Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, the concept of man as a being possessed of a body is foundational to understanding human nature and existence. The body is not merely a vessel but an integral part of human identity, created by God with purpose and intention.Creation of the Body The creation account in Genesis establishes the divine origin of the human body. Genesis 2:7 states, "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." This verse highlights the dual nature of humanity: formed from the earth, yet animated by the breath of God. The body is crafted by God, emphasizing its inherent value and purpose. The Body as a Temple In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul further elucidates the significance of the human body in the life of a believer. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 , Paul writes, "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." Here, the body is described as a temple, a sacred space where the Holy Spirit dwells. This underscores the call to honor God through the physical body, recognizing its role in spiritual worship and service. The Body and the Incarnation The doctrine of the Incarnation further affirms the significance of the human body. John 1:14 declares, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." In taking on human flesh, Jesus Christ dignified the human body, demonstrating its worth and potential for divine purpose. The Incarnation reveals that the body is not an obstacle to spiritual life but a means through which God can work and reveal Himself. The Resurrection of the Body The hope of resurrection is central to Christian eschatology, affirming the eternal significance of the body. In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 , Paul explains, "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." The resurrection promises a transformation of the body, from perishable to imperishable, reflecting the ultimate redemption and glorification of the physical form. The Body in Ethical Living The biblical view of the body also informs ethical living. Romans 12:1 exhorts believers, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." The call to present one's body as a living sacrifice emphasizes the holistic nature of worship, where physical actions and spiritual devotion are intertwined. The Body and Human Relationships The body plays a crucial role in human relationships, as seen in the institution of marriage. Genesis 2:24 states, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." The physical union in marriage is a profound expression of relational intimacy and covenantal commitment, reflecting the unity and diversity within the Godhead. In summary, the biblical portrayal of man as possessed of a body is rich with theological and ethical implications. The body is a divine creation, a temple of the Holy Spirit, and a participant in the redemptive work of God through the Incarnation and resurrection. It is central to worship, ethical living, and human relationships, underscoring its integral role in the divine narrative. Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 6:25Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Man must be Possessed Both of a Body and Soul Hereafter, that the ... Some Considerations in Reply Eulogistic of the Flesh it was ... The views of Redemption Entertained by These Heretics. That Before his Birth in Time Christ was Always Called God by the ... Apostrophe to Satan. The Judges Said: we Desire to have Information from You on this ... State in which Man was Created. The Faculties of the Soul --The ... Men are Possessed of Free Will, and Endowed with the Faculty of ... The Twenty-Second Chapter: Thoughts on the Misery of Man Steps to Perfection. Resources Is God man-made? Did man create the idea of God? | GotQuestions.orgHow can Jesus be God, when Numbers 23:19 says that God is not a man or a son of man? | GotQuestions.org What is the origin of man? | GotQuestions.org Man: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Man of Every Nation, Made of One Blood Man: Able to Sustain Bodily Affliction Man: All the Ways of, Clean in his own Eyes Man: Allowed to Eat Flesh After the Flood Man: Called: The Potsherd of the Earth Man: Cannot Retain his Spirit from Death Man: Christ is the Head of Every Man: Christ was Found in Fashion As Man: Christ: A Refuge As, to Sinners Man: Christ: Approved of God As Man: Christ: As Such, is the Cause of the Resurrection Man: Christ: Called the Second, As Covenant Head of the Church Man: Christ: Made in the Image of Man: Christ: Took on Him Nature of Man: Clothed by God With Skins Man: Compared to a Wild Donkey's Colt Man: Compared to Clay in the Potter's Hand Man: Covered Himself With Fig Leaves Man: Created by the Holy Spirit Man: Created in Knowledge (Inferred) Man: Created in the Image of God Man: Created: A Type of Christ Man: Created: After Consultation, by the Trinity Man: Created: After the Likeness of God Man: Created: On the Sixth Day Man: Created: Under Obligations to Obedience Man: Days of, As the Days of a Hireling Man: Days of, Compared to a Shadow Man: Design of the Creation of Man: Disobeyed God by Eating Part of the Forbidden Fruit Man: Every Herb and Tree Given To, for Food Man: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Man: Filled With Shame After the Fall Man: Gave Names to Other Creatures Man: God: Destroys the Hopes of Man: God: Makes his Beauty Consume Away Man: God: Makes the Wrath of, to Praise Him Man: God: Orders the Goings of Man: God: Prepares the Heart of Man: God: Turns to Destruction Man: God's Purpose in Creation Completed by Making Man: Has an Appointed Time on the Earth Man: Has Sought out Many Inventions Man: Ignorant of What is Good for Him Man: Ignorant of What is to Come After Him Man: Intellect of, Matured by Age Man: Involved Posterity in his Ruin Man: Little Lower than the Angels Man: Made by God in his Successive Generations Man: Made Wise by the Inspiration of the Almighty Man: More Valuable than Other Creatures Man: Nature and Constitution of, Different from Other Creatures Man: Not Good For, to be Alone Man: Not Profited by all his Labour and Travail Man: Ordinary Limit of his Life Man: Originally Naked and not Ashamed Man: Placed in the Garden of Eden Man: Possessed of Understanding Man: Punished for Disobedience Man: Quickened by the Breath of God Man: Received Dominion Over Other Creatures Man: Shall be Recompensed According to his Works Man: Sinks Under Trouble of Mind Man: Wiser than Other Creatures Man: Woman Formed to be a Help For Man: Would Give all his Possessions for the Preservation of Life Related Terms |