The text on the resurrection of the body and the "sleep of the dead" that
most often vexes souls is 1 Cor 15. Excerpts:
"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among
you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no
resurrection of the dead, then is Christ no risen: And if Christ be not
risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and
we are found false witnesses of God: because we have testified of God that
he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise
not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be
not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also
which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we
hvae hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ
risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For
since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But
every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are
Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shallhave delivered
up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all
rule and all authority and power.
. . . .
Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise
not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"
That last bit is the ground on which Mormons stand in their practice of
baptizing the dead.
For what it's worth . . .
Patrick Nugent
>There's a grimly humorous reference to the belief that the body must be
>intact in John Donne's "Elegy IX. The Autumnal," where he imagines old
>women,
>
> Whose every tooth to a several place is gone,
> To vex their souls at Resurrection.
>
>Regards,
>Jim Kerbaugh
>
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Patrick J. Nugent
Earlham College
Richmond, Indiana 47374 USA
(765) 983-1413
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