Christians, if the body is just a shell for the real "person", then why does the Bible speak of...?

Question

a bodily resurrection?

Because, Nicknames... I addressed this to Christians. But that doesn't stop anyone else from adding their two cents...

Answer 1

Resurrection, Soul, spirit and death.

Luke 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him,
saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
Luke 8:52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said,
Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. Luke 8:54 And he put
them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying,
Maid, arise. Luke 8:55 And her spirit came again,
and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
REAL RESURRECTION: 1Cor.15:22 For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
SPIRIT: Num.16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said,
O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin,
and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation.
Isa.42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens,
and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth,
and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath
unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
SPIRIT RETURNS TO GOD:
Eccl.12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as
it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
SPIRIT RETURNS TO RESURRECT THE DEAD:
Psm.104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled:
thou takest away their breath,
they die, and return to their dust.
Psm.104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created:
and thou renewest the face of the earth.
DEATH: Psm.49:14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave;
death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have
dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty
shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
DEATH: Psm.146:3 Put not yourtrust in princes,
nor in the son of man,in whom there is no help.
Psm.146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth
to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Psm.115:15 Ye are blessed of the LORD
which made heaven and earth. Psm.115:16 The
heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's:
but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Psm.115:17 The dead praise not the LORD,
neither any that go down into silence.
EARLY ON EARTH RESURRECTION:
Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the
resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not
left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Matt.27:52 And the graves were opened; and many
bodies of the saints which slept arose, Matt.27:53;
And came out of the graves after his [Jesus],
resurrection, and went into the holy city, and
appeared unto many.
EARLY HEAVENS RESURRECTION:
Rev.6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal,
I saw under the altar the souls of them that
were slain for the word of God, and for the
testimony which they held:
Rev.6:10 And they cried with a loud voice,
saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true,
dost thou not judge and avenge our blood
on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev.6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them;
and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for
a little season, until their fellowservants also and their
brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be
fulfilled. John 6:39,40,44[raised up at last day];
1Thes.4:15-17; Rev.1:7; Acts 1:9-11; Jesus coming.
SOULS:
Souls are created as Adam and Eve.
Souls are now born in sin because of these.
Souls are resurrected to salavations and made free.
Psalms 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee:
in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
Psalms 7:2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces,
while there is none to deliver.

Answer 2

I really don't know where you got that "shell" thing from.
Authentic Christian teaching holds that the body is an essential part of the human person, destined to be resurrected in glory. That's why Paul speaks about the need for body, soul and spirit to be spotless. He also says the body should be cared for and respected. And also "Glorify God in your soul and in your body". The idea of body as a "shell" appears nowhere in the Bible, nor in the earlier Christian writings. Maybe some New age stuff disguised as Christian would say that.
I also refer you to John Paul II's catechesis on the "theology of the body" from the late '80-s. They were published in English.

Answer 3

Excellent question. Good for you.

If the human body is but a mere shell for the soul, then the bible and the the church are but shells for the intellect. A "bodily Resurrection" is seen (in the case of the Christ) and promised (in the case of the followers) because the body is all we really care about.

There's the ever-after.

But then, there's advertising.

Answer 4

If you think that the body is you, then why is it a person can lose both their arms and legs, still the person remains? Why is that you can have a heart transplant but you remain? Why is it that in death, the body remains but you are gone!

The eyes cry tears, but the eye does not care! The eye focuses on what ever is in front of the head, but neither the head or the eye care about what was brought in to focus.

That which does care is the YOU! The body is just a tool that is used by YOU!

Answer 5

God created humans as composite beings with intellect and free will, who possess a body, a mind, and a soul.

This makes humans unique in all God's creation.

After Adam's sin, mankind was corrupted. Things on earth no longer functioned the way God intended them.

In the next age, God will restore all that was lost.

In the case of our (composite) humanity, this means that our mind and soul will be integrated into a new, glorified and perfect body, just like the one that Jesus and his mother Mary now enjoy in heaven.

Then, suitably equipped for an eternity in God's immediate presence, we will be able to get on with the work that God originally had in mind for us.

Answer 6

In authentic Christian and Jewish thought, the body is as much the person as the soul. You aren't "in" your body; you are your body. That's why Christianity teaches resurrection and not disembodied immortality. Another reason Christianity was able to inculcate a genuine regard for justice and human rights, IMHO.

Answer 7

Who says the body is just the shell of a real person? What relevance does the bible have to this?

Answer 8

Those bodies (all the dust particles etc.) will rise up and meet with the spirit into the heavenly immortal eternal "perfect" body. Remember Jesus told one of His followers not to touch Him because He hadn't ascended to Heaven yet?

Answer 9

maybe because our physical bodies will be resurrected during the rapture. as far as the shell thing goes, are you refering to the physical body being a temple of god? true that the body is 'dust and bones' as axl said, but our bodies will be changed to that of or similar to angels in heaven.

Answer 10

I dont know but asking these kinds of questions is good... watching the religious people try to come up with excuses for stuff is kinda funny.