The Bible speaks of the concept of a “spiritual body” in several passages, most notably in 1 Corinthians 15. This chapter discusses the resurrection of the dead and the nature of our resurrected bodies. Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says about spiritual bodies:
Our Current Earthly Bodies are Not Eternal
The Bible makes it clear that our current earthly bodies are not intended to last forever. In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, the apostle Paul contrasts our current natural bodies with the spiritual bodies we will receive in the resurrection:
“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44 ESV)
Paul states that our current bodies are “perishable,” “sown in dishonor,” and “sown in weakness.” However, in the resurrection, our bodies will be transformed into something entirely different – “imperishable,” “raised in glory,” and “raised in power.” Our current natural bodies will be replaced by eternal spiritual bodies.
Jesus’ Resurrection Body as a Model
Paul goes on to say that Jesus’ own resurrected body is a model for what our spiritual bodies will be like. After rising from the dead, Jesus still had a physical, tangible body – his disciples could touch and interact with him. Yet Jesus’ resurrected body also had new supernatural qualities. He could appear and disappear at will, passing through closed doors or vanishing from sight (John 20:19, Luke 24:31). Paul describes Christ’s resurrected body as a “spiritual body” in 1 Corinthians 15:44-49.
“Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:45-49 ESV)
Christ’s spiritual body is a prototypical model of the spiritual bodies believers will receive in the future resurrection. Through Christ’s resurrection, we get a glimpse of the powerful, supernatural spiritual bodies that await us.
Characteristics of a Spiritual Body
While the Bible does not give a complete description of what spiritual bodies will be like, it does reveal a few key characteristics:
- Imperishable – Spiritual bodies will not decay or face death. They will last forever (1 Cor. 15:42).
- Glorious – Spiritual bodies will be splendid, radiant, and honorable (1 Cor. 15:43).
- Powerful – Spiritual bodies will be animated by the power of God (1 Cor. 15:43).
- Supernatural abilities – Spiritual bodies may have capacities like being able to vanish, move through solid objects, appear suddenly, defy gravity, etc. based on Christ’s experiences after His resurrection.
- Physical/tangible – Spiritual bodies will still be recognizable physical forms like Christ’s body. They are not merely spiritual manifestations.
- Immortal – Those with spiritual bodies will never die again. Their existence will be eternal (1 Cor. 15:53-54).
Paul emphasizes that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:50). Our current earthly bodies are weak, perishable, and bound to death. However, when transformed into spiritual bodies, the redeemed will inherit immortality.
The Timing of Receiving a Spiritual Body
The Bible indicates that believers receive their spiritual bodies at the resurrection of the dead when Christ returns. When describing the resurrection, Paul declares:
“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 ESV)
This passage reveals that our natural bodies will instantaneously be transformed into imperishable spiritual bodies at the moment when “the last trumpet” sounds. Many biblical scholars understand this to be referring to the return of Christ.
Those believers who have died (“sleep”) will have their bodies raised again, now incorruptible spiritual bodies. Believers who are still alive at Christ’s return will have their bodies instantly changed, “in the twinkling of an eye,” into spiritual, immortal bodies as well. This “changing” likely refers to the process of receiving a spiritual body without experiencing natural death first.
Paul reaffirms this timing in another passage:
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21 ESV)
So according to the Bible, spiritual bodies are received at the resurrection of the dead when Jesus returns. This is when mortal human beings, whether already dead or still living, will be transformed into immortal beings with spiritual bodies equipped for eternal life.
An Eternal Existence for our Spiritual Bodies
Christ’s resurrection marked the beginning of the age to come (Luke 20:34-36). One day, all those who belong to Him will participate in the resurrection and eternal life of that age through receiving spiritual bodies:
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ESV)
After this, believers will be before the throne of God in their resurrected spiritual bodies:
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9 ESV)
And they will serve and worship God forever:
“And they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:4-5 ESV)
So in summary, the Bible teaches that the spiritual body is the imperishable, immortal form that redeemed human beings will inhabit eternally after the resurrection of the dead upon Christ’s return. As Paul declares, “this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:53). One day, those who belong to Christ will trade their weak, perishable bodies for spiritual, eternal bodies equipped for everlasting life in God’s presence.