What Does The Bible Say About Cremation?

Cremation is fast becoming the preferred practice for sending off a loved one after death. But, the legitimacy of this method confuses many people of faith, who often look to the Bible to find what Scripture says about cremation.

The first actual mention of cremation in the Bible is 1 Samuel 31: 11-13 where Saul and his sons are burned and then their bones buried after terrible ravages were inflicted on their bodies. But this was probably done for sanitary reasons rather than religious ones.

Old Testament

There are no cremation bible verses in the New Testament either, although certain verses describe how the resurrection will change our mortal bodies at the end of time and reunite them with our spirit.

New Testament

Since the Bible does not ban nor promote cremation, most Christian denominations do not consider cremation to be sinful. The Catholic church, however, held an opposing view for many years.

For much of its history, the Catholic Church banned cremation for Catholics. Catholics were to believe that man, created in the likeness of God, could not experience resurrection at the end of time unless their bodies were “intact.” Cremation was also banned to counter Roman pagan beliefs, which involved burning deceased bodies.

But, along with other major changes in the Catholic Church, cremation was approved for use in 1963, and in 1997, allowed for cremated remains to be a part of the funeral mass, if these remains are treated with the same reverence as a body.

The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.

TITLE III. ECCLESIASTICAL FUNERALS (Cann. 1176.3) Code of Canon Law – Book IV – Function of the Church – Liber – IV. De Ecclesiae munere sanctificandi (Cann. 1166-1190)

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What Does The Bible Say About Cremation?