosiology "Gnosiology")), and the primary validation of a theologian is understood to be a holy and ascetical life rather than intellectual training or academic credentials (see [scholasticism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholasticism "Scholasticism")).[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosis_(Eastern_Christian_theology)#cite_note-FOOTNOTEVlachos1994-2) > > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosis_(Eastern_Christian_theology) What is the biblical basis for *Theosis*?