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Chapter 7: The Body is Valuable in God's Sight.
I HAVE ADEQUATELY SHOWN THE POSSIBILITY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH IN RESPONSE TO WORLDLY PEOPLE: If the resurrection of the flesh is not deemed impossible even by the principles of unbelievers, how much more will it align with the beliefs of the faithful? Now, according to our plan, we should address those who underestimate the flesh, claiming it is unworthy of resurrection or the heavenly realm, because, firstly, it is made of earth; and also because it is filled with wickedness, compelling the soul to sin with it.
These individuals seem unaware of God's entire work, both in the creation and formation of man originally, and the purpose behind the creation of the world. Doesn't the word say, "Let Us make man in our image, after our likeness?" What kind of man? Clearly, it means a physical man, since the word says, "And God took dust of the earth and made man." Thus, it is evident that man, made in the image of God, was of flesh. Is it not, then, unreasonable to say that the flesh, made by God in His own image, is worthless and contemptible? Moreover, that the flesh is valued by God is clear, firstly, from it being formed by Him—assuming that the image is of value to its creator and artist—and also its value can be inferred from the creation of the rest of the world.
For that, for which the rest is made, is the most valuable of all to the maker.