What will Christian bodies be like after the Resurrection?

At the end of the Apostles’ Creed, Christians affirm their belief in the resurrection of the body. What form that will take is often a topic of discussion. What will we look like? Will we recognize others, will they recognize us?

The apostle Paul writing to the church in Corinth answered the first of these questions. In 1 Corinthians 15:35-52. He uses the analogy of the seed and the flower. Our earthly bodies are like the seed. Our heavenly bodies are like the flower. The seed and the flower are very different as our earthly bodies and our heavenly bodies will be. The seed is buried in the earth and a beautiful flower emerges. This analogy does not answer the other questions about recognition of one another, but Paul, in this same letter to the Corinthians wrote,

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

1 Corinthians 13:12

Our present bodies are appropriate for this life on planet earth but God is going to give us new glorious spiritual bodies suited for the life to come. We do not know all the details of our resurrection bodies because quite frankly they are beyond our human understanding. As Paul wrote,

”Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” 

1 Corinthians 15:51,52

Though earthly bodies may decay or be consumed in a variety of ways, when Christians come into the presence of God after this life, we will probably recognize each other in our new glorious bodies. Those bodies will be without sin, sickness, sorrow, and weakness, and will never die. These resurrection bodies will be eternal and nothing can ever again separate believers from the love of Christ, their Lord. They will be united with those believers and family members whom they have loved.

Trying to imagine this can be hard. We don’t have all the answers but we are assured that God will welcome those who have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. This is all we really need to know about what our resurrection heavenly bodies will be like. The rest we can leave to God. Jesus said,

“When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

John 14:3 (NLT)

Jesus is coming again. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) Are you ready for His return? If not, please read our post: How Can I Become a Christian?

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Art is a composite of two copyrighted photos: maridav / 123RF Stock Photo and jagcz / 123RF Stock Photo