# G4983 - soma **Strong's:** [G4983](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4983/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** so'-mah **Part of speech:** neuter noun **NT occurrences:** 142 ## Semantic range (Thayer / BDAG / TDNT) 1. **Physical body** of a human or animal, alive or dead 2. **The whole person** considered as embodied (the integrated psycho-somatic unity) 3. **The body of Christ** in two senses: - The physical body of the historical / risen / glorified Christ - The church as the corporate body of which Christ is the head 4. **The "spiritual body"** of the resurrection ([1 Cor 15:44](/codex/1-corinthians-15-44/)) 5. **The substance / essence** as opposed to shadow ([Col 2:17](/codex/colossians-2-17/), "things which are a mere shadow… but the *sōma* belongs to Christ") ## Theological force, three major NT applications ### 1. The body in human anthropology The *sōma* is the integrated physical aspect of human existence. The NT does not present the body as inferior or evil (against Greek-philosophical / Gnostic body-soul dualism that disparages embodiment): - The body is created good ([Gen 1:31](/codex/genesis-1-31/)) - The body is part of the *imago Dei* ([Genesis 1.27](/codex/genesis-1-27/)) - The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit ([1 Cor 6:19-20](/codex/1-corinthians-6-19-20/)) - The body is to be presented "as a living sacrifice" to God ([Rom 12:1](/codex/romans-12-1/)) - The body will be redeemed / resurrected ([Rom 8:23](/codex/romans-8-23/); [1 Cor 15](/codex/1-corinthians-15/)) The NT anthropology is **embodied / holistic**, the person is not a "soul trapped in a body" (Greek-philosophical) but a unity of body, soul, and spirit ([1 Thess 5:23](/codex/1-thessalonians-5-23/)). ### 2. The body of Christ, Eucharistic / Christological - **[Matthew 26:26](/codex/matthew-26-26/) / [Mark 14:22](/codex/mark-14-22/) / [Luke 22:19](/codex/luke-22-19/)**, "this is My *sōma*" - **[1 Corinthians 10:16](/codex/1-corinthians-10-16/); 11:24, 27, 29**, Eucharistic *sōma* - **[Hebrews 10:5](/codex/hebrews-10-5/), [10](/codex/hebrews-10-10/)**, Christ's body offered as the once-for-all sacrifice - **[John 2:21](/codex/john-2-21/)**, Christ's *sōma* as the temple to be raised in three days - **[Philippians 3:21](/codex/philippians-3-21/)**, "the *sōma* of His glory"; our bodies to be conformed to it - **[Luke 24.39](/codex/luke-24-39/)**, risen *sōma* of "flesh and bones" (anti-docetic) - **[1 Peter 2:24](/codex/1-peter-2-24/)**, Christ "bore our sins in His *sōmati*" The Eucharistic-theological interpretations diverge: - **Roman Catholic transubstantiation**, the bread literally becomes Christ's body - **Lutheran consubstantiation / sacramental union**, Christ's body is "in, with, and under" the bread - **Reformed spiritual presence** (Calvin), Christ is truly present spiritually in the believer's communion-reception - **Memorial / Zwinglian view**, the Eucharist is a memorial; the bread symbolizes the body ### 3. The body of Christ, ecclesiological Paul develops the church as the *sōma* of Christ extensively: - **[Romans 12:4-5](/codex/romans-12-4-5/)**, "we, who are many, are one *sōma* in Christ, and individually members one of another" - **[1 Corinthians 12:12-27](/codex/1-corinthians-12-12-27/)**, the most extensive treatment; many members, one *sōma*; each member has indispensable function - **[Ephesians 1:22-23](/codex/ephesians-1-22-23/); 4:4, 12-16; 5:23, 30**, Christ as head of the *sōma* (the church) - **[Colossians 1:18](/codex/colossians-1-18/), [24](/codex/colossians-1-24/); 2:19; 3:15**, the *sōma* of which Christ is head The ecclesiology: the church is *one body* with *many members* organically united to *Christ as head*. This is not metaphorical alone but spiritual-real, the church *is* Christ's body in the world. ## *Sōma* and the resurrection body [1 Corinthians 15:35-49](/codex/1-corinthians-15-35-49/), the most extensive NT treatment of the resurrection body: - *Sōma psychikon* (natural body), current embodiment, animated by the soul - *Sōma pneumatikon* (spiritual body), resurrection embodiment, animated / empowered by the Spirit *Pneumatikon* does NOT mean "non-physical." It means "Spirit-empowered" / "Spirit-animated." The resurrection body remains physical (per [Luke 24.39](/codex/luke-24-39/), flesh and bones) but is **transformed**: imperishable, glorious, powerful, Spirit-empowered. The continuity: - *Same body*, Christ shows His wounds ([Jn 20:27](/codex/john-20-27/)) - *Transformed*, passes through closed doors ([Jn 20:19](/codex/john-20-19/)) ## The body / spirit distinction (and non-distinction) NT anthropology is debated, three main positions: - **Trichotomism**, body, soul, spirit as three components ([1 Thess 5:23](/codex/1-thessalonians-5-23/); [Heb 4:12](/codex/hebrews-4-12/)) - **Dichotomism**, body + soul/spirit (the soul and spirit are facets of one immaterial component) - **Monism / holistic dualism**, the person is one integrated whole that may temporarily separate at death (intermediate state) but will be re-united in resurrection Conservative scholars (Wayne Grudem; Bruce Ware; Anthony Hoekema) typically defend dichotomism or holistic dualism. The body is not the *prison* of the soul (Plato) but the *integrated companion* of the soul / spirit. ## Apologetic significance *Sōma* anchors: 1. **Anti-docetic Christology**, the real bodily incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ ([Luke 24.39](/codex/luke-24-39/)) 2. **Anti-Gnostic anthropology**, the body is good, redeemable, eschatologically glorified 3. **Pro-life / sexual ethics grounding**, the body's sacredness; sexual ethics integral to bodily integrity ([1 Cor 6](/codex/1-corinthians-6/)) 4. **Ecclesiology**, the visible church as Christ's body; the necessity of the local church 5. **Eschatology**, resurrection of the body, not mere immortality of the soul ## Notable verses - **[Matthew 26:26](/codex/matthew-26-26/)**, "this is My *sōma*" - **[Romans 6:6](/codex/romans-6-6/)**, "our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with" - **[Romans 8:23](/codex/romans-8-23/)**, "the redemption of our *sōmatos*" - **[Romans 12:1](/codex/romans-12-1/)**, "present your *sōmata* a living and holy sacrifice" - **[1 Corinthians 6:13-20](/codex/1-corinthians-6-13-20/)**, body for the Lord; temple of the Holy Spirit - **[1 Corinthians 12:12-27](/codex/1-corinthians-12-12-27/)**, body / members ecclesiology - **[1 Corinthians 15:35-49](/codex/1-corinthians-15-35-49/)**, resurrection-body treatment - **[Ephesians 1:22-23](/codex/ephesians-1-22-23/); 4:12-16**, body / head ecclesiology - **[Philippians 3:21](/codex/philippians-3-21/)**, bodies conformed to Christ's glorified body - **[Hebrews 10:5](/codex/hebrews-10-5/), [10](/codex/hebrews-10-10/)**, Christ's body sacrificed - **[Luke 24.39](/codex/luke-24-39/)**, risen body of flesh and bones ## Patristic / scholarly note Patristic anti-Gnostic literature defends the goodness / reality of the body extensively (Irenaeus *Against Heresies*; Tertullian *On the Resurrection of the Flesh*; Augustine *City of God* XXII). Modern: N. T. Wright (*The Resurrection of the Son of God*, 2003); Anthony Hoekema (*The Bible and the Future*, 1979); Wayne Grudem (*Systematic Theology*); David VanDrunen on bodily ethics; J. P. Moreland (*Body and Soul*, 2000 with Scott Rae). ## See also - [G4561 - sarx](/codex/g4561-sarx/), flesh - [G5590 - psyche](/codex/g5590-psyche/), soul - [G4151 - pneuma](/codex/g4151-pneuma/), spirit - [G0386 - anastasis](/codex/g0386-anastasis/), resurrection - [Luke 24.39](/codex/luke-24-39/), bodily resurrection passage - [Genesis 1.27](/codex/genesis-1-27/), *imago Dei* - [Modal Argument from Mind](/codex/modal-argument-from-mind/), body / mind anthropology ## Notes _Lexical workspace for sōma._