Adam's Body

Quarendum est, si Adam factus, corpus immortale habuit, an mortale? Deus hominem fecit, qui quamdiu non peccaret, immortalitate vigeret, ut ipse sibi auctor esset aut ad vitam aut ad mortem, ut custodians se a peccato labore suo gauderet se immortalem, negligens vero factus ipse sibi imputaret, quod coeperat esse mortalis. Quamdiu enim in creatoris lege durauit, dignus fuit edere de arbore vitae, ut mori non posses. Nec enim corpus tale erat quod dissolui impossibile videretur, sed gustus arboris vitae corruptionem corporis inhibebat. Denique etiam post peccatum potuit indissolubile manere, si modo permissum esset ei edere de arbore vitae. Nam quomodo immortale corpus habebat, quod cibo sustentabatur? Immortalis enim non eget esca neque potu. Cibus enim vires praestabat. Vitae autem arbor medicinae modo corruptionem omnem prohibebat. Sic enim homini erat quasi inexpungnabilis murus Sanctus Augustinus Hipponensi, Quaestiones Veteris Et Novi Testamenti, Cap XIX Source: Migne PL 35.2227-8

It must be asked: was Adam made with a immortal or mortal body? God made man, who while he did not sin, flourished immortally, so that he was his own author of life and death, insofar that guarding himself from sin's fall he rejoiced in immortality, but in neglect he laid charge against himself, by which he became mortal. Since while he perservered in the law of the Creator, he was worthy to eat of the tree of life, that he not die. For it would seem that his was not such a body that it was impossible to destroy, but it was the eating of the tree of life which warded off the corruption of the body. Then even after sin he would have remained in an indissoluble state, if it were permitted that he could still eat of the tree of life. For how had he an immortal body, when it was sustained by food? That which is immortal does not have need of food or drink. Sustenance is for the support of men. The tree of life was a medicine that guarded from all corruption. So it was for man as an unbreakable wall. Saint Augustine of Hippo, Questions on the Old and New Testament, Chap 19