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In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul writes of the type of body we will have after the resurrection. The resurrection body will differ from the body we now possess in a few ways. Paul uses several illustrations to help clarify his point:
But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:35–42, NKJV)
The difference between our current body and our future resurrection body is the difference between a seed and its mature fruit; between a celestial body (“a body relating to the heavens”) and a terrestrial body (“a body relating to the earth”). Examples of celestial bodies are the sun, moon, and stars. Terrestrial bodies are those such as humans, animals, fish, and birds have. Both celestial and terrestrial bodies possess a glory of their own, but they are different types of glory. And within those basic categories, the levels of glory vary.All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:35–42, NKJV)
Our current bodies are terrestrial—they are perfectly fit for an earthly existence. At the resurrection, we will receive celestial bodies—bodies perfectly fit for eternity. In the same passage, Paul describes the resurrection body as imperishable; glorious, powerful, and spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:42&ndahs;44).
Taking the whole of 1 Corinthians 15, we have the following descriptions of the terrestrial body versus the celestial body:
• earthly vs. heavenly (verse 40)
• perishable vs. imperishable (verse 42)
• dishonorable vs. glorified (verse 43)
• subject to weakness vs. raised in power (verse 43)
• natural vs. spiritual (verse 44)
• bearing Adam’s image vs. bearing Christ’s image (verse 49)
• mortal vs. immortal (verse 53)
Just as fish, birds, and other animals have bodies suited to live in whatever environment God intended for them, believers will one day have bodies suited for life on a celestial plane. They will have a body fit for heaven—that is, on the new earth in eternity (see Revelation 21:1). The celestial body will be made of flesh (like Jesus’ resurrected body is), but a different kind of flesh than what we have now. We could also say that the resurrection body—the celestial body—will have a different “splendor” than our earthly, natural, terrestrial body.• perishable vs. imperishable (verse 42)
• dishonorable vs. glorified (verse 43)
• subject to weakness vs. raised in power (verse 43)
• natural vs. spiritual (verse 44)
• bearing Adam’s image vs. bearing Christ’s image (verse 49)
• mortal vs. immortal (verse 53)
The celestial body, being suited to eternal life, will not be subject to decay or death; it will not be inconvenienced by any of the physical functions necessary for life here and now. The spiritual body will be a real body, but in a different mode of being. To use Paul’s illustration in 1 Corinthians 15:39, our bodies now are the “seed”; our bodies then will be the bloom. Just as a tulip is more glorious than the bulb from which it came, the celestial body will be more glorious than the terrestrial body that died.
In this fleshly body we now possess, we cannot enter or enjoy the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). That will change at the resurrection. We will be transformed (verse 51). Right now, “the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). For the believer, after the resurrection, the flesh will be fully capable of serving God. Gone will be the flaws and fragility that pervade life today.
Praise the Lord, “when the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable . . . then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:54).
