With regard to participation in the
divine nature and 2 Pet 1.4, Cyril uses this to describe both participation in
the attributes of the Trinity. He repeatedly writes that participation in the divine
nature is a participation in the Spirit, (In Jo. 1.9; 3.4; 14.16; 16.7;
16.12-13; 17.18-19; 20.22-23; and In Luc. 3.16; 3.21-23; 4.1-2; 4.18;
5.24; 7.24; 20.7-16) who allows participation in Christ and the Father. (In
Christ: In Jo. 14.20; 14.24; In Luc. 22.7-16. In God: In Jo.
14.23; In Luc. 4.18) Based on the consubstantial union of the three members
of the Trinity, the presence of the Spirit mediates the presence of the other
two members. (In Jo. 14.20; 14.23; 15.1; 17.18-19) In addition, Cyril
also speaks of participating in the attributes of the Trinity. In particular,
incorruption, sanctification, and sonship. (Incorruption: In Jo. 6.35;
14.20. Sanctification: In Jo. 7.44; 14.4; 14.16; 14.24; 17.18-19;
17.20-23; In Luc. 4.1-2. Sonship: In Jo. 1.13; 3.4; 15.1; In
Luc. 3.21-22; 4.1-2; 7.24-28) This intimate relationship provided by the
Spirit is transforming, in that the new creation work of the second Adam is
fulfilled through grace. Ben C. Blackwell, Christosis: Engaging Paul’s
Soteriology with His Patristic Interpreters [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans,
2016], 90)
