Abstract:
This article focuses on the body as an 'instrument' to console and comfort others. In the early church so much attention was given to the soul and its salvation that the body was neglected. According to the Manichaeans the soul was related to God and separated from the body. The body on the other hand was so despicable that sensual pleasures could not even defile it more. Augustine integrated soul and body and allowed for sexual enjoyment in marriage but viewed the desire negatively. The rest of the article stresses the point that in times of distress the body of the other can console and relieve one from much stress. Especially in misery and in the daily experience of life's meaningless the advice of Ecclesiastes to enjoy 'life with the wife whom you love' (9:9) is taken seriously.
