Was Joseph Smith aware of Patristic theology?

Question

Is there any historical evidence to suggest he was well versed in the teachings of the early church fathers?

@James O
I don't know, I think these quotes sums up what the Patristic Fathers were teaching re: theosis:

"Yea, I say, the Word of God became a man so that you might learn from a man how to become a god."(Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Greeks 1)

"If the Word became a man, it was so men may become gods."
(Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5)

"Do we cast blame on him [God] because we were not made gods from the beginning, but were at first created merely as men, and then later as gods? Although God has adopted this course out of his pure benevolence, that no one may charge him with discrimination or stinginess, he declares, 'I have said, ye are gods; and all of you are sons of the Most High.' . . . For it was necessary at first that nature be exhibited, then after that what was mortal would be conquered and swallowed up in immortality."
(Irenaeus, Against Heresies 4: 38)

Tertullian:

"Thus the connection of the Father in the Son, and of the Son in the Paraclete, produces three coherent Persons, who are yet distinct One from Another. These Three are, one essence, not one Person, as it is said, 'I and my Father are One' [John 10:30], in respect of unity of Being not singularity of number"

Answer 1

Joseph's knowledge about early church teaching was very basic. He did become better educated and aware of these things late in his ministry. It was in the Navooh period that he reveled information about the temple, baptism for the dead and sealings.

I find that most of his early fundamental doctrine came from ordinary scripture study. He read what was there and could glean the plan and simple truth. I do not think he had access to any more literature than perhaps a concordance.

I believe that he was thorough and complete in his analysis. When you get down to inspecting each line, pondering and praying, you will rediscover an older notion that was set aside during the Apostacy.

Answer 2

No,nothing at all
Patristic Theosis,in which we become partakers of divine nature(2 Pet) or are transformed and transfigured or"engodded" by the grace of adoption, has nothing to do with the Mormon theology and anthropology as expressed in the teachings of Joseph Smith and the saying "As Man is God once was as God is Man may become".

The Patristic saying (Athanasius, Ireneaus,et al)"God became man that man might become god" means that God the Word became incarnate (fully human) in order that the gulf created by sin might be closed
and that we might become partakers or sharers in divine nature and completely united with(but not absorbed into) the Trinity.
Our human nature is not only healed by grace(which is not just extrinsic and imputed or "covering over us" but imparted and sanctifying fro in Christ by the holy Spirit we are made holy by the gift of the very righteousness of God)

"Divinization" for Eastern Christians does not mean that we are of the same essence or being of substance with the trinity. We are finite creatures and will everlastingly remain so but we are human creatures(with a created being and beginning at the moment of conception) called by grace to perfect communion with Godhead and unity with the redeemed Cosmos,especially with sanctified people (the Communion of saints)

Mormonism(LDS) teaches that there are 3 beings in the Godhead and not 3 hypostases("persons") as does orthodox Creedal Christianity
which former is polytheism and as such is rejected by Judaism,Islam and Christianity( Historic Christianity).

Mormonism does seem to teach that there is possible "eternal progression" ,even for the "God of This World'( who had been a human on another planet of the star Kolob), for angels, humans and gods
which is not compatible with Patristic Theosis.

Answer 3

Not really- Even his wife said he could hardly dictate an intelligible letter....

He had the equivelent of a modern 3rd grade education. Do you really think he was aware of what early Christian leaders taught?... (unless it was still being taught in the early 1800s, in which case, he would have been exposed to it in church)

Answer 4

I doubt John Smith knew anything about Patristic Theology, but that still doesn't say much about Patristic Theology. Patristic Theologians like Gregory of Nissa and Ireneus were morons that used logic that was so full of holes that you could drive a truck through it.

Answer 5

He was a soothsayer before he was a prognosticator. I guess he couldn't convince anyone that he was a messiah too. His path began from his lack of education of the Bible. He was surprised by this and surprised by that and in his confusion an angel came and sorted it all out for him. Explained evolution and how it fits into God's plan. He didn't know enough history to make his gospel congruent with it.

Answer 6

Nope, Joseph smith was just a smart guy who tricked people to believe in bull Sh!t which he probably didn't believe himself

Answer 7

He had no education to speak of.
The only spirit Joe Smith was conversant in was gin.