Chapter 5 [V.] —The Words, Mortale (Capable of Dying), Mortuum (Dead), and Moriturus (Destined to Die).

Now previous to the change into the incorruptible state which is promised in the resurrection of the saints, the body could be mortal (capable of dying), although not destined to die (moriturus); just as our body in its present state can, so to speak, be capable of sickness, although not destined to be sick. For whose is the flesh which is incapable of sickness, even if from some accident it die before it ever is sick? In like manner was man’s body then mortal; and this mortality was to have been superseded by an eternal incorruption, if man had persevered in righteousness, that is to say, obedience: but even what was mortal (mortale) was not made dead (mortuum), except on account of sin. For the change which is to come in at the resurrection is, in truth, not only not to have death incidental to it, which has happened through sin, but neither is it to have mortality, [or the very possibility of death,] which the natural body had before it sinned. He does not say: “He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall quicken also your dead bodies” (although he had previously said, “the body is dead”13    Rom. viii. 10.); but his words are: “He shall quicken also your mortal bodies;”14    Rom. viii. 11. so that they are not only no longer dead, but no longer mortal [or capable of dying], since the natural is raised spiritual, and this mortal body shall put on immortality, and mortality shall be swallowed up in life.15    1 Cor. xv. 44, 53, 55.

CAPUT V.

5. Mortale, mortuum ac moriturum. Namque antequam immutaretur in illam incorruptionem, quae in sanctorum resurrectione promittitur, poterat esse mortale, quamvis non moriturum: sicut hoc nostrum potest, ut ita dicam, esse aegrotabile, quamvis non aegrotaturum. Cujus enim caro est, quae non aegrotare possit, etiamsi aliquo casu priusquam aegrotet occumbat? Sic et illud corpus jam erat mortale; quam mortalitatem fuerat absumptura mutatio 0112 in aeternam incorruptionem, si in homine justitia, id est obedientia, permaneret: sed ipsum mortale non est factum mortuum nisi propter peccatum. Quia vero illa in resurrectione futura mutatio, non solum nullam mortem, quae facta est propter peccatum, sed nec mortalitatem habitura est, quam corpus animale habuit ante peccatum, non ait, Qui suscitavit Christum Jesum a mortuis, vivificabit et mortua corpora vestra; cum supra dixisset, corpus mortuum: sed, vivificabit, inquit, et mortalia corpora vestra: ut scilicet jam non solum non sint mortua, sed nec mortalia, cum animale resurget in spirituale, et mortale hoc induet immortalitatem, et absorbebitur mortale a vita (I Cor. XV, 44, 53, 54).