QUALITIES OF THE RISEN BODIES

There is a fourfold condition of all those who shall take part in the

resurrection.

(a) The Identity of the Bodies of the Risen. - It will be the same body as

it is now, both as regards its flesh and its bones. Some, indeed, have said

that it will not be this same body which is corrupted that shall be raised

up; but such view is contrary to the Apostle: "For this corruptible must

put on incorruption."⁷ And likewise the Sacred Scripture says that by the

power of God this same body shall rise to life: "And I shall be clothed

again with my skin; and in my flesh I shall see my God."⁸

(b) The Incorruptibility of the Risen Bodies. - The bodies of the risen

shall be of a different quality from that of the mortal body, because they

shall be incorruptible, both of the blessed, who shall be ever in glory,

and of the damned, who shall be ever in punishments: "For this corruptible

must put on incorruption; and this mortal must put on immortality."⁹ And

since the body will be incorruptible and immortal, there will no longer be

the use of food or of the marriage relations: "For in the resurrection they

shall neither marry nor be married, but shall be as the Angels of God in

heaven."¹⁰ This is directly against the Jews and Mohammedans: "Nor shall he

return any more into his house."¹¹

(c) The Integrity of the Risen Bodies. - Both the good and the wicked shall

rise with all soundness of body which is natural to man. He will not be

blind or deaf or bear any kind of physical defect: "The dead shall rise

again incorruptible,"¹² this is to mean, wholly free from the defects of

the present life.¹³

(d) The Age of the Risen Bodies. - All will rise in the condition of perfect

age, which is of thirty-two or thirty-three years. This is because all who

were not yet arrived at this age, did not possess this perfect age, and the

old had already lost it. Hence, youths and children will be given what they

lack, and what the aged once had will be restored to them: "Until we all

attain the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a

perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ."¹⁴