Paul, writing to the Corinthians, taught about the resurrection of the dead and the spiritual body: “So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is corruptible, it is resurrected imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; a natural body is sown, a spiritual body is raised. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” ( 1 Corinthians 15:42–44 ). The “spiritual body” is here contrasted with the “natural body.”
The references to being “sown” and “raised up” relate to the process of planting a seed in the ground so that it sprouts in a different form. A corn seed is “resurrected” as a tall corn stalk with ears of corn. So it is with the spiritual body. The natural physical body must die (and be sown in the ground) in order for the new body to be resurrected in a different form ( 1 Corinthians 15:36 ). The natural body of flesh and blood is perishable, dishonorable and weak. The spiritual, not physical, body will be imperishable, glorified, and powerful (verses 42–43). The natural body comes first and must die. Only then can the spiritual body be born (verses 36, 46). The natural body bears the image of Adam, the “earthly man”; the spiritual body bears the image of Christ, the “heavenly man” (verses 48–49).
The spiritual body is not a mere spirit, because then it would not be a body. Nor is it a body of flesh and blood, which in this world needs food, sleep, air, etc. After the resurrection, the spiritual body will be of another quality, not needing any of that. The spirit body will be fit for the spirit realm, as Paul explained elsewhere: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await from there a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20–21 ). The “humble body” is the body we are born with, fit for this world. The “glorious body” is the spiritual body that believers will receive at the resurrection, fit for eternity. It will be like the one Jesus received when he came out of the tomb. It was visible and recognizable ( John 20:16–18 ). He was palpable and could eat, and yet he could appear and disappear at will (Luke 24:31, 36), and he could ascend to heaven (Acts 1:11).
The spiritual body that the Lord had after His resurrection is the kind of body that believers will have after His resurrection. 1 John 3:2 says, “We will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.” This is the promise of a spiritual body fit for full life and the glory of heaven, a body like Jesus’, one that can eat but doesn’t need to and can defy physical limits and suddenly materialize. The spiritual body will have no expiration date and the age will be meaningless. It will be a real body, but a body that, like the spirit, knows no corruption and has no need of physical sustenance to keep it alive.
The Bible teaches that all people will be resurrected, “some to everlasting life, some to everlasting shame and shame” ( Daniel 12:2 ). So everyone will have a spiritual body, but there will be two different destinations. The difference is faith in Christ (John 3:36; 1 John 5:12). Someday you will be resurrected and receive a spiritual body. The question is, where will you spend eternity?