Physical body of Jesus in heaven?

[fiat88]

I was not sure where i should post this but i was having a conversation with a friend about if Jesus’ body remained in a physical glorified state post ascension. The bible is clear about Him having a physical (yet glorified) body post resurrection and His body ascending into heaven but id like to know the official teaching on if His body remained that way?

I was arguing that as God/Jesus is not bound by the physical laws of nature he could very well exist in a physical body in heaven. I also added that this would be most fitting as we believe that our glorified physical bodies would be united with our souls at the end of time and would seem rather manicheistic if Jesus did not retain His physical form. Not sure if im on the right track at all here.

Also, did Jesus have a physical body before the incarnation? I assume it is possible but if “The Word was made flesh” i take it He was not flesh before.

Any links to church teachings would also be great. Thankyou.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

Short answer: Yes, he still has his glorified body and will forever. No, he did not have a body before the Incarnation (with the possible exception of theophanies, if there were any, and even then it may have been ‘human in appearance only’ rather than a hypostatic union). I’ll have to get back to you on Church documents.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

I was not sure where i should post this but i was having a conversation with a friend about if Jesus’ body remained in a physical glorified state post ascension. The bible is clear about Him having a physical (yet glorified) body post resurrection and His body ascending into heaven but id like to know the official teaching on if His body remained that way?

I was arguing that as God/Jesus is not bound by the physical laws of nature he could very well exist in a physical body in heaven. I also added that this would be most fitting as we believe that our glorified physical bodies would be united with our souls at the end of time and would seem rather manicheistic if Jesus did not retain His physical form. Not sure if im on the right track at all here.

Also, did Jesus have a physical body before the incarnation? I assume it is possible but if “The Word was made flesh” i take it He was not flesh before.

Any links to church teachings would also be great. Thankyou.

Yes, Christ’s human body is in Heaven but we would say that it is Christ Himself, body, soul, and Divinity Who is in Heaven. But remember that it is a Glorified Body just as ours will be. You need to be reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church so you won’t need to listen to the half baked ideas of your friends.
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

The Catechism teaches the true doctrine of the Church, you will need no other documentation. It is the Church which interprets the Truth of Scripture and Tradition for us. So we don’t have to worry about sorting things out for ourselves. If others will not accept that, that is their problem, not ours.

Linus2nd

 

[Rete]

His physical body unites the material with the eternal in Heaven. How that works is a mystery. I think the Blessed Mother’s body also exists in Heaven since she was assumed into Heaven (she did not experience death but a dormition).

But Christ’s body is alive and well. To be any sort of Christian, you must believe at least that. Christ rose from the dead by his own power and ascended into Heaven. The Logos now has a human body and that body unites humanity with God in Heaven. If Christ’s body was not alive and in Heaven, then Christianity would be a lie – it would imply his body died at some point and he no longer has life.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

Here’s a Scripture passage which may help, from the book of Hebrews:

7:23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. 25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Christ is a priest in virtue of his humanity, therefore it makes no sense to say he is now a priest without his humanity. Even if such a priesthood were possible, it runs contrary to the passage given above.

 

[fiat88]

Yes, Christ’s human body is in Heaven but we would say that it is Christ Himself, body, soul, and Divinity Who is in Heaven. But remember that it is a Glorified Body just as ours will be. You need to be reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church so you won’t need to listen to the half baked ideas of your friends.
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

The Catechism teaches the true doctrine of the Church, you will need no other documentation. It is the Church which interprets the Truth of Scripture and Tradition for us. So we don’t have to worry about sorting things out for ourselves. If others will not accept that, that is their problem, not ours.

Linus2nd

Thankyou for the insight but while i agree that the CCC teaches us true doctrine (which in the case of my question does answer the yes/no side of it) i was actually after more detail as to the why which the CCC alone does not provide. I think it’s fantastic to be able to bounce ideas off friends and hear their opinions, i value other peoples ideas and find it gives me motivation to go look up the truth. Plus an inquiring mind is better than someone who just accepts facts without trying to understand them. Thankyou for the link

 

[Ad_Orientem]

A passage in St. Thomas which may help, in conjunction with Heb. 7:

. . . it is of the nature of a mean to be distant from each extreme: while it unites by communicating to one that which belongs to the other. Now neither of these can be applied to Christ as God, but only as man. . . . (ST III, Q26, a2)