{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050816.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050816.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050816.htm","text":"Chapter 17 [X.]\u2014\u201cThe Law is Spiritual, But I Am Carnal,\u201d To Be Understood of Paul.\nBut it is not so clear how what follows can be understood concerning Paul. \u201cFor we know,\u201d says he, \u201cthat the law is spiritual, but I am carnal.\u201d 2568 He does not say, \u201cI was,\u201d but, \u201cI am.\u201d Was, then, the apostle, when he wrote this, carnal? or does he say this with respect to his body? For he was still in the body of this death, not yet made what he speaks of elsewhere: \u201cIt is sown a natural body, it shall be raised a spiritual body.\u201d 2569 For then, of the whole of himself, that is, of both parts of which he consists, he shall be a spiritual man, when even the body shall be spiritual. For it is not absurd that in that life even the flesh should be spiritual, if in this life in those who still mind earthly things even the spirit itself may be carnal. Thus, then, he said, \u201cBut I am carnal,\u201d because the apostle had not yet a spiritual body, as he might say, \u201cBut I am mortal,\u201d which assuredly he could not be understood to have said except in respect of his body, which had not yet been clothed with immortality. Moreover, in reference to what he added, \u201csold under sin,\u201d 2570 lest any one think that he was not yet redeemed by the blood of Christ, this also may be understood in respect of that which he says: \u201cAnd we ourselves, having the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.\u201d 2571 For if in this respect he says that he was sold under sin, that as yet his body has not been redeemed from corruption; or that he was sold once in the first transgression of the commandment so as to have a corruptible body which drags down the soul; 2572 what hinders the apostle here from being understood to say about himself that which he says in such wise that it may be understood also of himself, even if in his person he wishes not himself alone, but all, to be received who had known themselves as struggling, without consent, in spiritual delight with the affection of the flesh?\n1 Cor. xv. 44. [The Latin word for \u201cnatural\u201d is animale, i.e., \u201canimated,\u201d \u201cliving,\u201d derived from the word anima, \u201csoul,\u201d or \u201canimated and animating principle.\u201d Compare the note on ch. 36 of On the Soul and its Origin, above.\u2014W.]\n383:2570 383:2571 383:2572","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise Agains...","type":"page"}