What kind of body can someone have after dying?

After dying, the dead ones could be given a particular kind of body. Paul wrote about: "THE DEAD (ones) RAISED" (1 Corinthians 15:35), and he asked: "(with) WHAT (KIND OF) BODY DO-THEY-COME?" (1 Corinthians 15:35). So there are dead ones here which are expected to come with a particular kind of body. 

Paul added that one cannot be given life and a body unless that one dies, as he wrote: "What you-sow is not given-life UNLESS IT-DIES. And (as to) what you-sow — you-do not sow the body (which) will-come, but (a) bare seed, perhaps (of) wheat or (of) some (of) the rest. And God gives it (a) body just-as He-willed — indeed, (to) each (of) the seeds (its) own body" (1 Corinthians 15:36-38).

What kind of body can someone who died be given? 

A kind of body similar in form to the body of Jesus' glory

Paul wrote: "our place-of-citizenship is in (the) heavens, from where also we-are-eagerly-awaiting (the) Savior, (the) Lord Jesus Christ, Who will(-change-the)-appearance (of) the body (of) our humbleness (so as to be) similar-in-form (to) the body (of) His glory" (Philippians 3:20-21).

Paul mentions that our place of citizenship is "in (the) heavens" and that the body of those who could be citizen there would be "similar-in-form (to) the body (of) His glory" (Philippians 3:21), referring to the body of Jesus' glory. 

John would have seen Jesus after His resurrection. Yet it is written in 1 John: "what we-will-be has not-yet appeared. We-know that if He-appears, we-will-be like Him, because we-will-see Him just-as He-is" (1 John 3:2). John did not know yet when writing 1 John how Jesus would really look like, even though He saw Him after His resurrection. How could that be? 

Jesus actually ascended into heaven after His resurrection, as it is written: "Jesus, after (He) spoke (to) them, was-taken-up into heaven" (Mark 16:19). Paul wrote that this would have been when Jesus "was-taken-up in glory" (1 Timothy 3:16). Could the body of Jesus' glory be referring to the one that Jesus would have after He was taken up in glory?  

Jesus came with the same body at His resurrection

Jesus rose with the same body that He had before dying. 

Jesus Himself said: "Destroy THIS TEMPLE, and in three days I-will-raise IT” [...]. But that (One) was-speaking about THE TEMPLE (of) HIS BODY. So when He-was-raised from (the) dead (ones), His disciples remembered that He-was-saying this" (John 2:19-22).

After dying, His body was laid in a tomb. Yet after rising, that body was not found there anymore, as it is written: "they-found the stone having-been-rolled-away from the tomb. But having-gone-in, they-did not find THE BODY (of) the Lord Jesus" (Luke 24:2-3). 

Before His resurrection, Jesus' body "was crucified" (John 19:20), and "one (of) the soldiers pierced HIS SIDE (with a spear)" (John 19:34). After His resurrection, the body that Jesus presented to His disciples had the very marks of His crucifixion in His hands as well as the very piercing into His side from the soldier's spear. It is written about the disciple called Thomas: "the (one) said (to) them, “Unless I-see THE MARK (of) THE NAILS in HIS HANDS, and put my finger into the mark (of) the nails, and put my hand into HIS SIDE, I-will by no means believe”. And after eight days, His disciples were again inside, and Thomas (was) with them. Jesus comes — the doors having-been-locked. And He-stood in (their) midst and said, “Peace (to) you”. Then He-says (to) Thomas, “Bring your finger here and see MY HANDS. And bring your hand and put (it) into MY SIDE. And do not be unbelieving, but believing”." (John 20:25-27).

His body of flesh did not see decay, as it is written "concerning the resurrection (of) the Christ — that (His soul) was neither abandoned to Hades, NOR did HIS FLESH see DECAY" (Acts 2:31).

An early Christian author wrote that Jesus came with the same body He had at His resurrection.

Around the 2nd century AD, a Christian author named Irenaeus wrote in "On the Resurrection of the Flesh":

(44): "you will also allow that it was in the flesh that Christ was raised from the dead. For the very same body that fell in death, and which lay in the sepulcher, did rise again."

Jesus came with the same body at His resurrection as a sign?

Jesus said that His resurrection would be a sign: "(a) sign will not be-given (to) it, except THE SIGN (of) Jonah the prophet. For just-as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly (of) the sea-creature, so the Son (of) Man will-be three days and three nights in the heart (of) the earth" (Matthew 12:39-40). Even His enemies remembered that He said: "I-am-arising after three days" (Matthew 27:63).

Why would rising with the same body be important? Because in that way we can be sure that the One who went dead in the tomb is exactly the same as the One who came out of it alive later. 

His resurrection was a sign to believe. After that Jesus appeared to Thomas to show the mark in His hands and His side, it was written 3 verses later: "Then indeed Jesus also did many OTHER SIGNS in-the-presence-of His disciples, which have not been-written in this book. But these (things) have-been-written so-that you-may-believe that Jesus is the Christ" (John 20:30-31).

Now a sign is always pointing to another reality, sometimes a greater reality. 

Just after mentioning the "THE SIGN (of) Jonah" (Matthew 12:39), Jesus mentioned the resurrection from the dead (ones), saying: "the Son (of) Man will-be three days and three nights in the heart (of) the earth. Ninevite men WILL-RISE-UP at the judgment with this generation, and they-will-condemn it" (Matthew 12:40-41).

The body of flesh of Jesus did not see decay, as it is written "concerning the resurrection (of) the Christ — that (His soul) was neither abandoned to Hades, NOR did HIS FLESH see DECAY" (Acts 2:31). This also would have to do with the fulfillment of the prophecy quoted by Peter here from the Psalms. Contrary to that, it is written concerning the resurrection from the dead (ones) that "It-is-sown IN DECAY" (1 Corinthians 15:42).

The days of Jesus in His flesh were to come to an end?

When Jesus was on the earth, He was described as having "the body (of) HIS FLESH" (Colossians 1:22).

After the ascension of Jesus to heaven, the author of Hebrews wrote about things that Jesus did "in the days (of) HIS FLESH" (Hebrews 5:7), saying: "in the days (of) HIS FLESH having-offered both petitions and supplications with (a) strong outcry and tears to the (One) being-able to-save Him from death, and having-been-heard because-of (His) reverence, although being (a) Son, learned obedience from (the things) which He-suffered" (Hebrews 5:7-8). Could this expression mean that Jesus would not be "in the days (of) HIS FLESH" (Hebrews 5:7) anymore at the time this was written?

The body of His glory at His ascension?

It is written after the ascension of Jesus about "the body (of) His GLORY" (Philippians 3:21). 

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He "was-taken-up in GLORY" (1 Timothy 3:16). 

It is possible that when Jesus was taken up in glory, "the body (of) His flesh" (Colossians 1:22) changed in form and He appeared with "the body (of) His GLORY" (Philippians 3:21). 

This may be hinted at when "Jesus takes-along Peter and James and John his brother, and BRINGS THEM UP on (a) HIGH MOUNTAIN" (Matthew 17:1). In the parallel account in Luke, it is also written about "having-appeared IN GLORY" (Luke 9:31). 

When Jesus went up there "on (a) HIGH MOUNTAIN" (Matthew 17:1), it is written that "He(-changed-in)-FORM" (Matthew 17:2). As a result, it is written that "His FACE SHINED LIKE THE SUN, and His garments became white as the light" (Matthew 17:2). This is similar to the description that John made of Jesus after His ascension, as he wrote in Revelation: "(I saw One) resembling (a) son (of) man having-been-dressed-in (a robe) reaching-to-the-feet" (Revelation 1:13) and "His FACE (was) LIKE THE SUN SHINES in its power" (Revelation 1:16). This was a vision of Jesus as that One said to John: "I-became dead, and behold — I-am living" (Revelation 1:17), echoing how Jesus Himself earlier died and rose from the dead to be living. When talking about the body that one can have after dying, Paul mentioned the glory of the SUN: "(there are) HEAVENLY BODIES and earthly bodies. But the glory (of) the HEAVENLY (is) one (kind), and the (glory of) the earthly (is) different. (There is) one glory (of the) SUN" (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). The change in form of the body of Jesus after going up on the high mountain could have hinted to that.

In the Bible, HIGH MOUNTAINS can represent a point of conjunction between heaven and earth. For example Moses received a copy of heavenly things after having gone up on a mountain, as it is written about "(a) copy and (a) shadow (of) the HEAVENLY (things), JUST-AS MOSES has-been-warned, being-about to-complete the tabernacle: for “See”, He-says, “(that) you-make everything according-to the pattern HAVING-BEEN-SHOWN (to) you ON THE MOUNTAIN”" (Hebrews 8:5).

Was Jesus expected to come back after His ascension with the same body he left earth with?

It is written after that Jesus ascended bodily into heaven: "This Jesus having-been-taken-up from you into heaven will-come IN-THIS-MANNER — the (same) WAY you-saw Him going into heaven" (Acts 1:11). 

It was not said about Jesus that He would come in the same body, but that He would come in the same manner, as it is written that He would come "IN-THIS-MANNER — the (same) WAY you-saw Him going into heaven" (Acts 1:11). How did Jesus go into heaven? In a cloud, as it is written: "(while) they (were) looking He-was-lifted-up. And (A) CLOUD received Him from their eyes" (Acts 1:9). The same author who would traditionally be believed to have written Acts could also be traditionally believed to have written Luke. It is written in Luke 21: "they-will-see the Son (of) Man coming in (A) CLOUD" (Luke 21:27). 

Luke 21 is also the parallel passage to Matthew 24, which contains more similarities with Acts 1.

For more similarities between Luke 21/Matthew 24 & Acts 1:
Click here

Jesus said that He would come "in HIS GLORY", saying: "whoever (is) ashamed-of Me and My words, the Son (of) Man will-be-ashamed-of this (one) when He-comes in HIS GLORY" (Luke 9:26). Paul used similar words after the ascension of Jesus to describe the body of Jesus, writing about "the body (of) HIS GLORY" (Philippians 3:21).

"Jesus takes-along PETER and James and John his brother, and BRINGS THEM UP on (a) HIGH MOUNTAIN" (Matthew 17:1), and there Jesus "(changed-in)-FORM" (Matthew 17:2) and as a result "His FACE SHINED LIKE THE SUN, and His garments became white as the light" (Matthew 17:2). In the parallel account in Luke, it is also written about "having-appeared IN GLORY" (Luke 9:31).

"PETER" (Matthew 17:4) was present when this event happened. The same "PETER" (2 Peter 1:1) wrote later in the 1st century about this event, indicating that he was "BEING WITH HIM ON THE HOLY MOUNTAIN" (2 Peter 1:18) and calling that event "the power and COMING (of) our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:16). The Greek word for "COMING" [parousia 3952 in Greek, noun] used in 2 Peter 1:16 may also be translated as "presence", which is why it can also describe what happened on the mountain. 

The same term used by Peter for "COMING" [parousia 3952 in Greek] was actually used again two chapters later to refer to the promise of the COMING of Jesus that Peter was still waiting for, as he wrote about "the promise (of) His COMING [parousia 3952 in Greek]" (2 Peter 3:4). By using the same word to describe both, Peter may have hinted that the appearance of the body of Jesus at His promised COMING could be "the body (of) HIS GLORY" (Philippians 3:21) that He would have after He "was-taken-up in GLORY" (1 Timothy 3:16).

When talking about the body that one can have after dying, Paul mentioned the glory of the SUN, writing: "(there are) HEAVENLY BODIES and earthly bodies. But the glory (of) the HEAVENLY (is) one (kind), and the (glory of) the earthly (is) different. (There is) one glory (of the) SUN" (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). The change in form of the body of Jesus after going up on the high mountain could have hinted to that. 

Link between the form of God & the body of His glory?

Jesus would have been in heaven formerly, before He came on earth, as He would have implied in the following verse: "(what) if you-see the Son (of) Man going-up where He-was FORMERLY?" (John 6:62). 

Jesus would have been in the "form (of) God" before coming on earth to be found in appearance as a man, as it is written: "Christ Jesus — Who, (while) BEING IN (the) FORM (of) GOD, did not regard the being equal (with) God (a) thing-to-be-seized, BUT EMPTIED Himself, having-taken (the) FORM (of a) slave, having-come in (the) likeness (of) humans. And having-been-found (as) a man (in) appearance" (Philippians 2:5-7).

Jesus would have "EMPTIED Himself" (Philippians 2:7) of His GLORY specifically to come on earth and be found in appearance as a man. 

How could one know that Jesus would have "EMPTIED Himself" (Philippians 2:7) of His "GLORY" specifically? Paul mentioned 4 verses earlier to not do anything "based-on EMPTY-GLORY" (Philippians 2:3). The Greek noun for "EMPTY-GLORY" [kenodoxia 2754 in Greek] used in Philippians 2:3 comes from the Greek adjective for "empty-glory" [kenodoxos 2755 in Greek] which comes from the Greek words "EMPTY" [kenos 2756 in Greek] and "GLORY" [doxa 1391 in Greek]. Contrary to doing things based on "EMPTY-GLORY" (Philippians 2:3), the Philippians had to instead "Be-thinking this in you, which also (was) in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5) who "EMPTIED Himself" (Philippians 2:7)… of His GLORY.

Near the time of the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus prayed: "Father, You GLORIFY ME with Yourself (WITH) THE GLORY which I-was-having with You before the world was" (John 17:5). 

1 chapter later in Philippians, Paul described after the ascension of Jesus His body as "the body (of) His GLORY" (Philippians 3:21).

Our body to be similar in form to the body of His glory?

Paul used similar language in Philippians chapters 2 and 3, seemingly comparing how the appearance of Jesus could be compared to ours.

Paul wrote in Philippians 2 that when Jesus was in the heavens, He was in "(the) FORM (of) God" (Philippians 2:6). Paul then described that Jesus "emptied Himself" (Philippians 2:7) of His GLORY, and came on the earth in the flesh to be found "(as) a man (in) APPEAREANCE, HE-HUMBLED Himself" (Philippians 2:7-8). 

Paul wrote in Philippians 3 conversely that Jesus "will(-change-the)-APPEARANCE (of) the body (of) our HUMBLENESS" (Philippians 3:21) that we have on the earth in the flesh, to later be "similar-in-FORM (to) the body (of) His GLORY" (Philippians 3:21) as "our place-of-citizenship is in (the) heavens" (Philippians 3:20). 

This could suggest that our body of flesh on the earth will later have a change in appearance when being in the heavens so as to be similar in form to the form of God, the body of the glory of Jesus which Jesus has in the heavens.

The Greek words used in Philippians chapters 2 and 3 can be linked:

Paul wrote that Jesus "will(-change-the)-APPEARANCE (of) the body (of) our humbleness" (Philippians 3:21). The Greek word for "to(-change-the)-APPEARANCE" [metaschématizó 3345 in Greek, verb] comes in part from the Greek word for "APPEARANCE" [schéma 4976 in Greek, noun] which Paul only used 1 other time in Philippians: only 1 chapter earlier when he wrote about "Jesus" (Philippians 2:5) "having-been-found (as) a man (in) APPEARANCE [schēmati 4976 in Greek, noun]" (Philippians 2:7). 

Paul wrote that Jesus "will(-change-the)-appearance (of) the body (of) our HUMBLENESS" (Philippians 3:21). The Greek word for "HUMBLENESS" [tapeinósis 5014 in Greek, noun] comes from the Greek word for "TO-HUMBLE" [tapeinoó 5013 in Greek, verb] which Paul only used 1 other time before that in Philippians: only 1 chapter earlier when he wrote about "Jesus" (Philippians 2:5) "having-been-found (as) a man (in) appearance, HE-HUMBLED [etapeinōsen 5013 in Greek] Himself" (Philippians 2:7-8).

Paul wrote about being "SIMILAR-IN-FORM (to) the body (of) His glory" (Philippians 3:21). The Greek word for "SIMILAR-IN-FORM" (summorphos 4832 in Greek) comes in part from the Greek word for "FORM" [morphé 3444 in Greek, noun] which Paul only used in Philippians 1 chapter earlier. 1 chapter earlier, Paul wrote that before coming "in (the) likeness (of) humans" (Philippians 2:7), "Jesus" (Philippians 2:5) was "in (the) FORM [morphē 3444 in Greek, noun] (of) God" (Philippians 2:6).

Early Christian authors on man being able to later take on the form of God?

Early Christian authors may have written things similar to the idea that one can later take on the form of God. 

Around the 2nd century AD, a Christian author named Irenaeus wrote in "Against Heresies":

(Book 4, chapter 38): "Do we cast blame on him [God] because we were not made gods from the beginning, but were at first created merely as men, and then later as gods? Although God has adopted this course out of his pure benevolence, that no one may charge him with discrimination or stinginess, he declares, “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are sons of the Most High.” … For it was necessary at first that nature be exhibited, then after that what was mortal would be conquered and swallowed up in immortality.”"

(Book 5, preface): "the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who did, through His transcendent love, become what we are, that He might bring us to be even what He is Himself"

Around the 4th century AD, a Christian author named Athanasius wrote in "On the Incarnation of the Word":

(54): "For He was made man that we might be made god [or: deified]; and He manifested Himself by a body that we might receive the idea of the unseen Father; and He endured the insolence of men that we might inherit immortality."

Here the comments about Jesus who did "become what we are, that He might bring us to be even what He is Himself" and that "He was made man that we might be made god [or: deified]" may be consistent with the passages found in Philippians 2 and 3, in the sense that Jesus was in the form of God, and was made man, so that later we might be made to take on the form of God, so as to be described as "deified" in that sense, having taken the form of God. This would not make one to become greater than God, as it is for example written that "the LORD (is) a great God and a great King OVER all the gods" (Psalms 95:3).

Jesus appeared with a lot of light after His ascension

There might be glimpses about how the body of Jesus may have looked like after being taken up into heaven. Jesus appeared to Paul after He was taken up in glory. Paul for example described this by saying that "I-saw (a) light from-heaven beyond the brightness (of) the sun, having-shined-around me and the (ones) going with me" (Acts 26:13). 

Paul wrote in the context of the kind of body that the dead ones could have that we may bear the image of the Lord from heaven: "The first man (was) from earth, made-of-dust. The second Man (is) the Lord from heaven. Such-as (was) the (one) made-of-dust — such (ones) also (are) the (ones) made-of-dust. And such-as (is) the heavenly (One) — such (ones) also (are) the heavenly (ones). And just-as we-bore the image (of) the (one) made-of-dust, we-may also bear the image (of) the heavenly (One)" (1 Corinthians 15:47-49).

A kind of body with light?

When discussing the kind of body with which the dead (ones) can come, Paul mentioned heavenly bodies and the glory of the sun among other heavenly bodies that produce light: "(there are) heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the glory (of) the heavenly (is) one (kind), and the (glory of) the earthly (is) different. (There is) one glory (of the) sun, and another glory (of the) moon, and another glory (of the) stars. For star differs (from) star in glory" (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). 

Daniel wrote about the resurrection and mentioned that some will shine like the lights of heaven: "many of the ones sleeping in the broad (ground) of the earth will rise: (some) to everlasting life, but (some) to reproach, and to dispersion and everlasting shame. And the ones understanding will-shine as (the) lights of heaven" (Daniel 12:2-3). 

Jesus said that at the conclusion of the age the Son of Man will send His angels and they will gather many people and "Then the righteous (ones) will-shine-forth like the sun in the kingdom (of) their Father" (Matthew 13:43). The "kingdom (of) their Father" (Matthew 13:43) would be in the heavens, where the Father would be. 

A kind of body with similar characteristics as angels in heaven? 

Jesus said: "when they-rise-up from (the) dead (ones), they neither marry nor are-they-given-in-marriage, but they-are like angels in the heavens" (Mark 12:25). Jesus may have primarily meant that the dead ones would not marry (like the angels) after they rise up, but could it be that there would be a hint that they could also be "like angels in the heavens" (Mark 12:25) in another sense? In the parallel account found in Luke 20, Jesus added yet another sense: "the (ones) having-been-considered-worthy to-obtain that age and the resurrection from (the) dead (ones) neither marry, nor are they given-in-marriage. For they-are not even still able to-die, for they-are ANGEL-LIKE" (Luke 20:35-36). So in Luke 20 along with not marrying or being given in marriage, Jesus also added that they are angel-like because they are also not able to die. Could this imply that in more than one sense one can become like the angels in the heavens?

When an angel of the Lord stands near, it is described that the glory of the Lord can shine: "(an) angel (of the) Lord stood-near them, and (the) glory (of the) Lord shined-around them" (Luke 2:9). Light can shine when an angel stands near: "(an) angel (of the) Lord stood-near, and light shined in the cell" (Acts 12:7). 

It was recorded about Steven that before his death "his face (was) like (a) face (of an) angel" (Acts 6:15), and then just before his death Steven saw the heavens opened to him, as he said: "I-see the heavens opened, and the Son (of) Man standing on (the) right (side of) God!" (Acts 7:56). Steven then committed his spirit to Jesus as "they-were-stoning Stephen (while he was) calling-upon (Jesus) and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”." (Acts 7:59). The face of Stephen was like the face of an angel just before his death, when the heavens were being opened to him. 

Could angels from heaven be said to have a body of some kind? 

In the wilderness, the people ate a food that came from heaven, as it is written: "He commanded (the) clouds from above, and opened (the) doors of heaven, and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave to them (the) bread of heaven" (Psalms 78:23-24). This food from heaven was said to be the food of angels specifically, as it is then written in the next verse: "Humanity ate (the) bread of angels" (Psalms 78:25). If angels are said to eat bread from heaven above, could it be said that angels in the heavens have some kind of body when being in heaven?

Around AD 66, around the start of the Jewish-Roman War that led to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, armies were seen in clouds.

The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "The Wars of the Jews":

(6.5.3): "[o]n the twenty-first day of the month of Artemisius [Iyyar], a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sunsetting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities."

These armies could be understood as armies of angels in the sky. These armies were said by Josephus to be seen "in their armor", which could imply a body to have the armor around. 

For more information on why these armies could be armies of angels:

Matthew 24:30 - Coming on the clouds with angels (1st century historical fulfillment?):
Click here

A kind of body capable of inhabiting the heavens?

When talking about the body that one can have after dying, Paul mentioned that "(there are) HEAVENLY BODIES" (1 Corinthians 15:40). These BODIES may be linked to HEAVEN as they are "HEAVENLY" (1 Corinthians 15:40). It may be suggested here that the body that one can have after dying may also be capable of inhabiting the heavens. 

An early Christian mentioned that the body that one can have after dying would be capable of inhabiting the heavens. 

In the 3th century, a Christian author named Origen wrote in "On First Principles":

(10.3): "To those who will deserve to obtain an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, that germ of the body’s restoration [...] It restores a body capable of inhabiting the heavens"

A kind of body not being able to die?

Jesus said: "do not be-fearing (anything) from the (ones) KILLING THE BODY but not being-able to-kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28). The body one has one earth can be killed, but the soul may not be killed along with it. This soul can then receive a new body that is not able to die. 

Jesus said that "the (ones) having-been-considered-worthy to-obtain that age and the resurrection from (the) dead (ones) neither marry, nor are they given-in-marriage. For THEY-ARE NOT EVEN STILL ABLE TO-DIE" (Luke 20:35-36). 

When discussing the kind of body with which the dead (ones) can come, Paul wrote: "this dying (body must) put-on DEATHLESSNESS" (1 Corinthians 15:53). The Greek word for "DEATHLESSNESS" [athanasia 110 in Greek, noun] used in 1 Corinthians 15:53 is composed as the opposite of the Greek word for "death" (thanatos 2288 in Greek, noun).

↺ Click here to return to the Table of Contents.