T
TheosisM
Guest
One of the unique claims of Mormonism is the belief that the Father is corporeal, having a body of flesh and bones (like Jesus does due to the Resurrection and Ascension). I am wondering how to respond to this from a Trinitarian perspective, and will begin by giving the LDS argument as I have read it. I have read the CAF article on this issue, which really focuses on ECF writings, however I would like to focus on what the Bible says (which is why I’m posting in this sub-forum 
).
Mormons interpret Genesis 1:26 as referring, not only to a figurative image and likeness (i.e. rational soul) to God, but also a physical likeness.
**Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:26 (NAB)
Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.”
**
Mormons will continue the focus on what “image, after our likeness” by referring to Genesis 5:3-
**
Genesis 5:3 (KJV)
3And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
Genesis 5:3 (NAB)
Adam was one hundred and thirty years old when he begot a son in his likeness, after his image; and he named him Seth.**
So, here we see that Adam begets a son “in his likeness, after his image”, which clearly (according to the argument) is referring to physicality. So, Mormons wonder why these two instances of the same phrase are interpreted differently (i.e. referring to two different things).
A common objection is that if we interpret the Bible as literally talking about God having a body, then we also have to believe that God has wings (Ps. 91:4), for example. Mormons respond that it is clear what the metaphor of “wings” means (Matt 23:37), while the Bible gives no clues as to the metaphorical interpretation of seeing God’s back parts, for example (Ex 33:23), or Stephen’s vision of God (Acts 7:55-56).
The final main part of the Mormon argument is on John 4:24-
**John 4:24 (KJV)
24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24 (NAB)
God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth."**
Trinitarians state that if God is a spirit, then He can’t have a body of flesh and bones, since Jesus says that a spirit does not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)
Now, the Mormon argument identifies that ancient Greek did not have indefinite articles such as “a” and “an”, therefore the NAB translation is correct, and leads to a parallel structure with 1 John 1:5 (“God is light”) and 1 John 4:8 (“God is love”). So, it seems that it is more likely that John 4:24 is not talking about the “physical” nature of God, but a characteristic of His…personality and “activity towards men”, such as “love” and “light”. They refer to 1 Cor 6:17 to show that he who is joined unto the Lord is one spirit, yet we also have bodies, so there is no contradiction. They also refer to Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension, where He clearly still has a body of flesh and bones, yet He did not cease being a Spirit, if we accept that God is a spirit only.
Also, a curious philosophical question is where does the idea that spirits are incorporeal come from? Do we really believe that those in Heaven have no form (since this is pre-resurrection)?
Thanks for any responses, as this is a topic that I find fascinating, and find the Mormon argument very intriguing. I simply would like to understand this issue from a Trinitarian Biblical perspective.
I would like to close with this painting from the Sistene Chapel, with an interesting caption on the Vatican website:
mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/x-Schede/CSNs/CSNs_V_StCentr_06.html
"
*Creation of Adam
(Genesis 1: 26-27)
“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him” (Genesis 1: 27).
The focal point of the episode of the Creation of man is the contact between the fingers of the Creator and those of Adam, through which the breath of life is transmitted. God, supported by angels in flight and wrapped in a mantle, leans towards Adam, shown as a resting athlete, whose beauty seems to confirm the words of the Old Testament, according to which man was created to the image and likeness of God."*
).Mormons interpret Genesis 1:26 as referring, not only to a figurative image and likeness (i.e. rational soul) to God, but also a physical likeness.
**Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:26 (NAB)
Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.”
**
Mormons will continue the focus on what “image, after our likeness” by referring to Genesis 5:3-
**
Genesis 5:3 (KJV)
3And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
Genesis 5:3 (NAB)
Adam was one hundred and thirty years old when he begot a son in his likeness, after his image; and he named him Seth.**
So, here we see that Adam begets a son “in his likeness, after his image”, which clearly (according to the argument) is referring to physicality. So, Mormons wonder why these two instances of the same phrase are interpreted differently (i.e. referring to two different things).
A common objection is that if we interpret the Bible as literally talking about God having a body, then we also have to believe that God has wings (Ps. 91:4), for example. Mormons respond that it is clear what the metaphor of “wings” means (Matt 23:37), while the Bible gives no clues as to the metaphorical interpretation of seeing God’s back parts, for example (Ex 33:23), or Stephen’s vision of God (Acts 7:55-56).
The final main part of the Mormon argument is on John 4:24-
**John 4:24 (KJV)
24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24 (NAB)
God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth."**
Trinitarians state that if God is a spirit, then He can’t have a body of flesh and bones, since Jesus says that a spirit does not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)
Now, the Mormon argument identifies that ancient Greek did not have indefinite articles such as “a” and “an”, therefore the NAB translation is correct, and leads to a parallel structure with 1 John 1:5 (“God is light”) and 1 John 4:8 (“God is love”). So, it seems that it is more likely that John 4:24 is not talking about the “physical” nature of God, but a characteristic of His…personality and “activity towards men”, such as “love” and “light”. They refer to 1 Cor 6:17 to show that he who is joined unto the Lord is one spirit, yet we also have bodies, so there is no contradiction. They also refer to Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension, where He clearly still has a body of flesh and bones, yet He did not cease being a Spirit, if we accept that God is a spirit only.
Also, a curious philosophical question is where does the idea that spirits are incorporeal come from? Do we really believe that those in Heaven have no form (since this is pre-resurrection)?
Thanks for any responses, as this is a topic that I find fascinating, and find the Mormon argument very intriguing. I simply would like to understand this issue from a Trinitarian Biblical perspective.
I would like to close with this painting from the Sistene Chapel, with an interesting caption on the Vatican website:
mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/x-Schede/CSNs/CSNs_V_StCentr_06.html
"
*Creation of Adam
(Genesis 1: 26-27)
“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him” (Genesis 1: 27).
The focal point of the episode of the Creation of man is the contact between the fingers of the Creator and those of Adam, through which the breath of life is transmitted. God, supported by angels in flight and wrapped in a mantle, leans towards Adam, shown as a resting athlete, whose beauty seems to confirm the words of the Old Testament, according to which man was created to the image and likeness of God."*
A photograph or portrait of someone is an “image” of that person. But a 2-dimensional “image” is not anywhere close to the living, breathing, 3-dimensional real person.