--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God became man, that we might be gods." description: "\"God became man, that we might be gods.\" — Irenaeus of Lyons" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods-904_904818.png" --- # God became man, that we might be gods. ![“God became man, that we might be gods.” quote by Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods-904_904818.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods-904_904818.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods-904_904818.png) > “God became man, that we might be gods.” [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine incarnation aims to restore humanity to divine potential. **In simple terms:** God became human to elevate us. Key Takeaway Seek divine purpose. Themes theology spirituality humanity Mood contemplative inspirational Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious study - personal growth - ethical living Key Concepts incarnation divine nature Questions to Reflect On - What does divinity mean to you? - How can we embody higher purpose? A Different Perspective Interpretations vary across traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/image/) [Man Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-gods-1275301/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) ## Related quotes > [You can take away a man's gods, but only to give him others in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-take-away-a-man-s-gods-but-only-to-give-him-others-in-return/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To man has been given the grief, often, of seeing his gods overthrown and his altars crumbling; but to the wolf and the wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/to-man-has-been-given-the-grief-often-of-seeing-his-gods-overthrown/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Of all the things which a man has, next to the gods his soul is the most divine and most truly his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/of-all-the-things-which-a-man-has-next-to-the-gods-his-soul-is-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Man must look after man, for we have no gods to watch over us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilari-bell/man-must-look-after-man-for-we-have-no-gods-to-watch-over-us/) [Hilari Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilari-bell/) > [Once liberty has exploded in the soul of a man, the gods can do nothing against that man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/once-liberty-has-exploded-in-the-soul-of-a-man-the-gods-can-do/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Not the nature of man, Nor gods lordship, Separation from someone made me a Poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyalbutt/not-the-nature-of-man-nor-gods-lordship-separation-from-someone-made/) [Daniyalbutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniyalbutt/) > [Not all of life's roads are set fast, for a man may do this or a man may do that and not even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/not-all-of-life-s-roads-are-set-fast-for-a-man-may-do-this-or-a-man/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Aegistheus, the kings have another secret… Once liberty has exploded in the soul of a man, the Gods can do nothing against that man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/aegistheus-the-kings-have-another-secret-once-liberty-has-exploded-in/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“What could be more hapless than a man controlled by his own creations? It is surely easier for a man to cease to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/what-could-be-more-hapless-than-a-man-controlled-by-his-own-creations/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [Grateful for his mistakes, man should be the gods, because by overcoming the faults the stronger force is developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/grateful-for-his-mistakes-man-should-be-the-gods-because-by/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [This serpent, SATAN, is not the enemy of Man, but He who made Gods of our race, knowing Good and Evil; He bade 'Know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/this-serpent-satan-is-not-the-enemy-of-man-but-he-who-made-gods-of/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [“Unlike man, whose gods are of the unseen and the overguessed, vapours and mists of fancy eluding the garmenture of reality, wandering wraiths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/unlike-man-whose-gods-are-of-the-unseen-and-the-overguessed-vapours/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [The burden of all song and praise "unto the Highest" has been that God stands for justice and mercy. Yet injustice among men is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-burden-of-all-song-and-praise-unto-the-highest-has-been-that-god/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [God's image…is found not best in individual humans, but in humans as they relate to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-timothy-johnson/god-s-image-is-found-not-best-in-individual-humans-but-in-humans-as/) [Luke Timothy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-timothy-johnson/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) ## More by Irenaeus of Lyons > [Others of them employ outward marks ... They style themselves Gnostics. They also possess images, some of them painted and others formed from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/others-of-them-employ-outward-marks-they-style-themselves-gnostics/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [As long as any one has the means of doing good to his neighbours, and does not do so, he shall be reckoned a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/as-long-as-any-one-has-the-means-of-doing-good-to-his-neighbours-and/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [ \[Peter\] testified to \[the Jews in Acts 2\] that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the Judge of the living and dead, into… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/peter-testified-to-the-jews-in-acts-2-that-jesus-christ-was-the-son/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [ And when we come to refute them, we shall show in its fitting place that this class of men \[i.e., the gnostics\] has been… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/and-when-we-come-to-refute-them-we-shall-show-in-its-fitting-place/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [ \[Naaman\] dipped himself," it says, "seven times in Jordan." It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/naaman-dipped-himself-it-says-seven-times-in-jordan-it-was-not-for/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [But following the only true and stedfast Teacher, the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who did, through His transcendent love, become what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/but-following-the-only-true-and-stedfast-teacher-the-word-of-god-our/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/a-man-that-is-an-heretic-after-the-first-and-second-admonition-reject/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [The church has been planted as a paradise in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/the-church-has-been-planted-as-a-paradise-in-this-world/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [Since it is impossible, without God, to come to knowledge of God, he teaches men through his Word to know God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-come-to-knowledge-of-god-he/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [ He \[Jesus\] fought and conquered. On the one hand, he was man who struggled for his fathers and through his obedience cancelled their disobedience.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/he-jesus-fought-and-conquered-on-the-one-hand-he-was-man-who/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [It is not necessary to seek the truth among others which it is easy to obtain from the Church; since the apostles, like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/it-is-not-necessary-to-seek-the-truth-among-others-which-it-is-easy/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [Suppose there arise a dispute relative to some important question among us, should we not have recourse to the most ancient Churches with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/suppose-there-arise-a-dispute-relative-to-some-important-question/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [Error never shows itself in its naked reality, in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/error-never-shows-itself-in-its-naked-reality-in-order-not-to-be/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [He who was the Son of God became the Son of man, that man ... might become the son of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/he-who-was-the-son-of-god-became-the-son-of-man-that-man-might-become/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [For where the church is, there is the Spirit of God, and where the Spirit of God, there is the church and all grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/for-where-the-church-is-there-is-the-spirit-of-god-and-where-the/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) [Explore all 35 Irenaeus of Lyons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God became man, that we might be gods.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irenaeus of Lyons" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods-904_904818.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods-904_904818.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/irenaeus-of-lyons-18423_god_god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods-904_904818.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“God became man, that we might be gods.” — Irenaeus of Lyons", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Irenaeus of Lyons", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "God became man, that we might...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/god-became-man-that-we-might-be-gods/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```