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The Resurrection of the Dead

Athenagoras of Athens

Chapter 8

About this work

A philosophical defense of bodily resurrection arguing from God’s power and purpose, the unity of human body and soul, moral judgment, and the intended end of human creation.

Author: Athenagoras of Athens
Date: Late 2nd century
Origin: Athens (traditional)
Genre: Theological Treatise

Its relationship to Athenagoras and to the Plea is traditional but has received scholarly discussion.

Chapter VIII.—Human Flesh Not the Proper or Natural Food of Men.

But what need is there to speak

‹ Chapter 7 Chapter 9 ›

of

bodies

not

allotted

to

be

the

food

of

any

animal

,

and

destined

only

for

a

burial

in

the

earth

in

honour

of

nature

,

since

the

Maker

of

the

world

has

not

alloted

any

animal

whatsoever

as

food

to

those

of

the

same

kind

,

although

some

others

of

a

different

kind

serve

for

food

according

to

nature

?

If

,

indeed

,

they

are

able

to

show

that

the

flesh

of

men

was

alloted

to

men

for

food

,

there

will

be

nothing

to

hinder

its

being

according

to

nature

that

they

should

eat

one

another

,

just

like

anything

else

that

is

allowed

by

nature

,

and

nothing

to

prohibit

those

who

dare

to

say

such

things

from

regaling

themselves

with

the

bodies

of

their

dearest

friends

as

delicacies

,

as

being

especially

suited

to

them

,

and

to

entertain

their

living

friends

with

the

same

fare

.

But

if

it

be

unlawful

even

to

speak

of

this

,

and

if

for

men

to

partake

of

the

flesh

of

men

is

a

thing

most

hateful

and

abominable

,

and

more

detestable

than

any

other

unlawful

and

unnatural

food

or

act

;

and

if

what

is

against

nature

can

never

pass

into

nourishment

for

the

limbs

and

parts

requiring

it

,

and

what

does

not

pass

into

nourishment

can

never

become

united

with

that

which

it

is

not

adapted

to

nourish

,

—

then

can

the

bodies

of

men

never

combine

with

bodies

like

themselves

,

to

which

this

nourishment

would

be

against

nature

,

even

though

it

were

to

pass

many

times

through

their

stomach

,

owing

to

some

most

bitter

mischance

;

but

,

removed

from

the

influence

of

the

nourishing

power

,

and

scattered

to

those

parts

of

the

universe

again

from

which

they

obtained

their

first

origin

,

they

are

united

with

these

for

as

long

a

period

of

time

as

may

be

the

lot

of

each

;

and

,

separated

thence

again

by

the

skill

and

power

of

Him

who

has

fixed

the

nature

of

every

animal

,

and

furnished

it

with

its

peculiar

powers

,

they

are

united

suitably

,

each

to

each

,

whether

they

have

been

burnt

up

by

fire

,

or

rotted

by

water

,

or

consumed

by

wild

beasts

,

or

by

any

other

animals

,

or

separated

from

the

entire

body

and

dissolved

before

the

other

parts

;

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

.

To

expatiate

further

,

however

,

on

these

topics

,

is

not

suitable

;

for

all

men

are

agreed

in

their

decision

respecting

them

,

—

those

at

least

who

are

not

half

brutes

.