Chapter 156 — That after the resurrection the use of food and generation will cease

When an end is removed, the means leading to that end must also be removed. Therefore, after mortality is done away with in those who have risen, the means serving the condition of mortal life must cease to have any function. Such are food and drink, which are necessary for the sustenance of mortal life, during which what is dissolved by natural heat has to be restored by food. Consequently, there will be no use of food or drink after the resurrection.

Nor will there be any need of clothing. Man needs clothes so that the body does not suffer harm from heat or cold, which beset him from outside. Likewise, exercise of the reproductive functions, which is designed for the generation of animals, must cease. Generation serves the ends of mortal life, so that what cannot be preserved in the individual may be preserved at least in the species. Since the same individual men will continue in eternal existence, generation will have no place among them; nor, consequently, will the exercise of reproductive power.

Again, since semen is the superfluous part of nourishment, cessation of the use of food necessarily entails cessation of the exercise of the reproductive functions.

On the other hand, we cannot fittingly maintain that the use of food, drink, and the reproductive powers will remain solely for the sake of pleasure. Nothing inordinate will occur in that final state, because then all things, each in its own way, will receive their perfect consummation, but inordinance is opposed to perfection. Also, since the restoration of man through resurrection will be effected directly by God, no inordinance will be able to find its way into that state: those that exist have been ordained by God (Rom 13:1). But desire for the use of food and the exercise of the reproductive powers for pleasure alone would be inordinate; indeed, even during our present life people regard such conduct as vicious. Among the risen, consequently, the use of food, drink, and the reproductive functions for mere pleasure can have no place.