Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection 7

I have, in fact, already demonstrated sufficiently to the Gentiles that the resurrection of the body is possible. But if the resurrection of the body is not found impossible even in the judgment of unbelievers, how much more impossible must it be in the judgment of believers! Next, we must answer those who dishonor the body and assert that it is unworthy of the resurrection or of the heavenly citizenship. They argue that its substance is first of all earth, and that afterwards it has become full of all sin, so that it even compels the soul to sin along with it. These people appear to be ignorant of the whole work of God, of the original creation and formation of man, and of the things in the world for the sake of which he was made. For does the Word not say, 'Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness' (Genesis 1:26)? What kind of man does it clearly speak of? It clearly speaks of a fleshly man. For the Word says, 'And God took dust from the earth and formed man.' It is clear, therefore, that man was fleshly when he was formed in the image of God. Then how is it not absurd to claim that the flesh, formed by God in His own image, is dishonorable and worthy of nothing? That the flesh is a valuable possession with God is clear, first, from its having been formed by Him, if indeed even the image of the Creator and Artist becomes valuable; and it is also possible to learn this from the rest of creation. For that for the sake of which the other things were made is the most valuable of all to the One who made them.