Letter 1539

Isidore of PelusiumUnknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: An unnamed person
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore explains that the soul has its own resurrection in this life — the return from sin to righteousness — and that the body's resurrection awaits the next.

The resurrection of the soul deadened by sin happens here, in this life, when it is reformed into life by acts of righteousness. By 'death' of the soul we should understand wickedness — not annihilation. This is why, of the prodigal son, who was still alive in body, it was said: "He was dead and came back to life." And to the one deadened by sin and buried in it, the word came: "Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."

For to the one who has shaken off the death of sin through repentance, the true light will rise. As for the resurrection of the body — that will take place there, equally for all on account of immortality, though not equally in terms of what that immortality looks like. For the one who has lived rightly, immortality will be light and glory; for the one who has not, it will be something quite different.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.