Do humans partake of God’s goodness?

St. Gregory of Nyssa says, “For since man is the work of God, who through His goodness brought this creature into being, no one could reasonably suspect that he, of whose constitution goodness is the cause, was created by his Maker in the midst of evil … For He who made man for the participation of His own peculiar good, and incorporated in him the instincts for all that was excellent, in order that his desire might be carried forward by a corresponding movement in each case to its like.”⁵⁰²

St. Jacob of Sarug says, “Save me from evil, for great is Your power. Do not deliver me to the enemy who fights against me, without Your help. You defeat him through me, I who am weak! Let not Your hidden power be far from me; yea, Your power which does not tempt me, for I am certain that I am weak. Let every struggle be Your struggle, you shall be victorious; every victory of the victorious is Your victory. Be victorious, for victory befits You. But as for me, lead me not into temptation. Save me from the enemy who attacks me; I cannot defeat him without Your help … Take over the battle and seize the victory that befits You. Save me from him! … With Your mercies, save me from the devil who wars against me, for You are worthy of every victory, and they are attributed to You.”⁵⁰³