Index [<< | >>]
Third Part [<< | >>]
Question: 56 [<< | >>]
We have now to consider the causality of Christ's Resurrection,
concerning which there are two points of inquiry:
(1) Whether Christ's Resurrection is the cause of our resurrection?
(2) Whether it is the cause of our justification?
Index [<< | >>]
Third Part [<< | >>]
Question: 56 [<< | >>]
Article: 1 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ's Resurrection is not the cause of the
resurrection of our bodies, because, given a sufficient cause, the effect
must follow of necessity. If, then, Christ's Resurrection be the
sufficient cause of the resurrection of our bodies, then all the dead
should have risen again as soon as He rose.
Objection 2: Further, Divine justice is the cause of the resurrection of the
dead, so that the body may be rewarded or punished together with the
soul, since they shared in merit or sin, as Dionysius says (Eccles. Hier. vii) and Damascene (De Fide Orth. iv). But God's justice must necessarily
be accomplished, even if Christ had not risen. Therefore the dead would
rise again even though Christ did not. Consequently Christ's Resurrection
is not the cause of the resurrection of our bodies.
Objection 3: Further, if Christ's Resurrection be the cause of the
resurrection of our bodies, it would be either the exemplar, or the
efficient, or the meritorious cause. Now it is not the exemplar cause;
because it is God who will bring about the resurrection of our bodies,
according to Jn. 5:21: "The Father raiseth up the dead": and God has no
need to look at any exemplar cause outside Himself. In like manner it is
not the efficient cause; because an efficient cause acts only through
contact, whether spiritual or corporeal. Now it is evident that Christ's
Resurrection has no corporeal contact with the dead who shall rise again,
owing to distance of time and place; and similarly it has no spiritual
contact, which is through faith and charity, because even unbelievers and
sinners shall rise again. Nor again is it the meritorious cause, because
when Christ rose He was no longer a wayfarer, and consequently not in a
state of merit. Therefore, Christ's Resurrection does not appear to be in
any way the cause of ours.
Objection 4: Further, since death is the privation of life, then to destroy
death seems to be nothing else than to bring life back again; and this is
resurrection. But "by dying, Christ destroyed our death" [*Preface of
Mass in Paschal Time]. Consequently, Christ's death, not His
Resurrection, is the cause of our resurrection.
On the contrary, on 1 Cor. 15:12: "Now if Christ be preached, that He
rose again from the dead," the gloss says: "Who is the efficient cause of
our resurrection."
I answer that, As stated in 2 Metaphysics, text 4: "Whatever is first in
any order, is the cause of all that come after it." But Christ's
Resurrection was the first in the order of our resurrection, as is
evident from what was said above (Question [53], Article [3]). Hence Christ's
Resurrection must be the cause of ours: and this is what the Apostle says
(1 Cor. 15:20,21): "Christ is risen from the dead, the first-fruits of
them that sleep; for by a man came death, and by a man the resurrection
of the dead."
And this is reasonable. Because the principle of human life-giving is the Word of God, of whom it is said (Ps. 35:10): "With Thee is the fountain of life": hence He Himself says (Jn. 5:21): "As the Father raiseth up the dead, and giveth life; so the Son also giveth life to whom He will." Now the divinely established natural order is that every cause operates first upon what is nearest to it, and through it upon others which are more remote; just as fire first heats the nearest air, and through it it heats bodies that are further off: and God Himself first enlightens those substances which are closer to Him, and through them others that are more remote, as Dionysius says (Coel. Hier. xiii). Consequently, the Word of God first bestows immortal life upon that body which is naturally united with Himself, and through it works the resurrection in all other bodies.
Reply to Objection 1: As was stated above, Christ's Resurrection is the cause of
ours through the power of the united Word, who operates according to His
will. And consequently, it is not necessary for the effect to follow at
once, but according as the Word of God disposes, namely, that first of
all we be conformed to the suffering and dying Christ in this suffering
and mortal life; and afterwards may come to share in the likeness of His
Resurrection.
Reply to Objection 2: God's justice is the first cause of our resurrection,
whereas Christ's Resurrection is the secondary, and as it were the
instrumental cause. But although the power of the principal cause is not
restricted to one instrument determinately, nevertheless since it works
through this instrument, such instrument causes the effect. So, then, the
Divine justice in itself is not tied down to Christ's Resurrection as a
means of bringing about our resurrection: because God could deliver us in
some other way than through Christ's Passion and Resurrection, as already
stated (Question [46], Article [2]). But having once decreed to deliver us in this way,
it is evident that Christ's Resurrection is the cause of ours.
Reply to Objection 3: Properly speaking, Christ's Resurrection is not the
meritorious cause, but the efficient and exemplar cause of our
resurrection. It is the efficient cause, inasmuch as Christ's humanity,
according to which He rose again, is as it were the instrument of His
Godhead, and works by Its power, as stated above (Question [13], Articles [2],3). And
therefore, just as all other things which Christ did and endured in His
humanity are profitable to our salvation through the power of the
Godhead, as already stated (Question [48], Article [6]), so also is Christ's
Resurrection the efficient cause of ours, through the Divine power whose
office it is to quicken the dead; and this power by its presence is in
touch with all places and times; and such virtual contact suffices for
its efficiency. And since, as was stated above (ad 2), the primary cause
of human resurrection is the Divine justice, from which Christ has "the
power of passing judgment, because He is the Son of Man" (Jn. 5:27); the
efficient power of His Resurrection extends to the good and wicked alike,
who are subject to His judgment.
But just as the Resurrection of Christ's body, through its personal union with the Word, is first in point of time, so also is it first in dignity and perfection; as the gloss says on 1 Cor. 15:20,23. But whatever is most perfect is always the exemplar, which the less perfect copies according to its mode; consequently Christ's Resurrection is the exemplar of ours. And this is necessary, not on the part of Him who rose again, who needs no exemplar, but on the part of them who are raised up, who must be likened to that Resurrection, according to Phil. 3:21: "He will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of His glory." Now although the efficiency of Christ's Resurrection extends to the resurrection of the good and wicked alike, still its exemplarity extends properly only to the just, who are made conformable with His Sonship, according to Rm. 8:29.
Reply to Objection 4: Considered on the part of their efficiency, which is
dependent on the Divine power, both Christ's death and His Resurrection
are the cause both of the destruction of death and of the renewal of
life: but considered as exemplar causes, Christ's death---by which He
withdrew from mortal life---is the cause of the destruction of our death;
while His Resurrection, whereby He inaugurated immortal life, is the
cause of the repairing of our life. But Christ's Passion is furthermore a
meritorious cause, as stated above (Question [48], Article [1]).
Index [<< | >>]
Third Part [<< | >>]
Question: 56 [<< | >>]
Article: 2 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ's Resurrection is not the cause of the
resurrection of souls, because Augustine says (Tract. xxiii super Joan.)
that "bodies rise by His human dispensation, but souls rise by the
Substance of God." But Christ's Resurrection does not belong to God's
Substance, but to the dispensation of His humanity. Therefore, although
Christ's Resurrection is the cause of bodies rising, nevertheless it does
not seem to be the cause of the resurrection of souls.
Objection 2: Further, a body does not act upon a spirit. But the Resurrection
belongs to His body, which death laid low. Therefore His Resurrection is
not the cause of the resurrection of souls.
Objection 3: Further, since Christ's Resurrection is the cause why bodies rise
again, the bodies of all men shall rise again, according to 1 Cor. 15:51:
"We shall all indeed rise again." But the souls of all will not rise
again, because according to Mt. 25:46: "some shall go into everlasting
punishment." Therefore Christ's Resurrection is not the cause of the
resurrection of souls.
Objection 4: Further, the resurrection of souls comes of the forgiveness of
sins. But this was effected by Christ's Passion, according to Apoc. 1:5:
"He washed us from our sins in His own blood." Consequently, Christ's
Passion even more than His Resurrection is the cause of the resurrection
of souls.
On the contrary, The Apostle says (Rm. 4:25): "He rose again for our
justification," which is nothing else than the resurrection of souls: and
on Ps. 29:6: "In the evening weeping shall have place," the gloss says,
"Christ's Resurrection is the cause of ours, both of the soul at present,
and of the body in the future."
I answer that, As stated above, Christ's Resurrection works in virtue of
the Godhead; now this virtue extends not only to the resurrection of
bodies, but also to that of souls: for it comes of God that the soul
lives by grace, and that the body lives by the soul. Consequently,
Christ's Resurrection has instrumentally an effective power not only with
regard to the resurrection of bodies, but also with respect to the
resurrection of souls. In like fashion it is an exemplar cause with
regard to the resurrection of souls, because even in our souls we must be
conformed with the rising Christ: as the Apostle says (Rm. 6:4-11)
"Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may
walk in newness of life": and as He, "rising again from the dead, dieth
now no more, so let us reckon that we (Vulg.: 'you')" are dead to sin,
that we may "live together with Him."
Reply to Objection 1: Augustine says that the resurrection of souls is wrought by
God's Substance, as to participation, because souls become good and just
by sharing in the Divine goodness, but not by sharing in anything
created. Accordingly, after saying that souls rise by the Divine
Substance, he adds: the soul is beatified by a participation with God,
and not by a participation with a holy soul. But our bodies are made
glorious by sharing in the glory of Christ's body.
Reply to Objection 2: The efficacy of Christ's Resurrection reaches souls not
from any special virtue of His risen body, but from the virtue of the
Godhead personally united with it.
Reply to Objection 3: The resurrection of souls pertains to merit, which is the
effect of justification; but the resurrection of bodies is ordained for
punishment or reward, which are the effects of Him who judges. Now it
belongs to Christ, not to justify all men, but to judge them: and
therefore He raises up all as to their bodies, but not as to their souls.
Reply to Objection 4: Two things concur in the justification of souls, namely, forgiveness of sin and newness of life through grace. Consequently, as to efficacy, which comes of the Divine power, the Passion as well as the Resurrection of Christ is the cause of justification as to both the above. But as to exemplarity, properly speaking Christ's Passion and death are the cause of the forgiveness of guilt, by which forgiveness we die unto sin: whereas Christ's Resurrection is the cause of newness of life, which comes through grace or justice: consequently, the Apostle says (Rm. 4:25) that "He was delivered up," i.e. to death, "for our sins," i.e. to take them away, "and rose again for our justification." But Christ's Passion was also a meritorious cause, as stated above (Article [1], ad 4; Question [48], Article [1]).