θεῖος (theios)
theios
divine
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective theios describes something belonging to God or sharing in His nature. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, primarily in 2 Peter where it highlights the believer’s participation in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). This usage suggests that through Christ, humans are invited into a relationship that reflects God’s own character, rather than becoming gods themselves.
The word also appears in Acts 17:29, where Paul argues against idolatry by stating that since we are offspring of God, we ought not to think the Deity (to the theion) is like gold or stone. Here, the term refers to the true nature of God, contrasting Him with man-made images. The root connects to theos (God), maintaining a clear distinction between the Creator and creation while affirming God’s unique essence.
Translators typically render theios as "divine," though this English word can sometimes imply magic or supernatural power. In these biblical contexts, it points specifically to moral and spiritual qualities that originate from God. The rarity of the word in Scripture underscores its weight: it is reserved for moments where the boundary between human experience and God’s own life is most clearly drawn.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word theios points to the very essence of God, describing what belongs to Him alone. It appears rarely in Scripture, marking moments where the boundary between Creator and creation is clearly drawn yet bridged by grace. In Acts 17:29, Paul reminds us that since we are offspring of God, we must not imagine the Divine Nature resembles gold or stone. This grounds our worship in reality, rejecting idols for the living truth of who God is.
More intimately, 2 Peter 1:3-4 reveals that His divine power grants us everything needed for life and godliness. Through promises given to us, we become partakers of the divine nature, escaping worldly corruption. This does not mean we become gods, but that we share in His moral character through Christ. It is an invitation to reflect God’s own life in our daily walk.
This rare term underscores the weight of our calling. We are not left to strive for holiness on our own; rather, we receive it as a gift. The divine nature is not something we manufacture, but something we participate in by trusting in His power. This connection offers hope, knowing that our transformation comes from the source of all life itself.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of [the] divine1×
- divine1×
- Divine Being1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θείας2×
- θεῖον1×
Key Verses
-
II Peter 1:4
by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
This verse uniquely uses the word to describe believers becoming partakers of God's own nature through His promises.
-
Acts 17:29
Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.
Here Paul contrasts the true Divine Nature with man-made idols, grounding worship in God's unique essence rather than material forms.
-
II Peter 1:3
seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue,
The term modifies 'power' to show that God’s divine ability is the source of all things pertaining to godly living.