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| Chapter V.—The resurrection of the flesh is not impossible.
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Chapter V.—The resurrection of the
flesh is not impossible.
But again, of those who maintain that the
flesh has no resurrection, some assert that it is impossible; others
that, considering how vile and despicable the flesh is, it is not fit
that God should raise it; and others, that it did not at the first
receive the promise. First, then, in respect of those who say that it is
impossible for God to raise it, it seems to me that I should show that
they are ignorant, professing as they do in word that they are believers,
yet by their works proving themselves to be unbelieving, even more
unbelieving than the unbelievers. For, seeing that all the
heathen believe in their idols, and are persuaded that to them all things
are possible (as even their poet Homer says,2619
“The gods can do all things, and that easily;” and he added
the word “easily” that he might bring out the greatness of
the power of the gods), many do seem to be more unbelieving than they.
For if the heathen believe in their gods, which are idols (“which
have ears, and they hear not; they have eyes, and they see
not”2620
), that they can do all things, though they
be but devils, as saith the Scripture, “The gods of the nations are
devils,”2621
much more ought we, who
hold the right, excellent, and true faith, to believe in our God, since
also we have proofs [of His power], first in the creation of the first
man, for he was made from the earth by God; and this is sufficient
evidence of God’s power; and then they who observe things can see
how men are generated one by another, and can marvel in a still greater
degree that from a little drop of moisture so grand a living creature is
formed. And certainly if this were only recorded in a promise, and not
seen accomplished, this too would be much more incredible than the other;
but it is rendered more credible by accomplishment.2622
| 2622 i.e., by actually happening under our
observation. | But even in the case of the resurrection the
Saviour has shown us accomplishments, of which we will in a little speak.
But now we are demonstrating that the resurrection of the flesh is
possible, asking pardon of the children of the Church if we adduce
arguments which seem to be secular2623
| 2623 ἔξωθεν,
“without” or “outside,” to which reference is
made in the next clause, which may be translated, “because nothing
is outside God,” or, “because to God nothing is
‘without’ ” | and physical:2624
| 2624 κοσμικῶν, arguments
drawn from the laws by which the world is governed. | first,
because to God nothing is secular, not even the world itself, for it is
His workmanship; and secondly, because we are conducting our argument so
as to meet unbelievers. For if we argued with believers, it were enough
to say that we believe; but now we must proceed by demonstrations. The
foregoing proofs are indeed quite sufficient to evince the possibility of
the resurrection of the flesh; but since these men are exceedingly
unbelieving, we will further adduce a more convincing argument still,
—an argument drawn not from faith, for they are not within its
scope, but from their own mother unbelief,—I mean, of course,
from physical reasons. For if by such arguments we prove to them that the
resurrection of the flesh is possible, they are certainly worthy of great
contempt if they can be persuaded neither by the deliverances of faith
nor by the arguments of the world.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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