In this week's episode of "Life, Love, & Light," we examine the teachings of St. Paul on the resurrected body. In his letters to the Corinthians and Galatians, Paul dealt with issues concerning the resurrection that are still being debated today: Was Jesus resurrected bodily? Will our own bodies be resurrected? If so, what kind of body will it be: physical or spiritual? Paul used both vigorous argument and evocative metaphor to make the concept of bodily resurrection abundantly clear for the newly converted Greeks . . . and indeed, for generations to come.
We reflect on Paul's faithful proclamation of the teachings he received from the apostles in his First Letter to the Corinthians. We examine the strong resistance, even rebellion, of the Corinthians to Paul's preaching on the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hear Paul answering the objections of the Corinthians with a stinging deconstruction of their arguments. And we delve into Paul's understanding of Christ's resurrection as the "first fruits" of our own. Finally, we examine Paul's elucidation of the difference between the "natural" body in which we live now and the "spiritual" body we will receive in resurrection.
This series of podcasts is based on themes from my award-winning book, "Living Resurrected Lives: What it Means and Why it Matters," co-authored by my daughter, Eva Natanya, PhD (Cascade Books, 2020). PLEASE SHARE these podcasts on resurrection with those you know who may be seeking a source of renewed hope, encouragement, and confidence that in spite of all the suffering and death we see in the world, no one dies forever. Blessings to all!