47. Nor let this
promise seem to you contrary to the natural structure of the body. For
if we believe, according to what is written, that God took clay of the
earth and made man, and that the origin of our body was this, that, by
the will of God, earth was changed into flesh, why does it seem absurd
to you or contrary to reason if, on the same principles on which earth
is said to be advanced to all animal body, an animal body in turn
should be believed to be advanced to a spiritual body? These things and
many like these you will find in the divine Scriptures concerning the
resurrection of the righteous. There will be given to sinners also, as
we said above, a condition of incorruption and immortality at the
resurrection, that, as God assigns this state to the righteous for
perpetuity of glory, so He may assign the same to sinners for
prolongation of confusion and punishment. For this also the
Prophet’s words, which we referred to above, state clearly:
“Many shall rise from the dust of the earth, some to life
eternal, and others to confusion and eternal shame.”34333433
