ABSTRACT
The resurrection of the body was a key tenet of early Christian belief, prefigured by teachings prevalent in some Jewish circles and undergirded by the historical rising of Christ from the tomb. This chapter will review the defences offered for the concept of a general resurrection against both Gnostic and philosophical criticism; it will also discuss the different theories held by Christians regarding the nature of the risen body and its relation to the soul. It will also be shown that the resurrection was important to Christians, not only as a revealed truth in its own right, but as a linchpin of eschatology.
