The Resurrection of the Body

Fourth Friday of Easter

Thanks to the Martens (I'm not sure what the plural of Martens is) for their useful comments on the last two blogs. Thanks also to the three others who commented to me on individual emails. Again, I would love for this blog to be a little more interactive, so do send comments. There were 32 page views yesterday, so I know folks are reading it.

Friday is question and answer day. I want to deal with Glenn's question from a couple of weeks back.  Here it is: 

Sunday’s scripture reading from the Gospel of John included Jesus showing his resurrected body to Thomas with the marks of the nails and wound in his side.  The marks were the result of being nailed to the cross and the Roman solider piercing his side after he had died.  Jesus’ resurrection was three days after he had died and his body was no longer in the tomb.  John 5:28-29 describes all the dead coming forth from the graves at the end of time.  The Apostles’ Creed states we believe in the resurrection of the body.  Paul especially in 1 Corinthians 15 states there will be a change that will give us glorious bodies.  Our physical bodies will not remain whether buried or cremated, both presently common for end of life practices.  Also there are other scenarios where there are no bodily remains.  How do you correlate this with the statements about resurrection in the New Testament and the Apostles’ Creed and do you think we should change some of our burial or cremation practices? 

I'm not entirely sure that I understand all that Glenn is after, but I'll do my best. As I've noted in studies of 1 Corinthians and of the resurrection narratives, the consistent belief of the New Testament writers is in the resurrection of the body. It is remarkable that that belief survived to make it into the Apostles' Creed (fourth century). By mid-second century Greek philosophical understandings, particular those of Plato, were making their way into Christianity on this subject. Here are the differences:

Some Greek philosophical understandings: At the point of death the soul, which is immortal, leaves the body, which is mortal. The body, through whatever means of disposal, eventually ceases to exist (except for mummification but that's a different story). Also, some Greek philosophies, most notably Epicureanism and some forms of Stoicism, do not believe in God. 

New Testament: Death is sleep until the final resurrection at the last day. At that time dead physical bodies, in whatever form of decomposition, will be transformed from physical bodies into spiritual bodies. Spiritual bodies are bodies. They are not disembodied souls. They are not angels. They have the qualities of physical bodies. They are tangible, can be seen, touched, heard, and presumably even smelled. They can do all the things that humans do. They are different from physical bodies in that they are not bound by space and time. The resurrected Jesus is our one example of spiritual body. Paul calls his resurrected body "the first fruits of the resurrection." (1 Corinthians 15:20). He has all his human qualities but is different in not being bound by time and space. He can appear, disappear, and reappear (Luke 24) He can be in one space, then in another space, without going through the intervening space (John 20-21). Our spiritual bodies at the final resurrection will be like his resurrected body.

As the centuries progressed the Greek philosophical understandings of life after death superseded the New Testament understanding. Christians thought more and more in terms of the soul leaving the body on the point of death and being in heaven with God. This has become the predominant understanding in virtually all branches of Christianity, Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. 

I could be a little provocative here. Plato wins. Jesus loses. Plato is the true Christian. OK, that's a little over the top, but do you get my point?

In the last couple of decades the Anglican Bishop and leading NT scholar, N.T. Wright has advocated for the New Testament view becoming the Christian view, most recently in his 2019 book, History and Eschatology.

I haven't fully made up my mind on this one, but I tend to be influenced by the New Testament. Would any of you like to persuade me one way or the other? As always, please send me your comments and questions. I love hearing from you.

Faithfully, 

Christian