The Exegetical Anatomy of the Term “Body”
in the New Testament
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Introduction
In this study we will review many uses of the term “body” (“σῶμα”) in the New Testament. As a study in exegetical anatomy it helps us understand one aspect of exegetical psychology. We will see that God created our bodies and that He uses our bodies for a variety of purposes. God gave us our bodies that we would use them to serve Him and glorify Him in all that we do.
Section One
Body
1.1 The Body of Adam. Yahweh Elohim created man from the dust of the ground (“וַיִּיצֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֗ם עָפָר֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה“). God then breathed (“וַיִּפַּ֥ח”) into his nostrils (“בְּאַפָּ֖יו“) the breath of life (“נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים“) and the man became a living soul (“וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה“). God created the body first from the dust, and then breathed life into the nostrils of that body (Genesis 2:7). Some people claim that the Hebrew breath (“נְשָׁמָֽה”) is interchangeable with the Hebrew term (“נֶ֥פֶשׁ“). Yet, they retain distinguishable meanings. God commanded Israel not to leave alive (“לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּ֖ה“) anything that breathes (“כָּל־נְשָׁמָֽה”) (Deuteronomy 20:16). God described living creatures as all flesh (“כָּל־בָּשָׂ֗ר”) in which (“אֲשֶׁר־בֹּו֙”) is the “spirit of lives” (“ר֣וּחַ חַיִּ֔ים“) (Genesis 6:17). God also described all things with the breath of the spirit of lives in the nostrils (“נִשְׁמַת־ר֨וּחַ חַיִּ֜ים בְּאַפָּ֗יו“) (Genesis 7:22). From the first chapters in Genesis we see God describing both a spirit of life in man (“ר֣וּחַ חַיִּ֔ים“) and a soul of lives (“נֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה“) in animals. Likewise, lamp of Yahweh (“נֵ֣ר יְ֭הוָה“) is the breath of man (“נִשְׁמַ֣ת אָדָ֑ם“), searching (“חֹ֝פֵ֗שׂ”) all the interior chambers (“כָּל־חַדְרֵי־בָֽטֶן”) (Proverbs 20:7). Breath of Yahweh (“נִשְׁמַ֤ת יְהוָה֙“) is like a torrent of brimstone (Isaiah 30:33).
1.2 The Body of Eve. Yahweh Elohim caused a deep sleep (“תַּרְדֵּמָ֛ה”) to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. Yahweh Elohim built (“וַיִּבֶן֩”) into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. (Genesis 2:21-22).
1.3 The Body of Cain. Then Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. And she said, “I have acquired a man with Yahweh (Genesis 4:1).
1.4 Absent in Body. Paul described himself as present in spirit (“παρὼν τῷ πνεύματι”) with the Corinthians, although he was absent in body (“ἀπὼν τῷ σώματι”) (1 Corinthians 5:3). Paul also rejoiced with the Colossians, rejoicing to see their good discipline and the stability of their faith in Christ, although Paul was absent in body (“τῇ σαρκὶ ἄπειμι”) (Colossians 2:5).
♦ God created Adam from the dust of the ground.
♦ God breathed the breath of life directly into the nostrils of the body of man.
Section Two
The Body of Jesus
2.1 Prepared. God prepared a body for Jesus (Hebrews 10:5).
2.2 Holy Spirit. Before Mary and Joseph came together, she was found to be pregnant having of The Holy Spirit (“πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εὑρέθη ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου“) (Matthew 1:18).
2.3 Appearance. The body of Jesus had no form (“תֹ֥אַר”) or majesty (“הָדָ֑ר”), nor appearance (“מַרְאֶ֖ה”) that people would be attracted to Him (Isaiah 53: 2).
2.4 Death. Jesus truly died (“ἀπέθανεν”) on the cross for our sins (“ἁμαρτιῶν”) (1 Corinthians 15:3). Jesus bore “our sins in His body on the cross, so that to sin (“ἁμαρτίαις”) we might cease (“ἀπογενόμενοι”) and live (“ζήσωμεν”) to righteousness (“δικαιοσύνῃ”); for by His wounds, we are healed (“ἰάθητε”) ” (1 Peter 2:24).
2.5 Redemption. Jesus redeemed saints by the precious blood (“τιμίῳ αἵματι”) of Christ, as a Lamb unblemished and spotless (1 Peter 1:18-19).
2.6 Anointed. In the New Testament, Jesus was anointed twice before death (see the Anointing of Jesus). In one account, a sinful woman expressed her great love for Jesus because He had forgiven her many sins (Luke 7:36-50). In the other account, Mary anointed Jesus for His burial (John 12:1-8; Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9).
2.7 Crucifixion. Jesus was pierced with nails holding His body to the cross (“”).
2.8 Entombment. Joseph of Arimathea received the body of Jesus after it was removed from the cross (Matthew 27:58). Joseph wrapped the body of Jesus in clean linen cloth (Matthew 27:59).
2.9 Sharing. Jesus manifests Himself in our bodies, as we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body (2 Corinthians 4:10).
2.10 Brand Marks. Paul said that no one should cause him any trouble, because he bore the brand marks of Jesus on his body (Galatians 6:17).
2.11 Reconcile. Through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus on the cross, God reconciled Jews and Gentiles, God used the body of Jesus on the cross to death the enmity (Ephesians 2:16).
2.12 Body Prepared. When Jesus comes into the world, Jesus says: God prepared a body for Jesus when He came into the world, because God did not desire sacrifice and offering (Hebrews 10:5).
2.13 Cross. Jesus Himself bore our sins in His body (“σώματι”) on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds we were healed (1 Peter 2:24).
Section Three
Body and Redemption
3.1 Redemption. As believers, we wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies (“τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν τοῦ σώματος ἡμῶν”), and our adoption as sons (“υἱοθεσίαν ἀπεκδεχόμενοι”). Until then, we have the first fruits of the Holy Spirit (“τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τοῦ πνεύματος ἔχοντες”), and we groan within ourselves (“ἐν ἑαυτοῖς στενάζομεν”) (Romans 8:23). At the resurrection, we will be adopted and our bodies redeemed from the curse of sin.
Section Four
Body and Reconciliation
4.1 Reconciliation. Saints who were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, Christ now has reconciled (“ἀποκατηλλάγητε”) in His fleshly body (“τῷ σώματι τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ”) through death, in order to present those saints before Him, holy and blameless and beyond reproach (Colossians 1:22).
Section Five
Body and Church
5.1 Many Members. In the context of spiritual gifts, Paul described the church as the body of Christ. Just as our human body has many members, so also the church has many members consisting of individual believers with distinct spiritual gifts, producing various ministries, and a variety of effects (Romans 12:3). Any analysis of the spiritual welfare of a believer that ignores their spiritual gifts and ministries will miss the individual’s relationship to the church.
5.2 One Body. Although the church has many members, they all compose just one body (“σῶμα”), Body of Christ, the Church (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Corinthians 12:14).
5.3 Baptism. By one Spirit, Jesus baptized all believers into His body, the church (Mark 1:8). Jews, Greeks, slaves and free, were all made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).
5.4 Diversity of Function. Within the one body, God placed feet, eyes, ears and all the body parts, so that each member would serve a particular purpose of edifying the entire body (1 Corinthians 12:15-20). Those purposes related directly to the spiritual gifts given to you for service to God.
5.5 Honor. Some believers seem weaker, but all members are necessary and deserve honor. Believers must be careful to honor the les presentable members of the body. God has composed the body of Christ so that He gives more abundant honor to the members that lacked such honor (1 Corinthians 12:21-24).
5.6 Unity. God builds unity within the Body of Christ by giving more abundant honor to members lacking honor, so that divisions would not arise within the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:25). All believers are members of Christ’s body, and individually members of it (1 Corinthians 12:27).
5.7 Fellow. Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body of Christ, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:18).
5.8 One. There is one body and one Spirit, just as believers were called in one hope of our calling (Ephesians 4:4).
5.9 Nourishes and Cherishes. Just as Christ nourishes and cherishes the church, so also husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies (“σώματα”) (Ephesians 5:28). Likewise, Christ loves the church, because we are members of His body (“σώματος”) (Ephesians 5:30).
5.10 Head. Christ is also the head of the body (“ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ σώματος”), the church (“τῆς ἐκκλησίας”); and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have the first place in everything (Colossians 1:18).
5.11 Holding Fast. When believers no longer hold fast to the head, from Whom the entire body (“σῶμα”), being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from Gog (Colossians 2:19).
5.12 Peace of Christ. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body (“σώματι”); and be thankful (Colossians 3:15).
Section Six
Body and Eyes
6.1 Lamp of the Body. Jesus taught that the eye (“ὀφθαλμός”) is the lamp (“λύχνος”) of the body (“σώματός”). If your eye is clear (“ἁπλοῦς”), then the whole body is full of light (“φωτεινὸν”); if your eye is bad, then your whole body will be full of darkness (“σκότος”) (Matthew 6:22-23). Jesus meant that your eyes can see things that get you into trouble (Matthew 5:28). Furthermore, the lust of the eyes causes all kinds of problems in the world (James 2:16). Likewise, eyes can be used to see Jesus, and declare Him to be the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Jesus commanded everyone to have eyes that see and ears that hear.
Section Seven
Body and Food
7.1 Necessary. If you do not give the poor what they need for their body (“σώματος”), what use is a greeting of God in peace, be warmed and be filled? (James 2:16).
Section Eight
Body and Temple
8.1 Jesus. Jesus referred to the temple of His body (“τοῦ ναοῦ τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ”), which would be torn down and then raised again the third day (John 2:20-21).
8.2 Believers. The body (“σῶμα”) of believers constitutes the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in them (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Section Nine
Body and Exaltation
x. Exaltation. Paul strove not to put Christ to shame, but with all boldness, sought that Christ would be exalted (“μεγαλυνθήσεται”) in his body (“σώματί”), whether by life or by death (Philippians 1:20).
Section Ten
Body and Affliction
10.1 Suffering. Paul rejoiced in his sufferings (“παθήμασιν”) for the sake of the Colossians, and in his flesh (“σαρκί”) he shared on behalf of Christ’s body (“σώματος”), which is the church, in filling up what is lacking (“ὑστερήματα”) in the afflictions (“θλίψεων”) of Christ (Colossians 1:24). Paul meant that believers suffer for the sake of other believers. In doing so, they suffer for the sake of Christ, because the church is the body of Christ. Therefore, in effect, saints fill up what was lacking in the sufferings of Christ. Christ continues to suffer when His church suffers.
10.2 Prisoners. Saints should also remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in body (“σώματι”) (Hebrews 13:3).
Section Eleven
Body and Healing
11.1 Miracles. Jesus miraculously healed many people (Matthew 8:16; 12:15; 15:30). He also
Section Twelve
Body and Breaking of Bread
12.1 Breaking of Bread. Jesus commanded His disciples to “Take, eat; this is My body (“σῶμά”),” referring to the bread at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26). Believers share the bread as a sharing of the body of Christ (“κοινωνία τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ”) (1 Corinthians 10:16).
12.2 One Bread. Believers share in one bread. Believers are many, but one body (“σῶμα”). All believers partake of the one bread (“ἄρτου”) (1 Corinthians 11:24).
12. 3 My Body. Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and said, “This is My body, which is for you” (1 Corinthians 11:27).
12.4 Guilty. Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body (“σώματος”) and the blood (“αἵματος”) of the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:27). For anyone who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment (“κρίμα”) to himself, if he does not judge (“διακρίνων”) the body rightly (1 Corinthians 11:29).
Section Thirteen
Body and Clothing
13.1 More Than Clothing. Jesus warned that our bodies (“σώματι”) are more than clothing. and we should not worry about what to put on our bodies (“σῶμα”) (Matthew 6:25; Luke 12:22-23).
Section Fourteen
Body and Sin
14.1 Body of Sin. According to Paul, our old man was crucified with Him [Christ](“ὁ παλαιὸς ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος συνεσταυρώθη”), so that our body of sin may be done away with (“καταργηθῇ τὸ σῶμα τῆς ἁμαρτίας”), so that we would no longer be slaves of sin (Romans 6:6). Paul used figurative language about our human bodies. He explained that we were crucified with Christ, and because our bodies were crucified with Jesus, we are no longer slaves to sin (“τοῦ μηκέτι δουλεύειν ἡμᾶς τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ”). Because Christ was raised bodily from the dead, death no longer is master over Him. Jesus died to sin once for all. So, God commands us to consider (“λογίζεσθε”) ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God (Romans 6:1-12). Therefore, we do not let sin reign in our mortal body (“τῷ θνητῷ ὑμῶν σώματι”). The body produces lusts, and we must choose to obey the lusts of our bodies or not. We must not continue to present our bodies to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but as we must present our members of the body to God as instruments of righteousness. Sin is no longer master over us, for we are not under the Law, but under grace.
14.2 Deeds of the Body. If you live according to the flesh (“σάρκα”), you must die (“ἀποθνῄσκειν”). In the alternative, if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body (“πράξεις τοῦ σώματος θανατοῦτε”), you will live (“ζήσεσθε”) (Romans 8:13). Notice that the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit puts to death the deeds of the body. Through His power we live.
14.3 One Flesh. Paul warned believers that joining to a prostitute makes a believer one body (“σῶμά”) with her. The two shall become one flesh (“καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν“) (1 Corinthians 6:16). God ordained marriage so that one male and one female would become one flesh (“וְהָי֖וּ לְבָשָׂ֥ר אֶחָֽד“) (Genesis 2:24). Notice the distinction between body and flesh. As believers, we are all one body (“σώματος”), but in marriage and sex we become one flesh (“σάρκα“) with another person. Likewise, a believer can become one body with a prostitute, and also they become one flesh.
14.4 Immorality. Every sin that a man commits is outside the body (“”), but the immoral man sins against his own body (“”) (1 Corinthians 6:18). Instead, the believer should glorify God in his body (“σώματι “) (1 Corinthians 6:20).
14.5 Body of Flesh. In Christ believers are circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ (Colossians 2:11).
14.6 Fleshly Indulgence. Some things may have the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement an severe treatment of the body (“σῶμα”), but are of no value against fleshly (” σαρκός”) indulgence (Colossians 2:23).
14.7 Bridle. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body (“σῶμα”) as well.
14.8 Tongue. The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body (“σῶμα”), and set on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell (“γεέννης”) (James 3:6).
♦ At the moment of salvation, our bodies we were crucified with Christ.
♦ At the moment of salvation, we are no longer slaves of sin, because our bodies were crucified with Christ.
♦ At the moment of salvation, death is no longer master over us.
♦ Our bodies produce lusts, both before and after salvation.
♦ After salvation, we must make continuous choices about obeying the lusts of our bodies.
♦ After salvation, we must present our bodies as instruments of righteousness.
Section Fifteen
Body and God
15.1 Glory. Each believer should glorify God in his body (“σώματι “) (1 Corinthians 6:20).
15.2 Marital Bodies. The wife has authority over the husband’s body (“σώματος”) and the husband has authority over the wife’s body (“σώματος “) (1 Corinthians 7:4).
15.3 Virgins. Virgins desire to be holy both in body (“σώματι”) and spirit (“πνεύματι”) (1 Corinthians 7:34).
Section Sixteen
Body and Spiritual Gifts
16.1 Equipping the Saints. God gave spiritual gifts to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12). Each spiritual gift produces a variety of ministries and each ministry produces a variety of effects (1 Corinthians 12:1-4).
16.2 Whole Body. The entire church, the body of Christ, depends upon every believer using their spiritual gifts. Failure to use those spiritual gifts leads to all kinds of problems in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:13-14). Each believer has at least one spiritual gift that holds the body of Christ together by what every joint supplies. Each individual part must work properly. When the parts work together, the Body of Christ grows into full spiritual maturity and builds itself up in love (Ephesians 4:15-16).
Section Seventeen
Body and Marriage
17.1 Head of the Church. The husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the Head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:30).
Section Eighteen
Body and the Law
18.1 Die to the Law. We were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ (“διὰ τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ”) (Romans 7:4).
18.2 Joined to Jesus. At the moment of salvation, we became joined to another (“εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι ὑμᾶς ἑτέρῳ”), Jesus, raised from dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God (Romans 7:4). Notice the relationship between the physical body and the spiritual body. Jesus was raised physically from the dead, but He also brought spiritual power to our lives, so that believers bear fruit to God.
Section Nineteen
Body of Moses
19.1 Moses. Michael the Archangel dispute with devil and argued over the body of Moses. Yet, Michael did not dare pronounce a railing judgment, bu said, “the Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9).
Section Twenty
Body and Death
20.1 Body of Death. After describing the struggle with sin and the flesh, Paul asked: “Who will set me free from the the body of this death (“τοῦ σώματος τοῦ θανάτου τούτου“)? (Romans 7:24). He considered the body of death a product of sin dominating that body, in connection with the Law, which revealed sin in him and and he also sinned more. Paul then thanked God that with His mind (“νοῒ “) he served God, but in his flesh (“σαρκὶ”), the law of sin (“νόμῳ ἁμαρτίας”) (Romans 7:25). Even so, he thanked God through Jesus Christ our Lord for giving him new life.
20.2 Body Is Dead. With Christ in us, the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. Therefore, we see a distinction between the body and spirit. Salvation does nothing to change the body, but salvation does make the spirit alive. Furthermore, righteousness makes the spirit alive (Romans 8:10).
20.3 Washed Body. When Tabitha died, people washed her body and laid it in an upper room. Peer than came and said, “Tabitha, arise.” She came back to life and she arose (Acts 9:37). Tabitha shows that resurrection involves the body, and well as the spirit and soul.
20.4 As Good as Dead. Abraham did not become weak in faith about the God’s promises, and contemplated (“κατενόησεν”) his body as good as dead (“νενεκρωμένον”), since he was about 100 years old. He also considered the deadness (“νέκρωσιν”) of Sarah’s womb (Romans 4:19). Abraham serves as a great example of faith that God can overcome the normal limitations of the human body to achieve His will. He was the creator of all bodies, and can do with them as He wills.
20.5 Burned Body. Even if a person surrenders his body to be burned, but he does not have love, it profits him nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3).
20.6 Home. At home in the body means that means we are absent from the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6). We prefer to be at home with the Lord and absent from our bodies (2 Corinthians 5:8).
20.7 Spirit. For just as the body (“σῶμα”) without the spirit (“πνεύματος”) is dead (“νεκρόν”), so also faith without works is dead (James 2:26).
Section Twenty One
Body and Hell
21.1 Body Cast into Hell. Jesus warned people to sever important body parts rather than have the whole body cast into hell (“γέενναν”) (Matthew 5:29-30).
Section Twenty Two
Body and Destruction
22.1 Fear. Jesus commanded believer not to fear beings who can only kill the body (“σῶμα”), but can do nothing further. Instead, people should fear God who able to destroy (“ἀπολέσαι”) both body (“σῶμα”) and soul (“ψυχὴν”) in hell (“γεέννῃ”) (Matthew 10:28).
Section Twenty Three
Body and Resurrection
23.1 Dead Raised. How are the dead raised (1 Corinthians 15:35)? What kind of body do they have? Paul explained in detail that bodily resurrection forms a cornerstone of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:3). In death the body is sown as bare grain (1 Corinthians 15:37-38). God then gives each seed a body of its own (1 Corinthians 15:39). There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies (1 Corinthians 15:40). So also the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, but it is raised an imperishable (“ἀφθαρσίᾳ”) body (1 Corinthians 15:42). It is sown a natural body (“ἀτιμίᾳ”), it is raised in glory (1 Corinthians 15:43). It is sown a soulish (“ψυχικόν”) body, but it is raised as a spiritual body (“σῶμα πνευματικόν”) (1 Corinthians 15:44). Notice the contrast between “soulish” and “spiritual” bodies. If Christ was not raised from the dead, then we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). Because Christ was raised from the dead, so also we shall be raised to live in Christ after physical death (Romans 6:4).
23.2 Transform. The Lord Jesus Christ will transform (“μετασχηματίσει”) the body (“σῶμα”) of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power (“δύνασθαι”) that He has to subject (“ὑποτάξαι”) all things to Himself (Philippians 3:21).
Section Twenty Four
Body and Judgment
24.1 Judgement Seat. While no believer will appear before at the Great White Throne Judgment, every believer will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ (the bematos). There, each believer shall be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Section Twenty Five
Body and Sanctification
25.1 Spirit, Soul and Body. Now may the peace of God Himself sanctify (“ἁγιάσαι”) you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Thessalonians 5:23).
25.2 Sanctified. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10).
Section Twenty Six
Body and Paradise
26.1 Paradise. Paul was caught up to Paradise, but he did not know if it was in the body or apart from the body. God knows. (2 Corinthians 12:3).
Appendix One
A Chart of the Use of the Term Body in the New Testament