Introduction

The concept of loving one's body is deeply rooted in the biblical understanding of humanity as created in the image of God. This entry explores the biblical perspective on the body, emphasizing the importance of honoring and caring for it as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Creation and the Image of God

The Bible begins with the affirmation that human beings are created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 states, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This foundational truth establishes the inherent dignity and worth of the human body. As bearers of God's image, individuals are called to respect and care for their bodies as a reflection of divine creativity and purpose.

The Body as a Temple

The Apostle Paul provides a profound insight into the significance of the body in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 : "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body." This passage underscores the sacredness of the body, highlighting the responsibility of believers to honor God through their physical being. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit elevates the body to a place of spiritual significance, calling for a lifestyle that reflects holiness and reverence.

Stewardship and Care

The biblical mandate for stewardship extends to the care of one's body. In Ephesians 5:29 , Paul writes, "After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church." This verse illustrates the natural inclination to care for one's physical well-being and draws a parallel to Christ's nurturing love for the church. Proper nutrition, exercise, rest, and medical care are practical expressions of loving one's body, aligning with the biblical principle of stewardship.

Avoiding Idolatry and Vanity

While the Bible encourages the care of the body, it also warns against the dangers of idolatry and vanity. In 1 Timothy 4:8 , Paul advises, "For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come." This verse places physical care in the context of spiritual priorities, reminding believers that while bodily health is important, it should not overshadow the pursuit of godliness. The focus should remain on honoring God rather than succumbing to societal pressures or personal vanity.

The Resurrection and Eternal Perspective

The Christian hope of resurrection further informs the understanding of the body. In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 , Paul describes the transformation that awaits believers: "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised 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." This eschatological promise affirms the eternal value of the body, encouraging believers to view their physical existence in light of the coming resurrection and the ultimate redemption of creation.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on loving one's body is a holistic approach that integrates physical care with spiritual devotion. By recognizing the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, believers are called to honor God through their physical existence, maintaining a balance between stewardship and spiritual priorities.1 Corinthians 6:19-20
What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
Topicalbible.org

Psalm 139:14
I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well.
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Love
... Our loving him is from his loving us. ... As you would be careful to preserve the natural
heat in your body, so be careful to preserve the heat of love to God in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 2 love.htm

Letter xx. --The Fruit of Trials.
... grace in your soul reflects itself in your body, and causes ... God Who is your centre,
your life, and your all ... wish to belong entirely to Him by loving and serving ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter xx the fruit of trials.htm

A Loving Call to Reunion
... unclean by contact with a dead body or 'in a ... the preceding generation] fathers'
(ver.7), and 'your God' (ver ... wanderers back to God is the loving proclamation of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a loving call to reunion.htm

To Queen Giovanna of Naples (Written in Trance)
... the Word with our humanity, and by the death of that sweet and loving Word, Christ ...
because I love you I grieve over the evil state of your soul and body. ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to queen giovanna of naples.htm

1 Cor. vi. 15
... it is not your body which is insulted; since it is not your body at all, but Christ's.
And these things he spake, both to make manifest His loving-kindness in ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xviii 1 cor vi.htm

The Marks of the New Birth
... Let not sin therefore reign" even "in your mortal body," "but yield yourselves unto ...
with all your mind, and soul, and strength, and in loving your neighbour as ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 18 the marks of.htm

The Epistles to the Corinthians.
... on the bridge of two seas, an emporium of trade between the East and the West"wealthy,
luxurious, art-loving, devoted to the ... Glorify God in your body (6:20). ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 90 the epistles to.htm

Anxious Care
... for far beyond the region within which your anxieties move ... is more than meat, and
the body than raiment ... That everywhere His loving, wooing hand should touch the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/anxious care.htm

Marks of Having Received the Holy Ghost
... soul as really and perceptibly fed by the one, as his body is nourished ... that
despitefully use you and persecute you." And this duty of loving your enemies is ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/marks of having received the.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... All peace-loving people who could possibly do so left the country ... teacher would say
to his pupil, 'before you copy a single word you must wash your body all over ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter ix the destruction of.htm

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Loving: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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