What does Paul Mean by a “Spiritual Body” in 1 Corinthians 15:44?

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. 

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

- The Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:44, ESV)

Whenever I have read this verse in the past I’ve often felt a bit confused about what Paul means by a “spiritual body”. Yesterday, I was reading the chapter on glorification in Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology where he addresses the phrase “spiritual body”. What he wrote pointed me in the right direction for my own further study on this topic. I feel like I understand it much better now. And what I found out about the meaning of “spiritual body” is something which is immensely encouraging to me, and I hope it will be for you.

An Understandable Misunderstanding that We Know Can’t Be Right

I think part of the problem is that the word “spirit” is used to refer to the nonphysical part of us and to nonphysical beings like angels and demons. We use the word “spirit” this way, and so does the Bible. As a result, the first thing that pops into many minds when we read the phrase “spiritual body” is something along the lines of a “ghost-like, nonphysical body that maybe we could see through and put our hands through and is not solid.”

For those who know the Bible well, we immediately sense that this is not right. We are told that our resurrection body will be like the resurrection body of Jesus:

NIV Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Jesus is our model. Our resurrection bodies will be like His resurrection body. And the resurrection body of Jesus was not ghost-like:

NIV Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.

In His resurrection body, Jesus could be touched and He even ate fish! So we are right to suspect that a “spiritual body” is not a “ghost-like body”. Of course, the resurrection body of Jesus could appear in a locked room and could ascend into Heaven. We don’t know if we’ll be able to pop in and out of places or fly. Those types of possibilities are exciting to think about as long as we think about them humbly and do not overemphasize what the Bible does not emphasize. But we haven’t gotten to the best part yet. We’ve only discussed why the phrase “spiritual body” is easy to misunderstand and why it does not mean we will be “ghostly”. What it DOES mean is something wonderful and encouraging.

The Greek Word for “Spiritual” has a Range of Meanings

First, we should note that 1 Corinthians 15:44 uses the adjective “spiritual”, not the noun “spirit”. Like most words in all languages, the Greek word for “spiritual”, pneumatikos, has a range of related meanings. All these related meanings are derived in some way from the noun for “spirit”, pneuma.

Sometimes, “spiritual” does seem to refer to something that is non-material as opposed to material:

NIV Romans 15:27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual (pneumatikos) blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

However, that is not the only way pneumatikos is used. This adjective is also used to describe people who are living according to the work, power, and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  These three examples will make this clear:

ESV 1 Corinthians 3:1  But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual (pneumatikos) people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

ESV 1 Corinthians 14:37  If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual (pneumatikos), he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

ESV Galatians 6:1  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual (pneumatikos) should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1, Paul’s point is not that the Corinthians are not “ghostly” enough or that their bodies are too physical. His point is that they are too influenced by the sinful desires of the flesh and they are not living according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. They are not “spiritual”. In 1 Corinthians 14:37, Paul is not saying that those Corinthians who consider themselves to have a non-physical body should be able to recognize that what Paul is writing is the Lord’s will. Paul is saying that those Corinthians who are full of the Spirit and living lives pleasing to God should be able to recognize this. And in Galatians 6:1, Paul is obviously not suggesting that ghostly people are especially well suited to restore sinners to the right path. Paul is suggesting that people who are Holy Spirit filled, “spiritual”, and thus close to God and full of godly wisdom, are the people who are best able to help others when they are caught in sin.

In all of the above examples “spiritual” means something like: living in accordance with God’s will, living and thinking the way God wants us to live as we are filled and led by His Holy Spirit.

The first example contrasts being “spiritual” with being “of the flesh”. This is because our flesh is the source of many evil desires. This leads to our next key point.

Because of Sinful Desires from our Bodies, We Constantly Struggle

The Bible often discusses our “flesh”, our current physical bodies (which include our brains), as the source of sinful desires.

NIV Galatians 5:16-17 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

The above passage is written to Christians. Even though we are saved and the Holy Spirit lives in us, our flesh, our bodies, are still filled with wrong desires. When the Spirit wants us to get up and pray, our flesh wants to stay in bed. The Spirit wants us to find sexual fulfillment only with our spouse, but our flesh feels sexual desire from sources that are wrong, sinful, and harmful. We know in our spirit that we should only eat one donut, but our flesh wants to eat three. In our spirits we know we can trust God’s promises, but our flesh is full of anxiety and fear. And on and on.

As a result, during our whole lives here on earth, we must battle against wrong desires which to a large degree come from our very own bodies. God gives us strength for the battle, but we often feel tired and discouraged. And we don’t always win these battles. God gives us grace, but we long for total victory and we also long for a day when we no longer have to fight against our own desires from our flesh.

Praise God, a day like that is coming!!!!

Our Resurrection Bodies will be Spiritual Bodies!

Now do you see what Paul means when he says our resurrection bodies will be “spiritual bodies”?

Paul is telling us that our new bodies will no longer have any desires which are contrary to God’s will. Our bodies will want to do what is right and good and pleasing to God all the time! Hallelujah! No more struggle against sinful desires coming from my own body.

In the age to come, in the New Heavens and New Earth, it’s not only true that my environment will be wonderfully changed. I will be changed. My body will be changed. It will be imperishable, never wearing out or getting sick. It will be immortal, never dying. It will be glorious, shining with God’s light. And, praise God, it will be spiritual. My new body will no longer have wrong desires. It will be the perfect body to be in God’s loving presence forever. That’s something to look forward to!

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .