I. Des articles de la foi — Le 17e dimanche
The Hope of Resurrection
The confession of faith concludes with the promise of the resurrection of the flesh and eternal life.
The Resurrection 106. M: What follows from this? E: “The resurrection of the flesh and eternal life. ”
Living as Pilgrims
The hope of resurrection teaches believers to detach from earthly things and wait patiently for the revelation of Christ.
107. M: Why is this article included? E: To show us that our happiness isn't found on earth—which serves a double purpose. First, so that we may learn to pass through this world as if it were a foreign land, scorning all earthly things and not setting our heart on them; and also so that, even though we don't yet see the fruit of the grace the Lord has given us in Jesus Christ, we may nevertheless not lose courage, but wait for it patiently until the time of the revelation.1
The Nature of the Resurrection
The resurrection involves the transformation of the body into an incorruptible state, whether through death or the final miraculous change.
108. Minister: How will this resurrection happen? Student: Those who have already died will take up their bodies again, but with a different quality—their bodies will no longer be subject to mortality and corruption, even though they will still be the same substance. And those who are still alive, God will raise miraculously by that sudden change of which it has been spoken (1 Corinthians 15:52).
The Final Separation
While all will rise, the outcome for the wicked and the righteous differs between eternal life and condemnation.
109. M: And won't this resurrection be common to the wicked as well as to the good? E: Yes indeed, but it will certainly be under different conditions.2 Some will rise to salvation and joy, while others will rise to condemnation and death (John 5:29; Matthew 25:46).
The Focus on Consolation
The Creed focuses on eternal life because it is intended to provide comfort and assurance to the faithful.
110. M: Why, then, is only eternal life mentioned, and not hell as well? E: Because nothing is set down in this summary that does not properly belong to the consolation of faithful consciences, it only recounts to us the good things God does for his servants. And so, no mention is made there of the wicked, who are excluded from his Kingdom.
Read the original Latin
La résurrection 106. M : Que s'ensuit-il? E : « La résurrection de la chair et la vie éternelle. »
107. M : Pourquoi cet article est-il mis? E : Pour nous montrer que notre félicité ne gît pas en la terre, ce qui sert à double fin. Premièrement, afin que nous apprenions de passer par ce monde comme par un pays étrange, en contemnant toutes choses terriennes et n'y mettant point notre coeur ; puis aussi, que combien que nous n'apercevions pas encore le fruit de la grâce que le Seigneur nous a fait en Jésus-Christ, que nous ne perdions pas courage pourtant, mais l'attendions en patience jusqu'au temps de la révélation.
108. M : Comment se fera cette résurrection? E : Ceux qui seront morts auparavant reprendront leurs corps, néanmoins d'autre qualité, à savoir, qui ne seront plus sujets à mortalité et corruption, combien que ce sera la même substance. Et ceux qui survivront encore, Dieu les ressuscitera miraculeusement, par ce changement subit dont il a été parlé (1 Corinthiens 15:52).
109. M : Et cette résurrection ne sera-t-elle pas commune tant aux mauvais comme aux bons? E : Oui bien, mais ce sera bien en diverse condition. Car les uns ressusciteront à salut et joie, les autres à condamnation et mort (Jean 5:29 ; Matthieu 25:46).
110. M : Pourquoi donc est-il seulement parlé de la vie éternelle, et non point aussi bien d'enfer? E : Parce qu'il n'y a rien couché en ce sommaire qui n'appartienne proprement à la consolation des consciences fidèles, il nous récite seulement les biens que Dieu fait à ses serviteurs. Et ainsi il n'y est fait nulle mention des iniques, qui sont exclus de son Royaume.
Notes
- 1 ↩« félicité » in s3 and the pilgrim imagery here frame eschatological blessedness; « l'attendions » takes the fruit of grace as its natural antecedent.
- 2 ↩French «en diverse condition» keeps the singular «condition» with plural force (different states/lots). Rendered as «different conditions» for natural English; the contrast is quality of outcome, not denial of a shared resurrection.
Catechism of the Church of Geneva (Le catéchisme de l'Église de Genève) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit