What are celestial bodies ?

RickReads said:

What are celestial bodies?

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
1 Corinthians 15:40

Someone recently told me that the belief that Jesus has a celestial body sounds like Morman doctrine. Then said Paul was talking about the moon, stars etc. when he used the term celestial body.

What do you think? Hit me with it.

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In English Literature, Celestial bodies are suns, stars, comets. Terrestrial bodies have a surface on which to stand which includes all the planets. Earth is terrestrial
Why the glory of stars is greater than the glory of earth, perhaps as a literal meaning, the stars are pure light, pure energy while planets are material, heavy metal. If the shine can be the glory, then there are two different shines, definitely.

Since we cannot know what we will become, I get the sense that what Paul is saying is that our bodies will be a different kind of body.

The new resurrection body will be incorruptible, like it is made from sky like materials instead of earth like materials. This is to say the bodies we will be given will be completely different than the ones we have now.

See below for the scriptures I was reflecting on.

A couple chapters back Paul said,

1 Corinthians 13
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Here is the context of the verse you quoted.

1 Corinthians 15
35 ¶ But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

RickReads said:

What are celestial bodies?

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
1 Corinthians 15:40

Someone recently told me that the belief that Jesus has a celestial body sounds like Morman doctrine. Then said Paul was talking about the moon, stars etc. when he used the term celestial body.

What do you think? Hit me with it.

Click to expand...

It doesn't so much pertain to Jesus as it does to all men at the resurrection. The writer says that there are different types of flesh, and as examples points out the difference between the flesh of animals, birds, and fish. His belief is that a resurrected body will be "different" than the earthly physical body. He does not say specifically what that body will be like, only that it will be different.

It doesn't give much insight into the nature of Jesus's resurrected body. We hold that his resurrected body was physical. John 20 and 21 tells of Thomas touching Jesus's physical body and then of his eating fish after the resurrection to dispel the gnostic idea of Jesus being an incorporeal spirit after the resurrection, but does not answer the question.

RickReads said:

If I remember correctly, I believe Jewish oral tradition teaches that angels are made out of fire as we are made out of dirt.

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Interesting.

Since we'll be "children of the resurrection" we'd be made out of something else.

Michael Collum said:

Since we cannot know what we will become, I get the sense that what Paul is saying is that our bodies will be a different kind of body.

The new resurrection body will be incorruptible, like it is made from sky like materials instead of earth like materials. This is to say the bodies we will be given will be completely different than the ones we have now.

See below for the scriptures I was reflecting on.

A couple chapters back Paul said,

1 Corinthians 13
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Here is the context of the verse you quoted.

1 Corinthians 15
35 ¶ But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Click to expand...

How do I delete this post which was to be an answer to Michael's post and was accidently posted without any comment?

RickReads said:

...Someone recently told me that the belief that Jesus has a celestial body sounds like Morman doctrine. Then said Paul was talking about the moon, stars etc. when he used the term celestial body.

What do you think? Hit me with it.

Click to expand...

I think you should read the whole 1 Corinthians 15. It also speaks of spiritual body.

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:44

The celestial bodies I think are for example sun and moon, because it continues by saying:

There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
1 Corinthians 15:41

RickReads said:

What are celestial bodies?

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
1 Corinthians 15:40

Someone recently told me that the belief that Jesus has a celestial body sounds like Morman doctrine. Then said Paul was talking about the moon, stars etc. when he used the term celestial body.

What do you think? Hit me with it.

Click to expand...

Paul informs us as to what he meant regarding the celestial bodies in the passage.


1 Corinthians 15:40-41
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

RickReads said:

Opinions split on that. I see points on both sides of the opinions. I like to ask questions like these to see if anybody has anything different to offer.

Click to expand...

It is interesting when we study 1 Corinthians 15 Paul defines the Gospel in 1-8 then spends the rest of the chapter on the heart of that Gospel the Bodily Resurrection. He uses several analogies from nature to drive home his point. What is interesting to note is that in every single case Paul uses something that is physical in nature to describe the body- the Greek word is soma. So a spiritual body does not mean one that is incorporeal but just the opposite. Other than the Deity of Christ this has been the most studied topic over the past 40 years. I love to discuss the bodily Resurrection, Ascension and 2nd Coming of Christ. Its a passion on mine

RickReads said:

Opinions split on that. I see points on both sides of the opinions. I like to ask questions like these to see if anybody has anything different to offer.

Click to expand...

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
There are also celestial bodies,.... Or bodies in the heavens, as the sun, moon, and stars:and bodies terrestrial; or bodies on earth, animate and inanimate, men, beasts, trees, minerals, &c.

Matthew Poole's Commentary
There are also celestial bodies; such are the sun, the moon, and the stars.
And bodies terrestrial; men, beasts, birds, fishes, the elements, stones, &c.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
40. celestial bodies—not the sun, moon, and stars, which are first introduced in 1Co 15:41, but the bodies of angels, as distinguished from the bodies of earthly creatures.
the glory of the celestial—(Lu 9:26).
glory of … terrestrial—(Mt 6:28, 29; 1Pe 1:24).

Bengel's
1 Corinthians 15:40. Ἐπουράνια, CELESTIAL bodies) The sun, moon, stars.—ἑπίγεια, terrestrial bodies) vegetables, animals.—ἑτέρα δὲ, but is one) Concerning the glory of terrestrial bodies, comp. Matthew 6:28-29; 1 Peter 1:24.

Vincent's Word Studies
Celestial bodies (σώματα ἐπουράνια)
Bodies terrestrial (σώματα ἐπίγεια)

Looking back to 1 Corinthians 15:39, and grouping men, beasts, birds, fishes under this term. It is to be observed that the apostle makes two general categories - terrestrial and celestial bodies, and shows the distinctions of organization subsisting between the members of each - men, beasts, fishes, birds, and the sun, moon, stars; and that he also shows the distinction between the two categories regarded as wholes. "The glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is different."

Barnes' Notes on the Bible
There are also celestial bodies - The planets; the stars; the host of heaven; see 1 Corinthians 15:41.

And bodies terrestrial - On earth; earthly. He refers here to the bodies of human beings, beasts, birds, etc.; perhaps, also, of trees and vegetables. The sense is, "There is a great variety of bodies. Look upon the heavens,

hope this helps !!!

RickReads said:

The Bible indicates that we will be like Jesus since we become brethren of His. He is firstborn from the dead.

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It says we will become His Bride also, so familial associations are most likely figurative pointing to sharing the same blood.

Paul contemplated the natural to draw conclusions about the spiritual. What I heard about the celestial body is that the flesh is the husk of a seed and the celestial body is the plant.

the celestial body is the soul. It will have a nature and a shape that is kin to our spiritual nature. our Celestial body is a symbolic representation of what we freely became. Material in the spiritual world is for spiritual expression and delight. Material is a correspondence of wisdom and will.