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The Resurrection of the Dead

Athenagoras of Athens

Chapter 11

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 XI.—Recapitulation.

If, then, by means of that

‹ Chapter 10 Chapter 12 ›

which

is

by

nature

first

and

that

which

follows

from

it

,

each

of

the

points

investigated

has

been

proved

,

it

is

very

evident

that

the

resurrection

of

dissolved

bodies

is

a

work

which

the

Creator

can

perform

,

and

can

will

,

and

such

as

is

worthy

of

Him

:

for

by

these

considerations

the

falsehood

of

the

contrary

opinion

has

been

shown

,

and

the

absurdity

of

the

position

taken

by

disbelievers

.

For

why

should

I

speak

of

their

correspondence

each

with

each

,

and

of

their

connection

with

one

another

?

If

indeed

we

ought

to

use

the

word

connection

,

as

though

they

were

separated

by

some

difference

of

nature

;

and

not

rather

say

,

that

what

God

can

do

He

can

also

will

,

and

that

what

God

can

will

it

is

perfectly

possible

for

Him

to

do

,

and

that

it

is

accordant

with

the

dignity

of

Him

who

wills

it

.

That

to

discourse

concerning

the

truth

is

one

thing

,

and

to

discourse

in

defence

of

it

is

another

,

has

been

sufficiently

explained

in

the

remarks

already

made

,

as

also

in

what

respects

they

differ

from

each

other

,

and

when

and

in

dealing

with

whom

they

are

severally

useful

;

but

perhaps

there

is

no

reason

why

,

with

a

view

to

the

general

certainty

,

and

because

of

the

connection

of

what

has

been

said

with

what

remains

,

we

should

not

make

a

fresh

beginning

from

these

same

points

and

those

which

are

allied

to

them

.

To

the

one

kind

of

argument

it

naturally

pertains

to

hold

the

foremost

place

,

to

the

other

to

attend

upon

the

first

,

and

clear

the

way

,

and

to

remove

whatever

is

obstructive

or

hostile

.

The

discourse

concerning

the

truth

,

as

being

necessary

to

all

men

for

certainty

and

safety

,

holds

the

first

place

,

whether

in

nature

,

or

order

,

or

usefulness

:

in

nature

,

as

furnishing

the

knowledge

of

the

subject

;

in

order

,

as

being

in

those

things

and

along

with

those

things

which

it

informs

us

of

;

in

usefulness

,

as

being

a

guarantee

of

certainty

and

safety

to

those

who

become

acquainted

with

it

.

The

discourse

in

defence

of

the

truth

is

inferior

in

nature

and

force

,

for

the

refutation

of

falsehood

is

less

important

than

the

establishment

of

truth

;

and

second

in

order

,

for

it

employs

its

strength

against

those

who

hold

false

opinions

,

and

false

opinions

are

an

aftergrowth

from

another

sowing

and

from

degeneration

.

But

,

notwithstanding

all

this

,

it

is

often

placed

first

,

and

sometimes

is

found

more

useful

,

because

it

removes

and

clears

away

beforehand

the

disbelief

which

disquiets

some

minds

,

and

the

doubt

or

false

opinion

of

such

as

have

but

recently

come

over

.

And

yet

each

of

them

is

referrible

to

the

same

end

,

for

the

refutation

of

falsehood

and

the

establishment

of

truth

both

have

piety

for

their

object

:

not

,

indeed

,

that

they

are

absolutely

one

and

the

same

,

but

the

one

is

necessary

,

as

I

have

said

,

to

all

who

believe

,

and

to

those

who

are

concerned

about

the

truth

and

their

own

salvation

;

but

the

other

proves

to

be

more

useful

on

some

occasions

,

and

to

some

persons

,

and

in

dealing

with

some

.

Thus

much

by

way

of

recapitulation

,

to

recall

what

has

been

already

said

.

We

must

now

pass

on

to

what

we

proposed

,

and

show

the

truth

of

the

doctrine

concerning

the

resurrection

,

both

from

the

cause

itself

,

according

to

which

,

and

on

account

of

which

,

the

first

man

and

his

posterity

were

created

,

although

they

were

not

brought

into

existence

in

the

same

manner

,

and

from

the

common

nature

of

all

men

as

men

;

and

further

,

from

the

judgment

of

their

Maker

upon

them

according

to

the

time

each

has

lived

,

and

according

to

the

rules

by

which

each

has

regulated

his

behaviour

,

—

a

judgment

which

no

one

can

doubt

will

be

just

.