Tractates on the Gospel of John

¹² Now, therefore, as to a resurrection, perhaps some one of us was saying: Behold, we have risen; he who hears Christ, and believes, and is passed from death to life, also will not come into judgment. The hour comes, and now is, that whoso hears the voice of the Son of God shall live: he was dead, he has heard; behold, he does rise. What is this that is said, that there is to be a resurrection afterwards? Spare yourself, do not hasten the sentence, lest you hurry after it.

There is, indeed, this resurrection which comes to pass now; unbelievers were dead, the unrighteous were dead; the righteous live, they pass from the death of unbelief to the life of faith. But do not thence believe that there will not be a resurrection afterwards of the body; believe that there will be a resurrection of the body also. For hear what follows after the declaration of this resurrection which is by faith, lest any should think this to be the only resurrection, or fall into that desperation and error of men who perverted the thoughts of others, “saying that the resurrection is past already,” of whom the apostle says, “and they overthrow the faith of some.” For I believe that they were saying to them such words as these: “Behold, when the Lord says, And he that believes in me is passed from death unto life;” the resurrection has already taken place in believing men, who were before unbelievers: how can a second resurrection be meant?

Thanks to our Lord God, He supports the wavering, directs the perplexed, confirms the doubting. Hear what follows, now that you have not whereof to make to yourself the darkness of death. If you have believed, believe the whole. What whole, do you say, am I to believe? Hear what He says: “Marvel not at this,” namely, that He gave to the Son authority of making judgment. I say, in the end of the world, says He. How in the end? “Do not marvel at this; for the hour comes.” Here He has not said, “and now is.” In reference to that resurrection of faith, what did He say? “The hour comes, and now is.” In reference to that resurrection which He intimates there will be of dead bodies, He said, “The hour comes;” He has not said, “and now is.” because it is to come in the end of the world.