[Ohio]

In Tomes' first footnote, he provides numerous quotes from Witness Lee which highlight the contrast between the teachings of "Early-Lee" and those of "Later-Lee." Foot Note 1 shows the more orthodox teachings of an "Early-Lee" ...

1. The first quote “The Bible does not teach that believers will ever be deified” is from W. Lee, Life-Study of Philippians, Ch. 36, Sect. 1 (emphasis added). The second quote—“The fact that we have the divine nature with the divine life does not mean that we shall ever be deified,” is from [W. Lee, Life-Study of 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus & Philemon, Ch. 9, Sect. 1 (emphasis added)] LSM’s Lesson Book says: “To say that we are one spirit with the Lord definitely does not mean that we are deified.” [LSM, Lesson Book, Level 3: Two Spirits, Ch. 17, Sect. 1] In doing so they echo W. Lee: “To say that our spirit is mingled with the divine Spirit does not mean that we shall ever be deified.” [W. Lee, Divine Dispensing of the Divine Trinity, Ch. 30, Sect. 3] The first quote in the main text, in context, says, the believers are “divine,” yet they will never be “deified”—“2 Pet. 1:4 indicates clearly that we are partakers of the divine nature.