Justin Martyr taught taught that all men were deemed worthy of becoming gods... the Mormons agree, but should we?

[ This is Part 1 in a series on Theosis according to Mormonism ]

Anyone who has ever engaged in rigorous discussions with Mormons, particularly in the online space can attest to what seems to be a more & more common usage of early church fathers (Patristics) quotes that according to them - lend historical support for Mormon doctrine, in this case... Justin Martyr:

"But as my discourse is not intended to touch on this point, but to prove to you that the Holy Ghost reproaches men because they were made like God, free from suffering and death, provided that they kept His commandments, and were deemed deserving of the name of His sons, and yet they, becoming like Adam and Eve, work out death for themselves; let the interpretation of the Psalm be held just as you wish, yet thereby it is demonstrated that all men are deemed worthy of becoming “gods,” and of having power to become sons of the Highest; and shall be each by himself judged and condemned like Adam and Eve.” 

- Dialogue With Trypho, 124

To see whether or not it passes the smell test, I've compiled a list of selections spanning the work that this quote originated from titled: Dialogue with Trypho

Text highlighted in yellow represents historic Christian key doctrinal points that Mormonism does not & would not both officially & unequivocally affirm - without first attempting to redefine terms in a way that is friendly to current Mormon thought.

(Any who wish to read these selections online can do so here)

‘the Deity cannot be seen merely by the eyes, as other living beings can, but is discernible to the mind alone, as Plato says; and I believe him.’

- Dialogue with Trypho, Chap. III

Key Doctrinal Affirmation(s):
The Glory of God cannot be beheld by mortal men

"“There will be no other God, O Trypho, nor was there from eternity any other existing” (I thus addressed him), “but He who made and disposed all this universe. Nor do we think that there is one God for us, another for you, but that He alone is God who led your fathers out from Egypt with a strong hand and a high arm. Nor have we trusted in any other (for there is no other), but in Him in whom you also have trusted, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob."
- Ibid., Chap. XI

Key Doctrinal Affirmation(s):

The belief that there is only one God (Monotheism)

"Accordingly, these things have happened to you in fairness and justice, for you have slain the Just One, and His prophets before Him; and now you reject those who hope in Him, and in Him who sent Him—God the Almighty and Maker of all things—cursing in your synagogues those that believe on Christ."

- Ibid., Chap. XVI

Key Doctrinal Affirmation(s):

God created from nothing ('Creatio Ex Nihilo' in the Latin)

"And Trypho answered, “We shall remember this your exposition, if you strengthen [your solution of] this difficulty by other arguments: but now resume the discourse, and show us that the Spirit of prophecy admits another God besides the Maker of all things, taking care not to speak of the sun and moon, which, it is written, God has given to the nations to worship as gods; and oftentimes the prophets, employing this manner of speech, say that ‘thy God is a God of gods, and a Lord of lords,’ adding frequently, ‘the great and strong and terrible [God].’ For such expressions are used, not as if they really were gods, but because the Scripture is teaching us that the true God, who made all things, is Lord alone of those who are reputed gods and lords. And in order that the Holy Spirit may convince [us] of this, He said by the holy David, ‘The gods of the nations, reputed gods, are idols of demons, and not gods;’ and He denounces a curse on those who worship them.”

And I replied, “I would not bring forward these proofs, Trypho, by which I am aware those who worship these [idols] and such like are condemned, but such [proofs] as no one could find any objection to. They will appear strange to you, although you read them every day; so that even from this fact we understand that, because of your wickedness, God has withheld from you the ability to discern the wisdom of His Scriptures; yet [there are] some exceptions, to whom, according to the grace of His long-suffering, as Isaiah said, He has left a seed of salvation, lest your race be utterly destroyed, like Sodom and Gomorrah. Pay attention, therefore, to what I shall record out of the holy Scriptures, which do not need to be expounded, but only listened to."
- Ibid., Chap. LV

Key Doctrinal Affirmation(s):

God created from nothing ('Creatio Ex Nihilo' in the Latin)

The belief that there is only one God (Monotheism)

Clarity (perspicuity) of scripture

And Trypho said, “Being shaken by so many Scriptures, I know not what to say about the Scripture which Isaiah writes, in which God says that He gives not His glory to another, speaking thus: ‘I am the Lord God; this is my name; my glory will I not give to another, nor my virtues.’ ”

And I answered, “If you spoke these words, Trypho, and then kept silence in simplicity and with no ill intent, neither repeating what goes before nor adding what comes after, you must be forgiven; but if [you have done so] because you imagined that you could throw doubt on the passage, in order that I might say the Scriptures contradicted each other, you have erred. But I shall not venture to suppose or to say such a thing; and if a Scripture which appears to be of such a kind be brought forward, and if there be a pretext [for saying] that it is contrary [to some other], since I am entirely convinced that no Scripture contradicts another, I shall admit rather that I do not understand what is recorded, and shall strive to persuade those who imagine that the Scriptures are contradictory, to be rather of the same opinion as myself. With what intent, then, you have brought forward the difficulty, God knows. But I shall remind you of what the passage says, in order that you may recognise even from this very [place] that God gives glory to His Christ alone.

- Ibid., Chap. LXV

Key Doctrinal Affirmation(s): 
The belief that there is only one God (Monotheism)

The Resurrection (not eternal progression)

"The spring of living water which gushed forth from God in the land destitute of the knowledge of God, namely the land of the Gentiles, was this Christ, who also appeared in your nation, and healed those who were maimed, and deaf, and lame in body from their birth, causing them to leap, to hear, and to see, by His word. And having raised the dead, and causing them to live, by His deeds He compelled the men who lived at that time to recognise Him. But though they saw such works, they asserted it was magical art. For they dared to call Him a magician, and a deceiver of the people. Yet He wrought such works, and persuaded those who were [destined to] believe on Him; for even if any one be labouring under a defect of body, yet be an observer of the doctrines delivered by Him, He shall raise him up at His second advent perfectly sound, after He has made him immortal, and incorruptible, and free from grief."
- Ibid., Chap. LXIX

Key Doctrinal Affirmation(s): 
The Resurrection (not eternal progression)

With all of these selections in mind, let us re-examine the initial citation to see if we can make sense of the authors intended meaning shall we?

"But as my discourse is not intended to touch on this point, but to prove to you that the Holy Ghost reproaches men because they were made like God, free from suffering and death, provided that they kept His commandments, and were deemed deserving of the name of His sons, and yet they, becoming like Adam and Eve, work out death for themselves; let the interpretation of the Psalm be held just as you wish, yet thereby it is demonstrated that all men are deemed worthy of becoming “gods,” and of having power to become sons of the Highest; and shall be each by himself judged and condemned like Adam and Eve.” 
- Dialogue With Trypho, 124

When Justin says "gods" it seems rather obvious that his intended meaning was after creation they (man  & woman) were "free from suffering and death." thanks to the Biblical account of Genesis we know this didn't last, because of their disobedience in the garden. Given that Mormons already believe that all men & women are 'children of god' how they would begin to make sense of "...and were deemed deserving of the name of His sons" without butchering Mormon cosmology in the process I cannot say.

Still, one must ask the question: How does one come to 'deserve' that which is already intrinsic to their being by virtue of their literal parentage? How does the natural son, also become an adopted son?

To contrast, Christians do not believe that all of mankind are children or sons of God, and yet they can look at John 1:12-13 and easily understand what Justin Martyr was encapsulating above. As far as I can see, there's no true theological declaration here about a transition from a creature to a Creator, a non-god, to a god, a god-in-embryo / god-in-potential to god in actuality.

Sorry Mormons, I see no angle here that vindicates Joseph Smith's eternal progression. I'd consider this a swing and a miss.