The Resurrection and the Body

The discussion of resurrection in early Christianity centers around the distinction between the physical and spiritual body, as articulated by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15. Paul emphasizes that upon resurrection, the body is not replaced, but rather transformed, indicating a continuity between the earthly and resurrected state. This can be likened to the transformation of a tadpole into a frog, highlighting that while there is growth and change, the essence remains the same. The early Christians, in contrast to Gnostic beliefs, upheld that Jesus's resurrected body was a physical body enhanced with spiritual properties.