The afterlife as a physical reality

Question 1

Q: What view of the afterlife was most popular throughout Christian history, especially during the medieval period?

Answer 1

A: The view that the afterlife consists of physical places such as Hell, Heaven, and Purgatory.

Question 2

Q: What literary work contributed significantly to popularizing the physical view of the afterlife during the medieval period?

Answer 2

A: Dante’s long poem “The Divine Comedy.”

Question 3

Q: How did the physical view of the afterlife reflect extreme versions of medieval life on earth?

Answer 3

A: It mirrored extremes such as torture in Hell and feasting in Heaven, which were common experiences in medieval society

Question 4

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 4

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Question 5

Q: According to St. Paul, what significance does Jesus’ resurrection hold?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 5

A: St. Paul calls Jesus’ resurrection “the firstfruits,” indicating it was the first resurrection, with others to follow. It also signifies overcoming Adam’s sinful legacy.

Question 6

Q: How does St. Paul describe the difference between the earthly body and the resurrected body?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 6

A: St. Paul contrasts the perishable, dishonored, and weak earthly body with the imperishable, glorious, and powerful resurrected body.

Question 7

Q: What does St. Paul mean by saying “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God”?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 7

A: St. Paul suggests that our transformed bodies in the resurrection will not be mere flesh and blood, but spiritual and immortal, suitable for entering the kingdom of God.

Question 8

Q: How did Jesus’ appearance after his resurrection differ from his earthly life, according to the Gospels?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 8

A: The Gospels indicate that initially, Jesus’ disciples did not recognize him, and he had the ability to appear and disappear.

Question 9

Q: What analogy does St. Paul use to describe the difference between earthly and resurrected bodies?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 9

A: St. Paul compares mortal “natural” bodies to burdensome tents, while the resurrected bodies are like immortal “spiritual” bodies.

Question 10

Q: According to St. Paul, why is immortality associated with the resurrection?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 10

A: Immortality is linked to the resurrection because it implies eternal existence in either heaven or hell.

Question 11

Q: Why did some find it difficult to believe in the resurrection of earthly bodies in a heavenly form?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 11

A: Earthly bodies are often associated with sin and imperfection, making it challenging for some to envision them being transformed into heavenly forms.

Question 12

Q: How does Augustine defend the concept of the resurrection of the flesh?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 12

A: Augustine argues that it is more believable for our earthly bodies to be resurrected in an exalted form than for our spirits to be joined with sinful earthly bodies in the first place.

Question 13

Q: What role did Christ’s physical resurrection play in Augustine’s argument?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 13

A: Augustine pointed to Christ’s physical resurrection as the basis for believing that Christians too will be resurrected physically.

Question 14

Q: What theological significance did Augustine attach to the physical resurrection?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 14

A: Augustine emphasized that the physical resurrection offers hope for eternal life and restoration in God’s kingdom.

Question 15

Q: How did Augustine reconcile the earthly and heavenly aspects of the resurrected body?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 15

A: Augustine argued that the resurrected body would be physical but transformed to be suitable for eternal life, following Christ’s example.

Question 16

Q: What biblical support did Augustine use for the resurrection of the flesh?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 16

A: Augustine drew support from various biblical passages, including those describing Christ’s resurrection appearances and St. Paul’s teachings on the resurrection.

Question 17

Q: How did Augustine’s views on the resurrection influence Christian theology?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 17

A: Augustine’s emphasis on the resurrection of the flesh contributed to the development of Christian doctrines concerning the afterlife and the final judgment.

Question 18

Q: In summary, what is the key theological point about the resurrection of the flesh according to St. Paul and Augustine?

Physical resurrection: St Paul and Augustine on resurrection of the flesh

Answer 18

A: Both St. Paul and Augustine affirm that the resurrection involves physical bodies transformed for eternal life, based on Christ’s resurrection and biblical teachings.

Question 19

St. Paul’s View on Resurrection:

Spiritual resurrection is argued

Answer 19

St. Paul teaches that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the firstfruits, indicating that believers will also be resurrected in a transformed, imperishable body suitable for eternal life.

He contrasts the earthly, perishable body with the heavenly, imperishable body, emphasizing the spiritual transformation of believers at the resurrection.

Question 20

Augustine’s View on Resurrection:

Spiritual resurrection is argued

Answer 20

Augustine argues that the resurrection of the flesh is essential because Christ’s physical resurrection serves as the basis for the hope and belief in the resurrection of believers.

He emphasizes that while earthly bodies are associated with sin and decay, they will be transformed into glorified, spiritual bodies capable of inheriting eternal life in God’s kingdom.

Question 21

But what about the empty tomb?

Answer 21

But what about the empty tomb? Jesus’ physical body had disappeared upon his resurrection, which seems to show that he was raised physically. It suggests it was his physical body that was resurrected in a physical but perfected form.

Question 22

Furthermore, it might seem that Paul’s description of the resurrected body

Answer 22

Furthermore, it might seem that Paul’s description of the resurrected body as “spiritual” and his distinguishing of spiritual from “earthly” suggests that the resurrected body is non-physical.

However, in Paul’s time, the idea of spirit was not necessarily contrasted with physical in the way it is today. In fact a belief in Paul’s time was that ‘spirit’ was a kind of material thing, but a refined and perfected form of matter not subject to decay or death.

Question 23

Question: What is the cannibal problem in relation to physical resurrection?

The cannibal problem for physical resurrection

Answer 23

Answer: The cannibal problem challenges the idea of physical resurrection by raising doubts about how bodies can be resurrected if their elements have been integrated into other bodies through cannibalism or natural processes.

Question 24

Question: How was the cannibal problem debated in the 2nd century?

The cannibal problem for physical resurrection

Answer 24

Answer: Early Christian theologians debated how physical resurrection could reconcile with scenarios where bodies decompose, their elements integrate into other organisms, or are consumed indirectly through natural processes.

Question 25

Question: What does indirect cannibalism refer to in the context of the cannibal problem?

The cannibal problem for physical resurrection

Answer 25

Answer: Indirect cannibalism refers to situations where decomposed bodies contribute to soil nutrients, which then nourish plants consumed by humans or animals, complicating how bodies can be resurrected intact

Question 26

Question: Why does the cannibal problem challenge traditional beliefs about physical resurrection?

The cannibal problem for physical resurrection

Answer 26

Answer: It challenges the traditional belief in physical resurrection because it questions whether a body can truly be resurrected if its physical elements have dispersed or become part of other living organisms over time

Question 27

Question: What theological implications does the cannibal problem raise?

The cannibal problem for physical resurrection

Answer 27

Answer: Theological discussions on physical resurrection are prompted to consider the nature of resurrection itself—whether it involves a literal reassembly of physical elements or a spiritual transformation that transcends material continuity.

Question 28

God’s omnipotence could be argued to solve this

Answer 28

God’s omnipotence could be argued to solve this. “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Question 29

However, it might be logically impossible for God to resurrect two people…

Answer 29

However, it might be logically impossible for God to resurrect two people from the diffused parts of their earthly body if some parts of each of their bodies belong to both of them. It is logically impossible for one part that belonged to two bodies to be used in the resurrection of more than one body.