The Traditional Belief in the Resurrection of the Flesh

Abstract

Traditional Christian belief has understood Jesus’ resurrection in a quite straightforward way. As the fourth article of the Church of England puts it: ‘Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things pertaining to the perfection of Man’s nature; wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth.’ The significance of this for us was thought to be equally clear. What happened to Jesus then will happen to us at the end of time. The ‘particles composing each individual’s flesh’ will be collected together,¹ the ‘sea will give up its dead’,² the cannibal will restore the flesh he has borrowed,³ and ‘the identical structure which death had previously destroyed’ will be restored.⁴ This doctrine of the ‘Resurrection of the Flesh’ was incorporated in the Apostles’ Creed; it was declared de fide for the Roman Catholic by the Fourth Lateran Council; it was the traditional teaching of the Church of England as shown by the Book of Homilies and by Hooker; it was taught in Calvin’s Institutes, and in Luther’s small Catechism.⁵ As such it has a good claim to be regarded as part of the basic faith of western Christendom throughout the ages. But is it a credible belief today?