Here are 8 short Wesley excerpts that map most clearly onto theosis/deification themes, while remaining only *analogous* (he does not use that terminology explicitly. )[1][2][3][4][5][6]
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### 1. 2 Peter 1:4 – “Partakers of the divine nature” (explicit text, *analogous*)
> “Ye may become partakers of the divine nature—**Being renewed in the image of God, and having communion with Him, so as to dwell in God, and God in you.**”
> (Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, on 2 Peter 1:4)
> *Analogous to theosis (image‑renewal, communion, indwelling), but not terminologically explicit.*[2][5]
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### 2. “The great end of religion” – renewal of the image (*analogous*)
> “Ye know that **the great end of religion is to renew our hearts in the image of God.**”
> (Sermon language frequently cited from Wesley; see summaries of his theology of the image. )[4][1]
> *Analogous to theosis as teleological restoration of the imago Dei.*
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### 3. Justification and new birth opening a process of transformation (*analogous*)
> “Wesley believed that God could do more with sin than forgive it. **He believed in the restoration of the imago Dei.** In the moment of justification the new birth takes place. **Here begins** the restoring of the image of God in the believer…”
> (Paraphrased summary of Wesley’s own teaching as cited in “Wesley on Personal Holiness.” )[1]
> *Useful as a bridge text: shows how he sees salvation as transformative participation, not only pardon.*
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### 4. Christian perfection as whole image and whole life holy (*analogous*)
> “Has he not the **love of God and of his neighbour in his heart, yea, and the whole image of God?** … You own, **the whole Heart, and the whole Life of a Believer are Holy**, that he loves God with all his Heart, and serves him with all his Strength. I desire no more. **This is all I mean by Perfection or Christian Holiness.**”
> (Wesley in dialogue with Zinzendorf, reported in discussions of Christian perfection. )[3]
> *Analogous to theosis as perfected likeness and life “wholly” conformed to God in love.*
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### 5. Perfection as inward conformity and imitation of Christ (*analogous*)
> “It is also described as **perfect inward and outward conformity with Christ**, as a circumcision of the heart, involving purification from sin, an entire renewal of the spirit.”
> (Summary of Wesley’s own descriptions in writings on Christian perfection. )[3]
> *Analogous in that deification is framed as full Christ‑conformity rather than metaphysical elevation.*
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### 6. Essence of perfection as love (*analogous*)
> “Its chief mark, we have already noticed, is **perfect love. It is the essence of perfection.** And the fully sanctified man is also distinguished by the inseparable fruits of that love: ‘rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks.’”
> (Wesley’s language on Christian perfection, as reported in studies of his sanctification doctrine. )[3]
> *Analogous: deification rendered as perfected agapic love as participation in God’s own charity.*
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### 7. “Faith working by love” substituted for “angelic perfection” (*analogous*)
> “Faith working or animated by love **is all that God now requires of man. He has substituted love … in the room of angelic perfection.**”
> (Wesley on holiness and the law of faith. )[7]
> *Analogous: human telos now defined as a dynamic participation in divine love, rather than static angelic status.*
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### 8. Concise definition of Christian perfection (*analogous*)
> One of Wesley’s most succinct definitions of Christian perfection was “**the humble, gentle, patient love of God, and our neighbour, ruling our tempers, words, and actions.**”
> (A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, as summarized in modern edition. )[6]
> *Analogous: makes deification concrete as a life ruled entirely by perfected love.*
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If you’d like, I can reformat these into a one‑page handout with very brief marginal notes (“theosis analogue: image,” “theosis analogue: participation/indwelling,” etc.) for classroom use.
Sources
[1] [PDF] Wesley on Personal Holiness – The Methodist Church https://www.methodist.org.uk/
[2] What does it mean to be created in the image of God? – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
[3] CHRISTIAN PERFECTION from “Wesley and Sanctification” by … https://www.craigladams.com/
[4] [PDF] Wesleyan Theological Journal – The Wesley Center Online https://wesley.nnu.edu/
[5] John Wesley’s Moral Pneumatology: The Fruits of the Spirit as … https://journals.sagepub.com/
[6] [PDF] A PLAIN ACCOUNT OF CHRISTIAN PERFECTION https://www.
[7] John Wesley on Sin and Holiness – wesleyscholar.com https://wesleyscholar.com/
[8] [PDF] Wesleyan Theological Journal – The Wesley Center Online https://wesley.nnu.edu/
[9] [PDF] Reading Wesley’s Theology Through the Lens of Process Thought https://digitalcommons.du.edu/
[10] [PDF] A Wesleyan Perspective on the Integration of Faith and Work https://digitalcommons.
[11] [PDF] Reading Wesley’s Theology through the Lens of Process Thought https://du-researchportal.
[12] [PDF] The Everlasting Gospel in Peter’s Ladder – TFFGbarbados.com https://www.tffgbarbados.com/
[13] [PDF] Tell of His Power sing of his Matchless Love – LittleBookOpen.org http://www.littlebookopen.org/
[14] John Wesley – The Highway of Holiness http://holypig.com/cotor/
[15] [PDF] Faculty Guide – Exploring John Wesley’s Theology https://nwdistrict.org/
