The Watchtower cites 1 Corinthians 15 as “proof” that Jesus could not have been resurrected with a physical body.
1 Cor. 15:40, 42-44, 47-50: There are heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly bodies is one sort, and that of the earthly bodies is a different sort. So also is the resurrection of the dead. . . . It is sown a physical body, it is raised up a spiritual body. . . . The first man [Adam] is out of the earth and made of dust; the second man [Jesus Christ] is out of heaven. As the one made of dust is, so those made of dust are also; and as the heavenly one is, so those who are heavenly are also. And just as we have borne the image of the one made of dust, we shall bear also the image of the heavenly one. However, this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom.” (There is no allowance here for any mixing of the two sorts of bodies or the taking of a fleshly body to heaven.)[1]
You can see how Jehovah’s Witnesses turn this into soundbites:
- “Heavenly bodies… earthly bodies”
- “Physical body… spiritual body”
- “Flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom.”
Let’s see how we can come up with a soundbite response. Continue reading
