ACC ~ John 20 v20

A TRUE BODILY RESURRECTION

IRENAEUS: As Christ rose in the substance of flesh and pointed out to his disciples the mark of the nails and the opening in his side (now these are the tokens of that flesh that rose from the dead), so “shall he also,” it is said, “raise us up by his own power.” [1] What, then, are mortal bodies? Can they be souls? Not at all, for souls are incorporeal when compared with mortal bodies. … We must therefore conclude that it is in reference to the flesh that death is mentioned. This [flesh], after the soul’s departure, becomes breathless and inanimate and is decomposed gradually into the earth from which it was taken. This, then, is what is mortal. And it is concerning this that [Paul] says, “He shall also enliven your mortal bodies.” [2] AGAINST HERESIES 5.7.1. [3]

[1] 1 Cor 6:14.

[2] Rom 8:11.

[3] ANF 1:532**.

THE MARKS OF THE NAILS

THEODORET OF CYR: And so the reason why the Lord stood in the midst of the disciples, even though the doors were closed, [1] after the passion but not before it, was that you might know that your body was sown as a physical body but raised as a spiritual body. [2] But in order that you might not think that what rises is something different, when Thomas did not believe in the resurrection, he shows him the marks of the nails. He shows him the scars of the wounds. [3] He who healed everybody even before the resurrection could have healed himself—especially after the resurrection, could he not? Yes, but through the marks of the nails that he shows he teaches that it is this [body], while through the closed doors by which he enters, he reveals that it is not such a [body as it was]. It was this [body], in order that he might fulfill the goal of the divine plan by raising that which had died, but it was such a body [as it was], in order that it might not lapse into corruption again and not be subject to death again. DIALOGUE 2.56. [4]

[1] See Jn 20:19.

[2] See 1 Cor 15:44.

[3] See Jn 20:27.

[4] FC 106:156-57.

A GLIMPSE OF GLORIFIED RESURRECTED BODIES

JEROME: The substance of our resurrection bodies will certainly be the same as now, though of higher glory. For the Savior after his descent into hell had the same body in which he was crucified. He showed the disciples the marks of the nails in his hands and the wound in his side. AGAINST JOVINIANUS 1.36. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 6:374**.

HEALING WOUNDS OF UNBELIEVING HEARTS

LEO THE GREAT: He offers to the doubters’ eyes the marks of the cross that remained in his hands and feet and invites them to handle him with careful scrutiny. He does this because the traces of the nails and spear had been retained to heal the wounds of unbelieving hearts, so that not with wavering faith but with the most certain conviction they might comprehend that the nature that had been lain in the sepulcher was to sit on God the Father’s throne. SERMON 73.3. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 12:187**.

JESUS IS HUMAN AND DIVINE AFTER THE RESURRECTION

LEO THE GREAT: He showed the wound in his side, the marks of the nails and all the signs of his quite recent suffering, saying, “See my hands and feet, that it is I. Handle me and see that a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see me have,” [1] in order that the properties of his divine and human nature might be acknowledged to remain still inseparable. He also did this so that we might know the Word was not different from the flesh so that we can also confess that the one Son of God is both the Word and flesh. LETTER 28.5. [2]

[1] Lk 24:39.

[2] NPNF 2 12:42**.

JESUS’ PROPHECY OF JOY COMES TRUE

CHRYSOSTOM: Do you see the words issuing in deeds? For what he said before the crucifixion, that “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you,” [1] this he now accomplished in deed. But all these things led them to a most exact faith. For since they had an endless war with the Jews, he continually repeated “Peace be to you,” giving them consolation to counterbalance the strife. And so this was the first word that he spoke to them after the resurrection. (Similarly Paul keeps on saying, “Grace be to you and peace.”). To the women, however, he gives good news of joy, because they were in sorrow and had received this as the first curse. Therefore he gives good news to each in their own situation: to the men he gave peace because of their war; to the women he gave joy because of their sorrow. Then having put away all painful things, he tells of the victory of the cross, and this was the “peace.” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 86.2-3. [2]

[1] Jn 16:22.

[2] NPNF 1 14:325**; PG 59:470.