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Male and Female Distinctions in the Resurrection

The New Testament teaches that in the resurrection, traditional male and female distinctions related to marriage will cease. Jesus directly addresses this in Matthew 22:30, stating, "For in the resurrection they neither marie wiues, nor wiues are bestowed in mariage, but are as the Angels of God in heauen" [3]. Mark's Gospel records a similar statement from Jesus, clarifying that in the resurrection, individuals will not be married [1]. This teaching arose in response to a question from the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection and presented a hypothetical scenario involving a woman married to seven brothers in succession [6, 1].

While marriage as an institution will not exist in the resurrected state, the question of whether individuals retain their biological sex has been a point of theological discussion. Augustine of Hippo, in City of God, considers this question, noting that Jesus's response to the Sadducees did not explicitly state that a woman would become a man in the resurrection. Instead, Jesus emphasized that resurrected individuals would be "as the angels of God in heaven," implying equality in immortality and happiness rather than a change in physical form [9]. Augustine suggests that while the purpose of sex for procreation will be obsolete, the female body, being part of human nature, will be resurrected in its integrity [9]. one tradition argues that just as differences in birth do not alter the nature of death, they also do not alter the nature of resurrection [13].

Thomas Aquinas, a prominent scholastic theologian, also addressed the question of sex in the resurrection. In his Summa Theologica, he posits that individuals will rise again with their respective sexes, just as they will rise with various statures [8]. He views the diversity of sex as contributing to the perfection of the human species. Aquinas also references Galatians 3:28, which states, "there is neither male nor female," to illustrate that salvation in Christ transcends such distinctions, applying to all conditions of humanity [10]. However, this passage in Galatians is generally understood to refer to spiritual equality in Christ rather than the obliteration of physical distinctions in the resurrection [7].

The concept of resurrection itself is a foundational doctrine in Christianity, foretold in the Old Testament and central to the gospel message [6, 5]. The resurrection of Christ is considered a cardinal fact, essential for the forgiveness of sins, justification, and the hope of believers [2, 5]. The resurrected body is described as different from the body laid in the grave, being spiritual yet retaining its identity [4].

Rabbinic tradition also engages with the concept of male and female creation, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud. Rabbi Abbahu, for instance, addresses the apparent contradiction between Genesis 5:2, which states "Male and female, He created them," and the idea that man was made in God's image [11, 12, 14]. This highlights an ancient recognition of the distinct yet complementary nature of male and female in creation.

Sources

  1. Mark “In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.” -- Mark 12:23”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Resurrection of Christ — One of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prediction in Ps. 16 (Acts 2:24-28). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly intimates his resurrection (Matt. 20:19; Mark 9:9; 14:28; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-22). The evangelists give circumstantial accounts of the facts connected with that event, and the apostles, ”
  3. Matthew “Matthew 22:30 (Geneva1599) — For in the resurrection they neither marie wiues, nor wiues are bestowed in mariage, but are as the Angels of God in heauen.”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Resurrection of the dead — Will be simultaneous both of the just and the unjust (Dan. 12:2; John 5:28, 29; Rom. 2:6-16; 2 Thess. 1:6-10). The qualities of the resurrection body will be different from those of the body laid in the grave (1 Cor. 15:53, 54; Phil. 3:21); but its identity will nevertheless be preserved. It will still be the same body (1 Cor. 15:42-44) which rises again. As to the nature of the resurrection body, (1) it will be spiritual (1 Cor. 15:44), i.e., a body adapted to the use of the soul in its glorified state, and to all the conditions of the hea”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resurrection of Christ, The — Foretold by the prophets -- Ps 16:10; Ac 13:34,35; Isa 26:19. Foretold by Himself -- Mt 20:19; Mr 9:9; 14:28; Joh 2:19-22. Was necessary to The fulfilment of Scripture. -- Lu 24:45,46. Forgiveness of sins. -- 1Co 15:17. Justification. -- Ro 4:25; 8:34. Hope. -- 1Co 15:19. The efficacy of preaching. -- 1Co 15:14. The efficacy of faith. -- 1Co 15:14,17. A proof of his being the Son of God -- Ps 2:7; Ac 13:33; Ro 1:4. Effected by The power of God. -- Ac 2:24; 3:15; Ro 8:11; Eph 1:20; Col 2:12. His own power. -- Joh 2:19; 10:18. The power of”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resurrection, The — A doctrine of the Old Testament -- Job 19:26; Ps 16:10; 49:15; Isa 26:19; Da 12:2; Ho 13:14. A first principle of the gospel -- 1Co 15:13,14; Heb 6:1,2. Expected by the Jews -- Joh 11:24; Heb 11:35. Denied by the Sadducees -- Mt 22:23; Lu 20:27; Ac 23:8. Explained away by false teachers -- 2Ti 2:18. Called in question by some in the church -- 1Co 15:12. Is not incredible -- Mr 12:24; Ac 26:8. Is not contrary to reason -- Joh 12:24; 1Co 15:35-49. Assumed and proved by our Lord -- Mt 22:29-32; Lu 14:14; Joh 5:28,29. Preached by the Apostles -- Ac 4:”
  7. Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:28: There is in this sonship by faith in Christ, no class privileged above another, as the Jews under the law had been above the Gentiles (Rom 10:12; Co1 12:13; Col 3:11). bond nor free--Christ alike belongs to both by faith; whence he puts "bond" before "free." Compare Note, see on Co1 7:21-22; Eph 6:8. neither male nor female--rather, as Greek, "there is not male and female." There is no distinction into male and female. Difference of sex makes no difference in Christian privileges. But under the law the male sex had great privileges. Males alone ”
  8. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Supplement (Supplementum), Of the Quality of Those Who Rise Again, Art. 3: Article: Whether all will rise again of the male sex? I answer that, Just as, considering the nature of the individual, a different quantity is due to different men, so also, considering the nature of the individual, a different sex is due to different men. Moreover, this same diversity is becoming to the perfection of the species, the different degrees whereof are filled by this very difference of sex and quantity. Wherefore just as men will rise again of various stature, so will they rise ag”
  9. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 17.--WHETHER THE BODIES OF WOMEN SHALL RETAIN THEIR OWN SEX IN THE RESURRECTION. (part 2): enjoined, says, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God."(3) And though it was a fit opportunity for His saying, She about whom you make inquiries shall herself be a man, and not a woman, He said nothing of the kind; but "In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."(4) They shall be equal to the angels in immortality and happiness, not in flesh, nor in resurre”
  10. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Manifestation of the Newly Born Christ, Art. 3: Article: Whether those to whom Christ's birth was made known were suitably chosen? I answer that, Salvation, which was to be accomplished by Christ, concerns all sorts and conditions of men: because, as it is written (Col. 3:11), in Christ "there is neither male nor female, [*These words are in reality from Gal. 3:28] neither Gentile nor Jew . . . bond nor free," and so forth. And in order that this might be foreshadowed in Christ's birth, He was made known to men of all conditions. Beca”
  11. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128b.121:14: Granted, according to the one who said that Eve was a face, that is why it is written: “Male and female, He created them” (Genesis 5:2). However, according to the one who said that Eve was a tail, what is the meaning of the verse: “Male and female, He created them”? The Gemara answers: It can be explained in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Abbahu. As Rabbi Abbahu raised a contradiction between the verses: On the one hand it is written: “Male and female, He created them,” and on the other hand it is written: “For in the image of God He made man” (Ge”
  12. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128a.121:14: Granted, according to the one who said that Eve was a face, that is why it is written: “Male and female, He created them” (Genesis 5:2). However, according to the one who said that Eve was a tail, what is the meaning of the verse: “Male and female, He created them”? The Gemara answers: It can be explained in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Abbahu. As Rabbi Abbahu raised a contradiction between the verses: On the one hand it is written: “Male and female, He created them,” and on the other hand it is written: “For in the image of God He made man” (Ge”
  13. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 1: Augustine — Confessions, Letters — TO DEOGRATIAS, MY BROTHER IN ALL SINCERITY, AND MY FELLOW-PRESBYTER, AUGUSTIN SENDS GREETING IN THE LORD. (part 3): such difference as that his death should be of another kind than ours. As, therefore, difference in the mode of birth does not make any difference in the nature of death, neither does it make any difference in the nature of resurrection. 4. But lest the men who doubt this should, with similar scepticism, refuse to accept as true what is written concerning the first man's creation, let them inquire or observe, if they can at least be”
  14. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 61a.14: Granted, according to the one who said that Eve was a face, that is why it is written: “Male and female, He created them” (Genesis 5:2). However, according to the one who said that Eve was a tail, what is the meaning of the verse: “Male and female, He created them”? The Gemara answers: It can be explained in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Abbahu. As Rabbi Abbahu raised a contradiction between the verses: On the one hand it is written: “Male and female, He created them,” and on the other hand it is written: “For in the image of God He made man” (Genesis”
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