The Treatises of Cyprian

In Genesis: “Then said the Lord to Adam, Because you have hearkened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of that tree of which alone I commanded you that you should not eat, cursed shall be the ground in all your works; in sadness and groaning shall you eat of it all the days of your life: thorns and thistles shall it cast forth to you; and you shall eat the herb of the field in the sweat of your brow. You shall eat your bread until you return unto the earth from which also you were taken; because earth you are, and to earth you shall go.” Also in the same place: “And Enoch pleased God, and was not found afterwards: because God translated him.” And in Isaiah: “All flesh is grass, and all the glory of it as the flower of grass.

The grass withered, and the flower has fallen away; but the word of the Lord abides for ever.” In Ezekiel: “They say, Our bones have become dry, our hope has perished: we have expired. Therefore prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord, Behold, I open your monuments, and I will bring you forth from your monuments, and I will bring you into the land of Israel; and I will put my Spirit upon you, and you shall live; and I will place you into your land: and you shall know that I the Lord have spoken, and will do it, says the Lord.” Also in the Wisdom of Solomon: “He was taken away, lest wickedness should change his understanding; for his soul was pleasing to God.” Also in the eighty-third Psalm: “How beloved are your dwellings, You Lord of hosts?

My soul desires and hastes to the courts of God.” And in the Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians: “But we would not that you should be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who sleep, that you sorrow not as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also them which have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.” Also in the first Epistle to the Corinthians: “You fool, that which you sow is not quickened except it have first died.” And again: “Star differs from star in glory: so also the resurrection.

The body is sown in corruption, it rises without corruption; it is sown in ignominy, it rises again in glory; it is sown in weakness, it rises again in power; it is sown an animal body, it rises again a spiritual body.” And again: “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, 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 your sting? Where, O death, is your striving?” Also in the Gospel according to John: “Father, I will that those whom You have given me be with me where I shall be, and may see my glory which You have given me before the foundation of the world.” Also according to Luke: “Now let Your servant depart in peace, O Lord, according to the word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation.” Also according to John: “If you loved me, you would rejoice because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.”