Body imagery uses body, head, and member language to describe the unity, diversity, dependence, and shared life of God’s people in Christ.
Body imagery uses body, head, and member language to describe the unity, diversity, dependence, and shared life of God’s people in Christ.
A New Testament ecclesial imagery pattern in which the church is represented as a living body whose members belong to one another, receive life and direction from Christ the Head, and serve different functions for the good of the whole.
These examples show how Body Imagery functions in biblical language, rhetoric, poetry, prophecy, narrative, or theological imagery.
many members, one body
Paul uses body imagery to explain unity in Christ while preserving the differing functions of believers.
bodies are members of Christ
Body imagery grounds sexual holiness in union with Christ and the Spirit’s indwelling.
one bread, one body
Shared participation in the bread is used to speak of covenantal unity among believers.
one body, many members
The body image explains how diverse believers belong to one Spirit-formed whole.
you are the body of Christ
The body image rebukes self-sufficiency and contempt within the church.
church as his body
The church is described as Christ’s body under His headship and fullness.
fellow members of the body
Body language communicates the inclusion of Gentiles in one gospel people.
body grows from the Head
Growth imagery presents Christ as the source from whom the body is joined and built up.
Christ and the church as body
Marriage and body imagery converge to describe Christ’s nourishing love for the church.
head of the body, the church
Head/body imagery identifies Christ as the preeminent source and ruler of the church.
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