The Possibility Of Resurrection

Πολλῶν δὲ ὄντων τῶν εἰς τὴν προκειμένυν ἐξέτασιν χρυσιμωτέρων, παραιτοῦμαι δὴ νῦν τοὺς κατεφεύγοντας ἐπὶ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἔργα, καὶ τοὺς τούτων δημιουρψοὺς ἀνθρώπους, οἵ τὰ συντριβέντα τῶν ἔργων, ἤ χρόνῳ παλαιωθέντα, ἤ και ἄλλως διαφθαρέντα καινουργεῖν ἀδυνατοῦσιν· εἶτα ἐξ ὀμοίου τοῖς κεραμεῦσι καὶ τέκτοσι δεικνύναι πειρωμένους, τὸ καὶ τὸν Θεὸν μήτ' ἂν βουληθῆναι, μήτε βουληθέντα δυνηθῆναι νεκρωθὲν ἢ καὶ διαλυθὲν ἀναστῆσαι σῶμα· καὶ μὴ λογιζομένους ὅτι διὰ τούτων τοῖς χειρίστοις ἐξυβρίζουσιν εἰς Θεὸν, συνεξισοῦντες τῶν πάντη διεστηκότων τὰς δυνάμεις, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ τῶν ταύταις χρωμένων τὰς οὐσίας καὶ τὰ τεχνητὰ τοῖς φυσικοῖς. Περὶ μὲν οὖν τούτων σπουδάζειν οὐκ ἀνεπιτίμητον. Ἠλίθον γὰρ ὡς ἀληθῶς τὸ τοῖς ἐπιπολαίοις καὶ ματαίοις ἀντιλέγειν· μακρῳ γε μὴν ἐνδοξότερον καὶ πάντων ἀληθέστατον τὸ φῆσαι τὸ παρὰ ἀνθρώποις ἀδύνατον παρὰ Θεῷ δυνατόν. Εἰ δὲ δι' αὐτῶν τούτων ὡς ἐνδόξων καὶ διὰ πάντων τῶν μικρῷ πρόσθεν ἐξητασμένων δείκνυσιν ὁ λόγος δυνατὸν, εὔδηλον ὡς οὐκ ἀδύνατον. Ἀλλὰ μὴν οὐδ' ἀβούλητον. Ἀθηναγορος, Περί Ἀναστάσεως Των Νεκρών Source: Migne PG 6.989c-992a

As there are many things of more importance in the investigation before us, I here excuse myself from those who take refuge in the works of men, and the mortal makers of such things, who are unable to make anew those of their works which are broken into pieces, or worn out by time, or in some other way destroyed, and then from a comparison to potters and carpenters try to show that God neither can will, nor if He willed would be able, to raise up a body from the dead, or one that has been dissolved, not thinking that by use of such manufactures they insult God, placing together powers which are quite different, or rather the natures of those who use them, and the works of art with those of nature. To consider such things is not undeserving of blame. For it is truly foolish to respond to superficial and vain objections. It is surely far more probable, and indeed most true above all things, to say that what is impossible for men is possible with God. 1 And if this in itself is probable, and if by the whole investigation in which we have been engaged reason shows it is possible, it is quite clear that it is not impossible. And nor is it something God could not will. Athenagoros, On The Resurrection Of The Dead 1 Lk 18.27