The Resurrection of the Flesh: the ‘Peculiar Treasure’ of the Church

Abstract

This paper presents an argument for the recovery of the doctrine of the resurrection of the flesh. I argue that the doctrine accords with creedal and doctrinal tradition (§2), as well as the scriptural witness about the goodness and destiny of human flesh (§3). I then outline what it means to say – minimally – that the flesh (or ‘numerically the same body’) will be raised (§4). In §5, I argue that the doctrine speaks to the unique predicament of human beings, namely, that our very being (our flesh) is the site and source of our greatest fear – the fear of death. By focusing its proffered hopes on the same flesh in which our deepest fears are located, the promise of resurrection is shown to be a ‘peculiar treasure’. Finally, I suggest in §5a-5c three practices by which the church can inculcate this hope in the face of death.