![[article cover study.wiki.png]] ![[sub.logo 1.png]][Substack Articles](https://practicalchristian.substack.com/?r=507pdm&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist)** ![[coffee.png]][Buy me a coffee?](https://givesendgo.com/PracticalChristianity?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=PracticalChristianity) **Cross Reference:** #glorified_body, #[[Resurrection]]_theology, #Christian_hope, #eschatology ## The Glorified Body: [[Resurrection]] and Transformation in the Last Days The doctrine of the **[[[[resurrection]]]]** teaches that in the **last days**, the **righteous in [[Jesus Christ]]** will be raised to new life with **glorified bodies**. These bodies will not simply be revived versions of our current forms but rather **transformed** and **perfected** bodies suited for **eternity**. This transformation is a key component of [[Christian eschatology]], emphasizing that **God’s [[Salvation]]** extends to both the **soul and the body**. The glorified body is not merely a concept for speculation but a **reality** that has profound implications for how we view ourselves, our future, and the world to come. In this post, we will explore the **nature** of the glorified body, its **biblical foundation**, and the **hope** it provides to believers. ### The Body: An Essential Part of the Human Person (1 Corinthians 15:42–44) > “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.” > — **1 Corinthians 15:42–44** From the beginning, the **[[Christian faith]]** has taught that the **body** is an **essential part** of the human person. Unlike some philosophies that view the body as a **burden** or **prison**, [[Christianity]] affirms that the **body** is **intrinsically good** and part of [[God]]’s original design for humanity (Genesis 1:26–27). This means that the **body is not discarded** in the process of [[Redemption]] but is **transformed** and **perfected**. In **1 Corinthians 15**, [[Paul]] outlines the **nature** of the **[[Resurrection]] body** using a series of contrasts: - **Perishable vs. Imperishable**: Our current bodies are subject to **decay**, **aging**, and **death**. The **resurrected body**, however, will be **imperishable**—free from the effects of **sin** and **corruption** (1 Corinthians 15:42). - **Dishonor vs. Glory**: The body that is “sown in dishonor” refers to the **humiliation** and **weakness** that accompany our earthly state. In contrast, the glorified body is **raised in glory**, reflecting the **radiance** and **beauty** of [[God]] (1 Corinthians 15:43). - **Weakness vs. Power**: Our current physical state is marked by **limitations** and **frailty**. The glorified body, however, will be **raised in power**, possessing new **strength** and **vitality** (1 Corinthians 15:43). - **Natural vs. Spiritual**: The “natural body” is suited for life in this **present world**; the “spiritual body” will be suited for **eternity**. This does not mean it is **non-physical** but rather that it is **perfectly attuned** to the [[Holy Spirit]] and free from **sin** (1 Corinthians 15:44). [[Paul]]’s teaching highlights that the **[[Resurrection]] body** is **both continuous** and **transformed**. It is the **same body** that was **laid to rest**, but it has been **changed** into a **new, glorified form**. ### The Pattern of [[Christ]]’s Resurrected Body (Philippians 3:20–21) > “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** The **pattern** for the **future glorified body** is the **resurrected body of [[Jesus]]**. After His [[Resurrection]], [[Jesus]] appeared to His disciples in a **physical body** that still bore the **marks of the crucifixion** (John 20:27). Yet His **new body** was also **transformed**—He could **pass through walls** (John 20:19) and **appear and disappear** at will (Luke 24:31). [[Paul]] teaches that **Christ’s glorified body** serves as the **model** for what **believers** will experience. In **Philippians 3:20–21**, he assures us that our “lowly bodies” will be **transformed** to be like [[Christ]]’s **glorious body**. This transformation is not merely a **physical change** but a **complete renewal** of the **whole person**, enabling believers to **fully enjoy** the **presence of [[God]]**. ### The Attributes of the Glorified Body (1 Corinthians 15:52–54) > “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 15:52–53** While the exact **nature** of the **glorified body** is a **mystery**, [[Scripture]] provides several **clues** about its **attributes**: 1. **Incorruptibility** - The glorified body will be **free from decay**, aging, and death (1 Corinthians 15:52). It will no longer be subject to **sickness** or **disease**. 2. **Glory** - The glorified body will be **radiant**, reflecting the **glory** of [[God]] (1 Corinthians 15:43). This **radiance** may be similar to the **transfigured body of [[Christ]]** seen by the disciples on the mountain (Matthew 17:2). 3. **Power** - The glorified body will possess **new strength** and **vitality** (1 Corinthians 15:43). It will be fully capable of **perfectly carrying out** the **will of [[God]]**. 4. **Subtlety** - Like [[Christ]]’s resurrected body, the glorified body may have new **capabilities** that go beyond our current **limitations** (John 20:19). ### The Hope of [[Resurrection]] and the Defeat of Death (Romans 6:9) > “We know that [[Christ]], being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.” > — **Romans 6:9** The **[[Resurrection]]** of the **body** is not merely a **future event**; it is the **guarantee** of the **defeat of death**. Because [[Christ]] has been raised and **death no longer has dominion over Him**, believers share in His **victory**. This truth gives us **hope** in the face of **suffering** and **loss**: - **Victory Over Death**: Death is not the **end** for those who are in [[Christ]]. The **[[Resurrection]]** ensures that **life** will have the **final word** (1 Corinthians 15:54). - **Reunion with Loved Ones**: The [[Resurrection]] also promises a **reunion** with other **believers** who have gone before us (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18). This hope enables Christians to face the **trials** of life with **confidence**, knowing that **every tear** will be **wiped away** and **every sorrow** will be **healed** (Revelation 21:4).