Question: What are we to understand by the “spiritual body” referred to in 1 Cor. 15?

Question

What are we to understand by the “spiritual body” referred to in 1 Cor. 15?

Answer

The present body which we have is a natural body: that is to say, it is one adapted to earthly conditions and through it the feelings of the soul are expressed. It is a “soulish” body. Later the believer will be given a spiritual body, one suited for spiritual realms and capable of expressing in fullness the things of the spirit. Unlike our present body which can only dwell on earth, that body will be capable either of dwelling in heaven or coming to earth. In fine, in the natural body the soul predominates: in the spiritual the spirit predominates. Paul illustrates the difference and superiority of the spiritual by biological, astronomical and botanical analogies.