1Cor 15,40–41: Paul and the Heavenly Bodies

Abstract Interpreters who have claimed that Paul viewed the heavenly bodies of 1Cor 15,40–41 as living beings have used two basic arguments that are each beset by inherent weaknesses. One enumerates the views of various Hellenistic philosophers and others concerning the animate nature of the stars. The other argument claims that all usages of σῶμα in Paul refer to organic entities. Scholars have often ignored handbooks such as those of Aetius that include many alternative views. Paul based his affirmations on sense experience and probably believed that the heavenly bodies were creations of God — but not animate beings. A corollary of this conclusion is that Paul’s statements about heavenly bodies do not indicate anything about the composition of the σῶμα πνευματικόν in 1Cor 15.