I found many aspects of this module to be deeply intriguing. The section on Purgatory provided me with a clearer understanding of a concept that is largely unfamiliar in our context, as we do not have widespread exposure to Catholic teachings. It was enriching to see the idea more clearly.
However, what resonated with me most was the doctrine of bodily resurrection — a central hope of our faith. Though not a new concept to me, this teaching stirred my heart afresh, reminding me of the powerful hope we have in the transformation of our physical bodies. I especially appreciated how Dr Bounds and Dr Felker-Jones addressed the reality of a physical resurrection — the resurrection of the body, not merely the soul — and the significance of this reality for our hope.
Felker-Jones helpfully outlines three dimensions of resurrection hope grounded in Jesus’ physical resurrection:
1. Resurrection gives us embodied hope.
Jesus is the same before and after the resurrection. He ate with His disciples, broke bread, offered them fish, and allowed them to touch Him. They could see that He was the very one who was crucified — not a spirit or a ghost, but the physical Jesus raised to life. This assures us that the grave has no lasting hold on our physical bodies. This speaks of the ultimate freedom over sin and death, our physical bodies being raised eternally. And with this, we cry out with Paul:
'“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”' I Corinthians 15:55
2. Resurrection gives us hope for transformation.
Although Jesus was recognisable, He was also transformed. Those who walked with Him did not always know Him until He revealed Himself. His resurrected body operated with a glory and freedom it did not have before — walking through walls and ascending into heaven. This transformation testifies to what is to come for us, too. Again, as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:52:
'in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. '
God desires full redemption — spirit, soul, and body – for mankind. This transformation moves us from the soma psychikon (the soul-governed or ‘selfish’ body) to the soma pneumaticon (the Spirit-governed body), enabling us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
3. Resurrection reveals that human life is made fit to dwell in God's presence.
Jesus’ bodily resurrection points to our own. As He was raised, we will be raised and transformed to such a degree to live in the presence of God. In Dr Bounds’ words, resurrected life is the state in which we give all of ourselves to God, and in turn, He will give all of Himself to us. This is the fullness of what it means to be human in God’s design — embodied, glorified, and living in unbroken communion with Him.
This is a message the early church proclaimed frequently because it filled believers with unshakable hope. It is a message we must recover. Bodily resurrection not only strengthens the believer’s hope but also awakens a sense of urgency for those who reject Christ. Resurrection and final judgment are solemn realities. Hebrews 10:31 (NKJV) warns us, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” The return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment compel us to evangelise with conviction and compassion.
May we hold fast to this hope — rejoicing in the promise of resurrection and bearing the responsibility to proclaim it clearly to the world.