BODY in OT represents various Heb. words, especially that for ‘flesh.’ In Exodus 24:10 it means, by a common idiom, ‘the framework of heaven’; there is no personification. In NT, though the body may be the seat of sin and death ( Romans 6:6; Romans 7:24 ), it is never treated with contempt ( Romans 12:1 , 1 Corinthians 6:13; 1 Corinthians 6:19 ); Philippians 3:21 is a well-known mistranslation. Accordingly it could be used metaphorically of the Church, Christ being sometimes the Head, sometimes the Body itself.
C. W. Emmet.
Complete and trustworthy, Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible is a thorough reference (5,915 entries) for all readers of the Bible. For nearly a century, lay people and scholars alike have valued the authoritative contents and the convenient format of this one-volume work.Wikipedia
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