### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek adverb σωματικῶς (sōmatikōs) is derived from the adjective σωματικός (sōmatikos), which itself stems from the noun σῶμα (sōma), meaning "body." Its core meaning is "bodily," "corporeally," or "physically." As an adverb, it describes the *manner* or *mode* in which something exists or occurs, specifically indicating a physical or embodied state. It denotes that which pertains to the body, in contrast to that which is purely spiritual, ethereal, or non-physical. The term emphasizes concrete, tangible existence in a corporeal form.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word σωματικῶς (sōmatikōs) appears only once in the New Testament, in a profoundly significant Christological statement:
* **[[Colossians 2:9]]**: "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
In this passage, Paul is emphasizing the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Christ against various philosophical and religious errors that were emerging in Colossae. The phrase "all the fullness of the Godhead" (πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα τῆς θεότητος) asserts that Christ possesses the entire divine essence and attributes without diminution. The crucial adverb σωματικῶς (sōmatikōs) specifies *how* this divine fullness indwells Him: "bodily." This means that the complete nature of God is not merely present in Christ in a symbolic, temporary, or partial sense, but fully and concretely in His physical, incarnate body. It underscores the reality and integrity of the Incarnation, affirming that the divine and human natures are perfectly united in the person of Jesus Christ. This statement directly refutes any Gnostic or docetic tendencies that would deny the true humanity of Christ or separate His divine nature from His physical form.
### Related Words & Concepts
* σῶμα (sōma - `{{G4983}}`): The foundational noun meaning "body," referring to the physical organism, or metaphorically, to a corporate entity like the Church.
* σωματικός (sōmatikos - `{{G4984}}`): The adjective meaning "bodily," "physical," or "corporeal," from which the adverb σωματικῶς is derived.
* πλήρωμα (plērōma - `{{G4138}}`): Meaning "fullness" or "completeness." In [[Colossians 2:9]], it highlights the totality of God's essence resident in Christ.
* θεότης (theotēs - `{{G2320}}`): Meaning "Godhead" or "divinity," referring to the essential nature of God.
* **Incarnation**: The theological doctrine that God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. σωματικῶς (sōmatikōs) is a key descriptor of the *reality* of this divine embodiment.
* **Hypostatic Union**: The theological term describing the union of the divine and human natures in the one person of Jesus Christ, without confusion, change, division, or separation. σωματικῶς (sōmatikōs) powerfully articulates the *manner* of this unique union.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of σωματικῶς (sōmatikōs) in [[Colossians 2:9]] renders it profoundly significant for Christology and the doctrine of the Incarnation. It provides an unequivocal affirmation of the full deity of Jesus Christ, asserting that He is not merely a divine representative or a human figure infused with divine power, but the very embodiment of the Godhead. The adverb "bodily" is crucial, emphasizing that this divine fullness is not an abstract concept or an ethereal presence, but a concrete and tangible reality within the physical person of Jesus. This counters any heretical views (such as Docetism) that would deny the true humanity of Christ or suggest that His physical body was an illusion.
By stating that the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ σωματικῶς (sōmatikōs), Paul underscores the unique and unparalleled nature of Christ as the definitive revelation of God. It implies that in Jesus, God is fully accessible and understandable in human form. This truth has profound implications for salvation, as it is through this truly God-man that humanity can be reconciled to God. Because all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ σωματικῶς (sōmatikōs), believers "have been made complete in Him" ([[Colossians 2:10]]), finding all spiritual sufficiency and redemption solely in Christ.
### Summary
The Greek adverb σωματικῶς (sōmatikōs), meaning "bodily" or "corporeally," is a powerful and precise term found uniquely in [[Colossians 2:9]]. In this pivotal verse, it declares that "in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." This statement is a cornerstone of Christian Christology, unequivocally affirming that the entire essence and nature of God are truly, completely, and physically present in the incarnate person of Jesus Christ. σωματικῶς (sōmatikōs) emphasizes the concrete reality of the Incarnation, refuting any notion of a partial, symbolic, or illusory indwelling of divinity in Christ. It firmly establishes the perfect and inseparable union of divine and human natures in the person of Jesus, making Him the full, tangible, and ultimate revelation of God.
TRV