In the fourth century, The Second Creed of Epiphanius (A.D. 374) confessed that "the Word became flesh,...the same suffered in the flesh; rose again; and went up to heaven in the same body;...is coming in the same body in glory to judge the quick and the dead.

"10 Cyril of Jerusalem (A.D. 315-386) considered any view heretical that claims "the resurrection of the Saviour was phantom-wise, and not real, not heeding Paul who says, 'Who was made flesh of the seed of David according to the flesh;' and again 'By the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord from the dead.'"11 The preeminent theologian, St. Augustine (A.D. 354-430), declared: "It is indubitable that the resurrection of Christ, and His ascension into heaven with the flesh in which He rose, is already preached and believed in the whole world." Augustine even held that God would reassemble in the resurrection body "all the portions which have been consumed by beasts or fire, or have been dissolved into dust of ashes...."