Early Christian Belief in the Resurrection of the Dead

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness

...ators, nor revilers, nor drunkards, nor thieves can inherit the kingdom of God.” And again, “If the dead do not rise, then Christ is not raised; our preaching therefore is in vain, and your faith is also in vain: you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most miserable. If the dead do not rise, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” But if such be our condition and feelings, how shall we differ from donkeys and dogs, who have no care about the future, but think only of eating, and indulging such appetites as follow eating? For they are unacquainted with any intelligence moving within them.

Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection, Fragments Supporting witness

..., why did He heal it? Most importantly, He raised the dead. Why? Was it not to demonstrate what the resurrection would be like? How then did He raise the dead? Their souls or their bodies? Clearly, both. If the resurrection were only spiritual, it would have been necessary for Him, in raising the dead, to show the body lying apart by itself and the soul living separately. But He did not do so; instead, He raised the body, confirming the promise of life within it. Why did He rise in the flesh in which He suffered, if not to demonstrate the resurrection of the flesh? Wishing to confirm this, when His disciples were unsure whether to believe He had truly risen in the flesh, and were looking at Him in doubt, He said to them, “You still have no faith; see that it is I.” He allowed them to touch Him and showed them the marks of the nails in His hands. When they were persuaded by every kind of proof that it was indeed Himself and in the body, they asked Him to eat with them to further verify that He had genuinely risen bodily; and He ate honeycomb and fish. By doing this, He showed them that there truly is a resurrection of the flesh, and wished to demonstrate that it is not impossible

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

... believes in a future Christ, than the heretic's, which has none at all to believe in. Touching the resurrection of the dead, 1 Corinthians 15:12, let us first ask how some persons then denied it. No doubt it was in the same way in which it is even now denied, since the resurrection of the flesh has at all times had men to deny it. But many wise men claim for the soul a divine nature, and are confident of its undying destiny. Even the multitude worship the dead, in the presumption which they boldly hold, that their souls survive. As for our bodies, however, it is plain that they perish either at once by fire or wild beasts, or even, when most carefully kept, by length of time. When, therefore, the apostle refutes those who deny the resurrection of the flesh, he does indeed defend, against them, the very thing they deny, that is, the resurrection of the body. You have the whole answer wrapped up in this. All the rest is superfluous. Now in this very point, which is called the resurrection of the dead, it is necessary that the proper force of the words should be kept accurately. The word dead simply means what has lost the vital principle by which it used to live. Now the body is

Methodius, From the Discourse on the Resurrection Supporting witness

...he soul has fallen and sunk down into the dust of the earth, Daniel 12:2. For it is not what is not dead, but what is dead, that is laid down. But it is the flesh that dies; the soul is immortal. So then, if the soul is immortal, and the body is the corpse, those who say that there is a resurrection, but not of the flesh, deny any resurrection at all. For it is not what remains standing, but what has fallen and been laid down, that is raised up, according to what is written, "Does not he who falls rise again, and he who turns aside return?" Jeremiah 8:4

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ey were faithful in Christ. For "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." And again, "O my soul, return to your rest, for the Lord has done you good." And elsewhere, "The memory of the just is with praises." Proverbs 10:7 And, "The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God." Wisdom 3:1 For those who have believed in God, although they are asleep, are not dead. For our Savior says to the Sadducees, "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what is written, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God, therefore, is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him." Exodus 3:6; Luke 20:38 Therefore, among those who live with God, even their very relics are not without honor. For even Elisha the prophet, after he had fallen asleep, raised a dead man who had been killed by the Syrian raiders. For his body touched the bones of Elisha, and he rose and came back to life. Now this would not have happened unless the body of Elisha had been holy. And chaste Joseph embraced Jacob after he was dead on his bed. Moses and Joshua the son of Nun carried away the relics of Joseph, and did not consider i

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

... raise us up through our Lord Jesus Christ, according to His infallible promise. He will grant us a resurrection with all those who have slept from the beginning of the world. Then we shall be such as we now are in our present form, without any defect or corruption. For we shall rise incorruptible. Whether we die at sea, or are scattered on the earth, or are torn to pieces by wild beasts and birds, He will raise us by His own power. For the whole world is held together by the hand of God. Now He says, "A hair of your head shall not perish." Luke 21:18 Therefore He exhorts us, saying, "In your patience you possess your souls." Luke 21:19 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the recompense of reward for the martyrs, Gabriel speaks to Daniel: "And many of them that sleep shall arise out of the dust of the earth, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that understand shall shine as the sun, and as the firmament, and as the stars." Daniel 12:2-3 Therefore the most holy Gabriel foretold that the saints should shine like the stars. For His sacred name did witness to them, that they might understand the truth. Nor is a resurrection dec

Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh Supporting witness

The resurrection of the dead is the Christian's trust.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

After these things the lower regions shall be opened, and the dead shall rise again, on whom the same King and God shall pass judgment, to whom the supreme Father shall give the great power both of judging and of reigning.

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Supporting witness

and the third, the resurrection of the dead;

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

In the same way, then, you are now incredulous because you have never seen a dead man rise again.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

and being ungodly themselves, they are not willing to rise again from the dead on account of their wickedness.

Polycarp, Connection to Romans 8:11 Supporting witness

He who raised Him up from the dead will raise us up also, if we do His will.

Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh Direct teaching

... the details of their church discipline, had summed up the substance of his own gospel and of their belief in an explanation of the Lord's death and resurrection. He did this in order to draw from it the rule of our hope and its foundation. So he adds this statement: "Now if Christ is preached that He rose from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up, if it is true that the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not raised. And if Christ is not raised, your faith is vain, because you are still in your sins, and those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished." 1 Corinthians 15:12-18 Now what is the point that he is plainly working hard to make us believe throughout this passage? The resurrection of the dead, you say, which was denied. He certainly wanted it to be believed on the strength of the example he brought forward, the Lord's res

Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh Direct teaching

Now, just as the term resurrection is predicated of that which falls — that is, the flesh — so will there be the same application of the word dead, because what is called the resurrection of the dead indicates the rising up again of that which is fallen down.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

Moreover, as resurrection accrues to what is dead, and dead is a term applicable only to a body, therefore the body alone has a resurrection incidental to it.

Athenagoras, Connection to 1 Corinthians 15:42 Supporting witness

the resurrection of the flesh must be believed, since the same body which is dissolved will be raised... not another body, but the same one.

Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection, Fragments Supporting witness

The resurrection is a resurrection of the flesh which died.

Peter of Alexandria, The Genuine Acts of Peter Supporting witness

... resurrection appear as angels, therefore their bodies do not rise," although the very words used clearly prove what the real case is. For the term resurrection is not used of what has not fallen, but of what has fallen and rises again, as when the prophet says, "I will also raise up again the tabernacle of David which has fallen down," Amos 9:11. Now the much-desired tabernacle of the soul has fallen and sunk down into the dust of the earth, Daniel 12:2. For it is not what is not dead, but what is dead, that is laid down. But it is the flesh that dies; the soul is immortal. So then, if the soul is immortal, and the body is the corpse, those who say that there is a resurrection, but not of the flesh, deny any resurrection. Because it is not what remains standing, but what has fallen and been laid down, that is raised up, according to what is written, "Does not he who falls rise again, and he who turns aside return?" Jeremiah 8:4.

Peter of Alexandria, The Genuine Acts of Peter Supporting witness

So, then, if the soul be immortal, and the body be the corpse, those who say that there is a resurrection, but not of the flesh, deny any resurrection;

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness

And again he exclaims, The dead shall start forth from the graves, Matthew 27:52-53 that is, from the earthly bodies, being born again spiritual, not carnal.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness

... partake of the Spirit now, it is not surprising that they will receive life from the Spirit in the resurrection. The apostle talks about this resurrection in the Epistle to the Philippians: "Being conformed to His death, if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." In what other mortal flesh can life be shown if not in the same flesh that is put to death because of the confession of God? As he himself says, "If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human reasons, what benefit is it to me if the dead are not raised? If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. We are also false witnesses about God, because we've testified that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise if the dead are not raised. If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. But if Christ has not been raised, your faith is in vain, and you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are to be pitied more than all people. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fal

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness

... that He alone can extend both healing and life to His creation, so that His words about its future resurrection may also be believed—so at the end, when the Lord speaks with “the last trumpet,” the dead shall be raised, as He declares: “The hour will come in which all the dead in the tombs will hear the voice of the Son of man, and will come forth; those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

...ather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God." And again, "Knowing that Christ, rising from the dead, dies no more," for, as he himself foresees, through the Spirit, the divisions of false teachers regarding the Lord's person, and desires to remove from them any opportunity for argument, he says what has already been stated, and also declares: "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies." He does not say this only to those who wish to hear: Do not be mistaken, he says to all: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is one and the same, who by suffering reconciled us to God and rose from the dead; who is at the right hand of the Father and perfect in all things; "who, when He was struck, did not retaliate; who, when He suffered, did not threaten;" and when He underwent tyranny, He prayed to His Father that He would forgive those who had crucified Him. For He did indeed bring salvation, as He is Himself the Word of God, Himself the Only-begotten of the Father, Christ Jesus our Lord.

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness

John 16:33 After this we know of the resurrection of the dead, the first-fruits of which was our Lord Jesus Christ, who in very deed, and not in appearance merely, carried a body, of Mary Mother of God, who in the end of the world came to the human race to put away sin, was crucified and died, and yet did He not thus perceive any detriment to His divinity, being raised from the dead, taken up into heaven, seated at the right hand of majesty.

Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus Supporting witness

And as He died, so is He also the Resurrection of the dead.

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

For a law of resurrection is established, in that Christ is raised up in the substance of the body as an example for the rest;

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

For a law of resurrection is established, in that Christ is raised up in the substance of the body as an example for the rest;

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness

If, then, the Lord followed the law of the dead to become the firstborn from the dead, and remained until the third day "in the lower parts of the earth;" then afterward rose in the flesh, even showing the marks of the nails to His disciples, and then ascended to the Father;—[if all these things happened, I say], how must these people not be confused, who claim that "the lower parts" refer to this world of ours, but that their inner self, leaving the body here, ascends into the super-celestial place? For as the Lord "went away in the midst of the shadow of death," where the souls of the dead were, yet afterward rose in the body, and after the resurrection was taken up [into heaven], it is clear that the souls of His disciples also, for whom the Lord underwent these things, shall go away into the invisible place assigned to them by God, and remain there until the resurrection, awaiting that event; then receiving their bodies, and rising wholly, that is bodily, just as the Lord rose, they shall come into the presence of God. "For no disciple is above the Master, but every one that is perfect shall be as his Master." Just as our Master did not immediately depart, ascending [to heaven]

Clement of Rome, Connection to 1 Corinthians 15:20 Supporting witness

how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

And if Jesus rose not from the dead, then no other person will rise again.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ risen: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain;

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

And if the cross was not endured, then Jesus did not rise from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:42 Direct teaching

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.

1 Corinthians 15:21 Direct teaching

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:12 Direct teaching

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

Philippians 3:11 Direct teaching

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 Direct teaching

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Romans 8:11 Direct teaching

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Acts 26:19 Supporting witness

The dead shall rise, and they that are in the tombs shall be raised, and they that are in the earth shall rejoice: for the dew from thee is healing to them: but the land of the ungodly shall perish.

1 Corinthians 15:35 Supporting witness

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

John 5:25 Supporting witness

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

John 5:29 Supporting witness

And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

1 Corinthians 15:20 Supporting witness

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Romans 14:9 Supporting witness

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead Supporting witness

...on. But the error in this is shown very clearly by the fact that, although all human beings who die rise again, not all who rise again are to be judged. For if just judgment alone were the cause of the resurrection, then it would naturally follow that those who had done neither evil nor good — namely, very young children — would not rise again. But since all are to rise again, those who have died in infancy as well as others, they too support our conclusion that the resurrection takes place not primarily for the sake of judgment, but because of God's purpose in forming human beings, and because of the nature of the beings so formed.

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead Supporting witness

and, being again united with one another, they occupy the same place for the exact construction and formation of the same body, and for the resurrection and life of that which was dead, or even entirely dissolved.

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead Supporting witness

For the resurrection is a species of change, and the last of all, and a change for the better of what still remains in existence at that time.

Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection, Fragments Supporting witness

Well, they say if the flesh rises, it must rise the same as it falls; so if it dies with one eye, it must rise one-eyed; if lame, lame; if missing any part of the body, that part will still be missing when the person rises. How truly blinded are they in the eyes of their hearts! For they have not seen blind people on earth seeing again, and the lame walking by His word. All the things the Saviour did, He did firstly to fulfill what was spoken about Him in the prophets, “that the blind should receive sight, and the deaf hear,” and so on; but also to encourage the belief that in the resurrection, the flesh will rise whole. For if on earth He healed the sicknesses of the flesh and made the body whole, He will certainly do this even more in the resurrection, so the flesh will rise perfect and whole. In this way, their dreaded difficulties will be resolved.

Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection, Fragments Supporting witness

but also to induce the belief that in the resurrection the flesh shall rise entire.

Athenagoras, Connection to 1 Corinthians 15:53 Supporting witness

It was not for the sake of the soul alone that the resurrection has been promised... the resurrection involves the whole man — soul and body.

Hippolytus, Against Plato Supporting witness

Moreover, if it is dissolved in its season on account of the primeval transgression, and is committed to the earth as to a furnace, to be moulded again anew, it is not raised the same thing as it is now, but pure and no longer corruptible.

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead Supporting witness

...lthough the reason we can see in the creation of human beings is by itself enough to prove that the resurrection naturally follows the dissolution of bodies, it is perhaps right not to avoid bringing forward both of the proposed arguments. As has been said, we should point out to those who are not able to see them for themselves the arguments that come from each of the truths drawn from the first truth. And first of all, the nature of the human beings who were created leads us to the same conclusion and has the same force as proof of the resurrection. For if the whole nature of human beings in general is made up of an immortal soul and a body fitted to it at creation, and if God assigned such a creation, such a life, and such a complete course of existence not to the nature of the soul by itself, nor to the nature of the body by itself, but to human beings made from both, then this was so that, after passing through their present life, they might arrive at one common end with the same elements of which they are made at birth and during life. It unavoidably follows that, since one living being is formed from these two parts, and this one living being experiences whatever the soul

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead Supporting witness

No; nor can any one say that it is a work unworthy of God to raise up and bring together again a body which has been dissolved: for if the worse was not unworthy of Him, namely, to make the body which is subject to corruption and suffering, much more is the better not unworthy, to make one not liable to corruption or suffering.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

...e in which He died is proved by the wounds of that very body. In this way He showed the laws of our resurrection in His flesh, because in His resurrection He restored the same body that He had from us. For a law of resurrection is established in this: Christ is raised in the substance of the body as an example for the rest. Because when it is written that flesh and blood do not inherit the kingdom of God, it is not the substance of the flesh that is condemned. That flesh was formed by the divine hands so that it should not perish. Rather, only the guilt of the flesh is rightly rebuked, because by man's voluntary boldness it rebelled against the claims of divine law. Because in baptism and in the dissolution of death, the flesh is raised up and returns to salvation, being called back to the condition of innocence when the mortality of guilt is taken away.

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

...ied is proved by the wounds of that very body. In this way He showed, in His flesh, the laws of our resurrection, because in His resurrection He restored the same body that He had from us. For a law of resurrection is established in this: Christ is raised in the substance of the body as an example for the rest. Because when it is written that flesh and blood do not inherit the kingdom of God, it is not the substance of the flesh that is condemned. That substance was formed by the divine hands so that it should not perish. Rather, only the guilt of the flesh is rightly rebuked, because by man's voluntary boldness it rebelled against the claims of divine law. For in baptism and in the dissolution of death, the flesh is raised up and returns to salvation, being called back to the condition of innocence when the mortality of guilt is taken away.

1 Corinthians 15:44 Supporting witness

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.