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The Resurrection of the Body in Greek Patristic Thought

by Valerie Karras

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . . When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. . . .
So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
—1 Cor. 15:13–44

Valerie Karras

A theologian and retired theology professor who has taught at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Saint Louis University, and Southern Methodist University. She holds a Doctorate of Theology in Patristics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a PhD in Church History from the Catholic University of America.

All articles by this author

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