For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Read Chapter 15
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
The blossom of the resurrection is immortality and incorruption. What is richer than everlasting rest? What is a source of greater gain and satisfaction than perpetual security? Here is the manifold fruit, the harvest, whereby man’s nature grows more vigorous and productive after death.
People are amazed that God, who made all things from nothing, makes a heavenly body from human flesh. When he was in the flesh, did not the Lord make wine from water? Is it anything so much more wonderful if he makes a heavenly body from human flesh? … Is he who was able to make you when you did not exist not able to make over what you once were? Sermons for the Feast of Ascension
This nature will put on immortality when the intensity of desire that degenerates into sensuality is educated to selfcontrol and, losing its love for corruption, allows us to practice constant chastity.
But when this corruptible shall have put on in corruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the word that is written, Death is absorbed Into striving. Where, O death, is thy sting? Where, O death, is thy striving? "
While the identical body is raised up, it will be transformed by the putting on of incorruption, as iron exposed to fire is made incandescent. This occurs in a manner known only to the Lord who raises the dead.
The masculine and feminine sexes will remain just as their bodies were created. Their glory will vary according to the diversity of their good works. For all the bodies of both men and women, all that will exist in that kingdom will be glorious.
Contains all things, and then, through the wisdom of God, serves for the use of men, and having received the Word of God, becomes the Eucharist, which is the body and blood of Christ; so also our bodies, being nourished by it, and deposited in the earth, and suffering decomposition there, shall rise at their appointed time, the Word of God granting them resurrection to the glory of God, even the Father, who freely gives to this mortal immortality, and to this corruptible in corruption.
And for this reason, he says, "This mortal must put on immortality, and this corruptible must put on in corruption.".
So, when this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying which is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O death, where is thy victory? ".
For what sensible thing can they say, if they endeavour to interpret otherwise this which he writes: "For this corruptible must put on in corruption, and this mortal put on immortalit...
Just as before the Lord suffered his passion, when he was transformed and glorified on the mountain, he certainly had the same body that he had had down below, although of a different glory, so also after the resurrection, his body was of the same nature as it had been before the passion but of a higher state of glory and in more majestic appearance.
What has been mortal will be clad in immortality. After the resurrection of our bodies he promised to grant us enjoyment of the kingdom, life with the saints, enjoyment for all eternity, and those ineffable good things “which eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have they been imagined by the human heart.”
Thus lest any, hearing that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, should suppose that our bodies do not rise again; he adds, this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Now the body is corruptible, the body is mortal: so that the body indeed remains, for it is the body which is put on; but its mortality and corruption vanish away, when immortality and incorruption come upon it. Do not thou therefore question hereafter how it shall live an endless life, now that you have heard of its becoming incorruptible.
Therefore the apostle answers thus, "For this corruptible must put on in corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.".
And therefore the apostle answers, "This corruptible must put on in corruption, and this mortal immortality."
For this corruptible"-and as he spake, the apostle seemingly pointed to his own flesh-"must put on in corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.".
because of these it was that he said: "This corruptible must put on in corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.".
But inasmuch as "this corruptible (that is, the flesh) must put on in corruption, and this mortal (that is, the blood) must put on immortality".
into the sense of the actual destruction of the flesh; as if we might not speak of ourselves as swallowing bile, or swallowing grief, meaning that we conceal and hide it, and keep it within ourselves. The truth is, when it is written, "This mortal must put on immortality".
Death is incapable of immortality, but not so mortality. Besides, as it is written that "this mortal must put on immortality".
But how so, unless they become entire, who have wasted away either in the loss of their health, or in the long decrepitude of the grave? For when he propounds the two clau...
And His garments wherewith they desire to be clothed are the glory of immortality, of which Paul the apostle says: "For this corruptible must put on in corruption, and this mortal must put on mortality."
