'This flesh will rise again'': Retrieving early Christian faith in bodily resurrection

227 Pages·1994·0.82 MB·English

by  Douglass

“THIS FLESH WILL RISE AGAIN”:
RETRIEVING EARLY CHRISTIAN FAITH
IN BODILY RESURRECTION
A Dissertation
Submitted to the McAnulty Graduate School
of Liberal Arts
Duquesne University
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
By
J. Robert Douglass
December 2007
UMI Number: 3292233
Copyright 2007 by
Douglass, J. Robert
All rights reserved.
UMI Microform3292233
Copyright2008 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company.
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Copyright by
J. Robert Douglass
2007
“THIS FLESH WILL RISE AGAIN”: RETRIEVING EARLY
CHRISTIAN FAITH IN BODILY RESURRECTION
By
J. Robert Douglass
Approved: November 14, 2007
Approved by: ______________________________________________________________
Fr. Michael Slusser, D. Phil., Dissertation Director
Approved by: ______________________________________________________________
Fr. Radu Bordeianu, Ph.D.
Approved by: ______________________________________________________________
Bogdan Bucur, Ph.D.
Approved by: ______________________________________________________________
George S. Worgul, Jr., Ph.D., S.T.D., Chair, Department of Theology
Approved by: ______________________________________________________________
Albert C. Labriola, Ph.D., Acting Dean, McAnulty Graduate School of Liberal Arts
iii
ABSTRACT
“THIS FLESH WILL RISE AGAIN”: RETRIEVING EARLY
CHRISTIAN FAITH IN BODILY RESURRECTION
By
J. Robert Douglass
December 2007
Dissertation Supervised by Professor Michael Slusser
The doctrine of bodily resurrection is fundamental to the Christian faith. Its
significance is grounded in the fact that the Christian faith arises from and is dependent
upon the belief that Jesus returned to life after having been dead and buried. As a result
of this belief and the teaching of Christ’s first followers, the early Church articulated a
hope for a similar resurrection. In spite of the centrality of the doctrine of bodily
resurrection for the early Church, the doctrine’s present relevance is questionable. This
dissertation provides an answer to the question, What does it mean to affirm faith in
bodily resurrection? Through its response, this study also demonstrates that the doctrine
of bodily resurrection can be articulated in a way that is meaningful to contemporary
Christian faith.
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This study explores the various expressions of faith in resurrection from Ante-
Nicene Alexandria. After the examination of these ancient testimonies, three more recent
interpretations of the doctrine are considered. They are found in the explanations of the
Apostles’ Creed provided by Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), Wolfhart
Pannenberg, and Hans Urs von Balthasar. The dissertation concludes with an articulation
of the doctrine of bodily resurrection intended for an audience who does not view the
epistemological foundations of previous generations as valid.
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Therefore we are not discouraged; rather,
although our outer self is wasting away,
our inner self is being renewed day by day.
For this momentary light affliction is producing for us
an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen;
for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.
For we know that if our earthly dwelling,
a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God,
a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4.16 - 5.1, NAB
vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
There are several people to whom I owe much gratitude. First, I need to thank my
wife, Chris, and children, Rebekah, Andrew, and Julianne, for the inspiration and time to
complete this work. I could not have completed this without them, their endurance, and
their support. I also want to thank my mother, Cheryl Douglass for the ways in which
she is faithfully awaiting the resurrection, and my father in-law and mother in-law, Rev.
Don and Doris Gaff, who have always encouraged and supported me in all of my pursuits.
I am also indebted to Dr. Michael Slusser, my Doktorvater, whose patience and guidance
throughout this process has been invaluable. He has been a mentor and has tried to
ensure that this document is some of my best work.
I would also like to note my sincere appreciation to Ashland Theological
Seminary for the opportunity to join them in theological education. To my colleagues
there, it is a privilege to be in ministry with you. In particular, I am indebted to the library
staff at Ashland, especially Sylvia Locher and Sarah Thomas for their gracious assistance.
Also, I wish to thank the Theology Department of Duquesne University for giving me my
first teaching experience by granting me a graduate teaching assistantship. Lastly, I wish
to thank the Whitaker United Methodist Church and the Ashland Brethren in Christ
Church, which are the congregations where I served as pastor while pursuing my
doctorate.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . x
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
CHAPTER
1. THE CONTEXT OF ALEXANDRIAN FAITH IN BODILY
RESURRECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
A. The Context of the Church in Alexandria
1. Geopolitical Elements
2. Religious and Philosophical Elements
B. Views of the Afterlife in Pre-Christian Alexandria
C. Resurrection in the New Testament
D. The Origins of Alexandrian Christianity
2. RESURRECTION FAITH IN ANONYMOUS ALEXANDRIAN TEXTS. . 82
1. Epistle of Barnabas
2. Apocalypse of Peter
3. Gospel of Thomas
4. Epistle to Rheginos
5. Gospel of Philip
3. RESURRECTION FAITH OF BISHOPS AND TEACHERS . . . . . . . . . . .117
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A. Irenaeus
B. Clement of Alexandria
C. Origen
D. Dionysius of Alexandria
E. Phileas of Thmuis
F. Peter of Alexandria
G. Alexander of Alexandria
4. CONTEMPORARY AFFIRMATIONS OF RESURRECTION FAITH . . 169
A. Contemporary Affirmations
1. Joseph Ratzinger’s Introduction to Christianity
2. Wolfhart Pannenberg’s The Apostles’ Creed
3. Hans Urs Von Balthasar’s Credo
B. A New Proposal
C. Conclusion
BIBLIOGRAPHY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
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