In heaven, will we have physical bodies?

from the old testament

• Job 19:26 poetically offers an example of longing for a future time when he would see God, saying, "In my flesh I shall see God." Job mentioned seeing God and having a body in the afterlife.
• Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) were both taken directly to heaven in bodily form.

from the new testament

• The examples of people who returned to life in Scripture each included a body. The supreme example is Jesus. He was in a human body when resurrected, though it was different in some ways. At the Transfiguration, the bodies of Moses and Elijah were different, yet also clearly recognizable by Jesus, Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:1–8).
• Jesus, like Enoch and Elijah, ascended in a physical body (Acts 1:9–11). If at least these three people were taken to heaven in a body, it increases the likelihood that other believers in heaven will have bodies as well.
• First Corinthians 15:42–44 teaches, "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." The body will be different in heaven, but it will certainly exist.
• Paul speaks of a new body in heaven using the analogy of a tent. Second Corinthians 5:2–4 notes, "For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life."
• In Revelation 6:9–11, believers who died for their faith are wearing clothes. It is natural to assume that if these people are wearing clothes, they also have some kind of body in heaven. Revelation 22:14 also mentions robes worn in the new heaven.
• It seems that in the New Jerusalem, believers will eat from the tree of life (Revelation 22:1–2). A body would be required in order to eat in heaven. The biblical evidence clearly notes that believers will have a new body in heaven with which we will worship and serve the Lord for eternity.

implications for today

We are called to care for our bodies now, as they are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). Understanding that our bodies are valuable in this life and will be resurrected and transformed in the next helps us view our physical health as part of God's plan. At the same time, we can take comfort in knowing that our current physical struggles are temporary and will give way to a glorious future. The Bible describes our resurrected bodies as being transformed and imperishable, differing greatly from our earthly bodies. In 1 Corinthians 15:42–44, Paul explains that our bodies are sown in weakness and dishonor but will be raised in power and glory, being "spiritual bodies" that are no longer subject to decay or sin. These bodies will be suited for eternal life and will be powerful, glorious, and spiritual in nature, as opposed to the natural, mortal bodies we now have. Revelation 21:4 further assures us that in our resurrected state, there will be no more pain, death, or suffering, as we will be fully restored to perfection. Ultimately, our resurrected bodies will reflect the glory of Christ, enabling us to live in God's presence forever.