We rarely give thought to our bodies until faced with a physical challenge or crisis. We have somehow internalized the unbiblical idea that the immaterial aspect of our being (our soul or spirit) is inherently good while the material aspect (our body) is at worst inherently evil and at best neutral--just a vehicle for our souls to get around. So we end up neglecting or disparaging our bodies, seeing them as holding us back from spiritual growth and longing for the day we will be free of them.
But the thing is, we don't have bodies; we are our bodies. And God created us that way for a reason. With Scripture as his guide, theologian Gregg Allison presents a holistic theology of the human body from conception through eternity to equip us to address pressing contemporary issues related to our bodies, including how we express our sexuality, whether gender is inherent or constructed, the meaning of suffering, body image, end of life questions, and how to live as whole people in a fractured world.
Gregg R. Allison (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is secretary of the Evangelical Theological Society, a book review editor for the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, an elder at Sojourn Community Church, and a theological strategist for Sojourn Network. Allison has taught at several colleges and seminaries, including Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and is the author of numerous books, including Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine, Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church, and Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment.
Embodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World by Gregg R. Allison addresses a crucial matter that impacts every person. While every systematic theology addresses the issue of embodiment, few tackle this subject with the skill and precision that Dr. Allison does here.
Allison shows at the outset that a theology of embodiment is critical since it crosses several other important Christian doctrines including creation, anthropology, Christology, and eschatology. More specifically, “a theology of embodiment addresses numerous contemporary moral and social issues: human personhood, gender dysphoria, transgenderism, heterosexuality and homosexuality, dehumanization and objectification, body image, the obesity epidemic, anorexia and bulimia, compulsive exercise, orthorexia, body modification, selfie dystrophia, and more.”
Additionally, a theology of embodiment directly challenges the Gnostic heresy that was so prominent in early church history and continues to plague the worldviews of contemporary Christians. In the end, as Allison writes, “a theology of embodiment will help us live as whole people in a fractured world.”
Each of the topics above are explored and exposited in the framework of a biblical worldview. The author clearly explains each subject, shows how it emerges in Scripture, and how it conflicts with worldly ideology. Finally, readers are challenged at the close of each chapter with thought-provoking questions that enable them to apply the lessons.
Embodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World is a book that may not have received much attention in previous generations. But given the radical paradigm shift in the culture and contemporary church, this book will is a welcome guest in a culture that is coming apart at the seams. It challenges theological and philosophical error with graciousness and humility and helps equip the next generation of Christ-followers.
Could not recommend this book more!!! A phenomenal break down of the theology of the body and the right response to our material/immaterial being. Not too heady, easy to read, challenging for your spiritual life.
It has been fruitful to spend the past month+ meditating on what it means to be embodied. There is a real pleasure and wonder in sitting on the ground by a window and realizing: the Holy Spirit of God lives in MY body—this hand and leg and nose are as familiar to Him as they are to me.
Allison also did a decent job of touching the various relevant topics, e.g., sexuality, sickness, death, and resurrection. However, a few things were lacking in the book.
Perhaps because Allison covered SO much ground in one book, he stuck to the very outmost surface of the doctrines he touched. He usually only articulated the benefits of his particular position, which, though orthodox, are not the only good opinions. And in defending his position against others, he would sometimes straw-man them and argue poorly. I personally prefer a more nuanced and ecumenical approach, so I would probably not recommend this book, either to someone who was really looking to dive deep on the topic, or to someone new to the discussion. It works quite well as a fly-over for the field, though, or as a catalyst to start your own thoughts.
My last critique is harder to articulate, and perhaps it’s not a fair thing to expect—but while Allison stayed away from the dangers of Gnosticism, he didn’t show me the goodness of the truth. When I look into the theology of the body, I’m hoping for a deeply devotional, sacramental, enchanted articulation of the truth. And Allison, though helpful and usually correct, was not that. What he said was true … but maybe not true enough.
“By God’s design, the proper state of human existence is embodiment. I invite you to adopt it as a new perspective on the world.
Renounce the infection of Gnosticism and its prioritising of the immaterial/spiritual over the material/physical aspects of your life.
Stop viewing your body as an instrument to use and steward like you do your time, your treasures, and your talents. Embrace the statement “I am my body“. If you accept this invitation, it will radically alter your view of your creativeness, your genderedness, your sanctification, your blessedness and discipline, your worship, your clothes, your suffering, your death, and your eternal future.
It will decisively enable you to live as a whole person in a fractured world.
And it will give new meaning to your relationship with Jesus Christ. As it is written of him, “the Word “– the pre-existing son of God, who is always with God and was himself fully God – “became embodied”.
As God the Son was embodied and is re-embodied, so too we are embodied and will be re-embodied.”
Allison weaves together our embodiment from creation to death and beyond, staying scripturally sound, while tackling heavy topics with grace. He does not push his opinions (politically or otherwise) on the reader, but he does push truth from scripture. Each chapter begins with questions to ponder prior to/while reading, and each chapter ends with application. Very thorough book. My only complaint is his unwillingness to call out a few false doctrines (for instance, he references denominations who believe that women can be pastors, and then backs his argument with their stance). It does not turn me away from recommending this book (his purpose in writing this book was not to call out false doctrines, but to present a holistic theology of the human body from conception through eternity and equip the reader to address pressing contemporary issues related to our bodies, which he does), but I do think it needs to be noted. All around a wonderfully thought-provoking read.
What do you think about the phrase "we don't have bodies; we are bodies"? Allison helpfully exposes the Gnosticism/neo-Gnosticism that has crept into the church - the belief that our physical bodies are either evil or unimportant. According to Scripture, our bodies matter and embodiment is the proper state of human existence. It is through a biblical understanding of our bodies that we can live as whole people in a fractured world.
Allison's book is a recent (2021) theological anthropology written at a popular level. Because it's relatively new, it addresses sexuality, transgenderism, COVID, and other issues not dealt with in older works. It's reading level makes it a great book to put in the hands of church members.
Allison’s book is a refreshing effort to reclaim the importance of an often neglected subject in Christianity: our bodies. More than a mere exploration of sexuality debates, his book encompasses exercise, rest, gender, social needs, the intermediate state, and suffering. A great synopsis of the many ways our body plays into our Christian life and beliefs!
This book covered a lot of interesting questions we neglect to answer/address in the church most of the time. I found it very interesting and helpful in terms of asking the right questions and getting to the root of problems in this fractured world.
Pretty easy read, not very technical, but a good description of the ways Christians usually fail to appreciate the value of the physical aspect of humanity and how it impacts the way we should do ministry and serve God.
This book was so good!!! So many different ways to see our body made in the image of God. Without our bodies we are not fully who God created us to be, thus embodiment it vital to the Christian life. I am my body and my body is created by the Lord !!
A clear and concise explanation of the fact that humanity was designed to be embodied. Being embodied impacts our understanding not just of humanity but of how God relates to humanity.
I was hoping to dig deep into the theology of embodiment and this book covers it, but in more of a broad than deep way. It’s much more of a personal and pastoral application approach — which serves a great purpose.
The layout of each chapter was interesting, in that after covering the topic and then some application, it had a “For the Curious” in which it explores more issues and outworkings related to that topic. But for some chapters, that last section took up the majority of the chapter, making it seem like more significant content than just a tacked on “for the curious”.
Also, some of those topics added on seemed out of place, or like they wanted to cover that topic (eg tattoos or cosmetic surgery) and didn’t know where else to fit them, so just stuck them where they ended up. At times it seemed like there were more pressing and current/widespread issues in that category than the one covered. I found it particularly disappointing that the chapter on physical suffering focused so much on cosmetic surgery (yes, an important topic to cover on this book) than to other areas like living with chronic disease or nervous system dysfunction.
I also found it out-of-place that in the chapter on the Blessed & Disciplined life, which—appropriately—addressed nutrition & exercise it went so far as to give specific recommendations. It was general in nature, yes, and I see why the author might see fit to include some specifics. But the author also didn’t come across as an expert on those topics to give such recommendations, and already some of that advice is outdated because it followed poor govt recommendations to begin with.
Overall, it was generally an informative read but there were lots of areas I wish it could’ve stuck to the point and gone deeper there. But I do see what the author was trying to accomplish in providing a general and widespread coverage of a massive topic that’s more pastoral and practical in approach.
This book is inspiring and hope filled ! I am thankful for my body. I am thankful that I am female. I am thankful that I am social. I am thankful the Lord has given me the desire to be in relationship with others. I am thankful that God became a man and dwelt among us. I am thankful for feasting with friends!! I am thankful for sleep. I am thankful for the ability and the opportunity to exercise. I am thankful for the suffering the Lord has given me in this present time that enables me to know Him in a deeper and sweeter way. I am thankful for the ability to make and listen to good music. I am thankful for cute clothes!! I am thankful for my future embodied state in a new heavens and new earth. I am thankful for my body!!
This is a helpful overview book, faithful to Scripture and to theological reflection. I think its weakness is that it attempts to survey so many areas that the discussion in specific cases left me wanting more. My three-star rating is not because of significant disagreements with the conclusion, but more the relatively brief and unsatisfactory treatment of the most challenging issues. For instance, discussions of masculinity/femininity, gender roles, or the sinfulness of same-sex desires, were referenced but then largely passed by.
Commendable for setting out some important categories to consider; but too brief in raising major issues, yet not giving them substantial treatment.
In his book, Gregg R. Allison acknowledges issues related to misunderstandings about our embodiment. He aptly points out problems that have arisen within our culture because of either a disregard or an underemphasis on the body. He challenges believers to think about the theology behind these issues and the ways in which we should address them as the church. However, I’m grieved by Allison’s approach to embodiment because he points out all of the effects of our fallen humanity, without first building a case for the beauty of embodiment that God intends for us. He also makes overgeneralizations about gender, singleness, women’s bodies, and other modern-day issues. Although his observations may be correct for the majority, unaddressed nuances prove some faulty reasoning. I wish he would have initially zoomed out to address the overall theology of the body before going into the issues of embodiment. Everyone’s experience with embodiment will differ. Furthermore, our response to our own embodiment will stem from our understanding of the triune God and his love and plan for creation. However, Allison does not speak to the beauty of God’s redemptive plan, although he does address death and resurrection towards the end of the book. I also fear that Allison’s book could be misinterpreted as legalistic rules, rather than first allowing the Spirit to internally transform our hearts and our minds to look more like Christ. In our process of sanctification, as our hearts transform, I believe that God will then guide our view of embodiment. Allison’s book certainly raises questions about embodiment that all believers should consider but in tandem with a more robust theology of the body.
Two books would serve as excellent supplements to Allison’s book: Our Bodies Tell God’s Story by Christopher West and What God Has to Say About Our Bodies by Sam Alberry.
I agree that as Christians we have the opportunity (and are called) to live our Earthly life in full embodiment (mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and how those concepts manifest in our physical body and presence). I also agree we live in a fractured world; however, my take is for reasons varying from author Gregg Allison.
While some of the author’s ideas I received, many more I did not share. It was my perception, Allison boasted the basis of our fractured world is due to individuals not living as God intended, yet I don’t believe that is for us to judge. Also, my outlook is the Father I believe in would welcome all on Earth and we should as well.
I believe our world is fractured as individuals are not readily and openly accepted and loved for who they are by all. Allison references extremely rigid and conservative viewpoints which do not support a life of expression and fluidity in which every individually can live out how they were created. I wholly disagree with Allison’s conservative viewpoints on gender, sexuality, and traditional roles. I feel that truly living as a whole person requires honoring and accepting intersectionality for ourselves and each individual we encounter. While Allison referenced the work of Crenshaw, I believe it was leveraged to support the limited viewpoint of Allison and not how the theory of intersectionality is designed to honor all facets of an individual’s identity.
I did appreciate the opportunity to consider embodiment and the components of living, which Allison introduced.
Disappointed. Maybe it’s just that I’ve had the topic of embodiment theology in my brain for a few years now, but I was expecting this book to have much more meat to it than it did.
The writing feels dry and most of the more interesting contents are citations from other people. I additionally get frustrated when an author puts a majority of their ideas and thoughts of actual pertinence in a footnote. If your “footnote“ is taking up literally half the page, I don’t think it’s a footnote anymore!
Lots of its weight and richer parts lie at the end of the book; I wish they had been earlier discussion. Maybe this book just needed better layout? Editing? I dunno. Felt like being honest with this review. At least I have lots of footnotes to find other more niche books on embodiment theology.
I picked this book up and put it down between many other reads, but each chapter was independently accessible.
Somewhere in the middle of my mental must-read list for pastors and laypeople. Gregg does a great job surveying how our physical embodiment, with the good, the bad, and the ugly, is an essential component of our identity and every facet of life.
“If you accept my invitation, it will radically alter your view of your createdness, your genderedness, your particularity, your sociality, your sexuality, your sanctification, your blessedness and discipline, your worship, your clothes, your suffering and healing, your death, and your eternal future.”
Always a pleasure to read books from faculty here at school. I had the opportunity to read some chapters of the book in the fall and was able to incorporate into my research project this semester! Dr. Allison beautifully shows how our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that we are our fullest self when we are embodied in the physical realities God provides for us. A must read for the Christian who finds themselves in a Gnostic/neo-Gnostic perspective on their life, believing their bodies to be lesser than their soul/spirit!
Really good overview of embodiment and how it relates to different topics. There is an understandable lack of depth on some topics though because of this, but Allison is still very thoughtful. He provides questions at the end of each chapter that make you think more intentionally about embodiment and how it affects your life. I liked that it was systematic in nature, touched on many areas of theology, and presented different views when it came to matters where different Christians faithfully disagree
I really appreciated the conviction in which the author explained his views on embodiment. I don’t feel like i learned anything new about myself, but was reaffirmed in some of my beliefs and learned what other people may think/traditions etc…. Especially in the Protestant world. A few of his views I did not agree with (and seemed a bit extreme) but overall the message is simple: we are our bodies and we are living in a broken world and we must look at how we view/take care of our bodies and how that relates to our faith.
So incredibly helpful and timely. Starting with a proper theology of our embodiment gives us firmer grounds to stand on in conversations surrounding gender and sexuality. With the care and passion that is indicative of all of Allison’s work, he brings forth this book which was specifically helpful to me as I work through parts of my identity that I haven’t always enjoyed, and I will continue to use this as a resource to help instruct and teach others in the church on how to view our bodies.
This book is perfect for this cultural moment. Other than the uninformed screed on COVID in the middle of the book, Dr Allison clearly explicates how we ARE our body in all its various arenas; the Church itself is far too Gnostic, with an implicit view that our body is a necessary evil. But we as humans ARE gendered (sexed) embodied creatures by nature. I particularly enjoyed his writing on the sins of sloth and gluttony. Highly recommend.
Pretty good. While we live in the sexual revolution, basic questions about the body and the self are going to become commonplace. Carl Trueman addressed a lot of what you will find in Allison’s book, but where Trueman came across as a historical survey from the lack of deep interaction with scripture, Allison will pick that baton up and run with it. This probably would have created more talk if it was released earlier or the same time as Trueman, but regardless, this was good.
I took too long to read this. I didn't enjoy it as I might have if I had actually finished reading it in a timely manner. (This book has been sitting by my side for a couple years. hahaha) I enjoyed the first half of the book much better than the second half. I have some favorite chapters. I was disappointed in the lack of (?) concrete positions, but this is probably a strength, overall. I know this book is heavily influenced by his lectures. I wish I had been able to take this class.
3/4 ⭐ The church desperately needs a better theology of the physical body. This book touches on ALOT of stuff I was not prepared for, but totally needs to be talked about in the church (ie masturbation, porn, tattoos, plastic surgery, gender, cremation etc) The author is fairly charitable and doesn't force a specific view on the reader but gives lots of questions to help discern and for discussion.
Allison offers an engaging, clear, and practical take on the concept of human embodiment for the believer.
Baker structures the piece into readable, concentrated sections. The book begins each new chapter with a “consider,” “big idea,” and “application question” for the reader. An excellent pickup for the pastor or lay leader. Would highly recommend.