On the Resurrection by Saint Athenagoras

Athenagoras of Athens, an early Christian apologist of the 2nd century, authored On the Resurrection of the Dead around 177 AD to address both pagan skepticism and philosophical misunderstandings surrounding the bodily resurrection. In a Greco-Roman world where Platonic and Stoic thought dominated the masses, many viewed the resurrection of the body as either impossible or undesirable. Athenagoras counters this by demonstrating that the resurrection aligns with the rational order of creation and God’s justice.

Athenagoras insists that the resurrection reveals the integrity of human nature, created in the image of God, destined for eternal life. His arguments prefigure later patristic reflections on theosis, the transfiguration of the body and soul in Christ. Thus, On the Resurrection of the Dead holds an enduring place in Orthodox theology, providing a foundation for our understanding of eschatology and the ultimate restoration of all things in Christ.