15:44 natural body . . . spiritual body. This last contrast is difficult to understand but of great importance. Paul does not have in mind a contrast between physical and nonphysical, material and immaterial. The resurrection body is a physical body, not an intangible ghost. The apostle has already used the words “natural” and “spiritual” to distinguish the individual who does not have the Holy Spirit from the one who does (2:6, 14 notes). The natural person belongs to the present age (1:20), while the spiritual person is a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20). Christians have received the Holy Spirit and are on that account “spiritual.” They have not yet received the spiritual “body,” the body that will be fully conformed to the life given by the Spirit. See Rom. 8:22–25 and note.