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Burial vs. Cremation - The Facts.   The biblical examples for burial provided are compelling enough to convince Christians that the practice of cremation is not consistent with biblical principles and patterns for the departed. 

  • THE BIBLICAL PATTERN IS CONSISTENTLY BURIAL

Genesis 23:1-4; 25:8-10; 35:19,20;29; 49:33; 50:1,3; 50:26; Josh 24:29,30; 24:33; 1 Samuel 25:1; 1 Kings 2:10; Matt. 14:10,12; Acts 5:5,10; 8:2 Note Deut. 34:5,6... God Buried Moses. But most importantly, note John 19:38-42 concerning Jesus and burial. 

  • EVEN WHEN BURIAL SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE

Even under difficult circumstances God's people practiced burial. For example, Joseph's body was kept for over 400 years in Egypt and then carried through the 40 years of wilderness wanderings before being buried in the Promised Land. Genesis 50:24-25; Exodus 13:19. From this account, we observe that even if cremation is considered more convenient than burial, it is still rejected, as the Israelites refused the convenient and simpler way and chose to carry Joseph's remains to the Promised Land.

  • CREMATION ASSOCIATED WITH HEATHEN.  

Cremation in the Bible is often associated with heathen and satanic rituals and practice.  In particular, Hindus practice cremation because of the indoctrination of reincarnation.

  • GOD DECLARES CREMATION SINFUL 

"Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime" (Amos 2:1). 

  • CREMATION IS INDICATIVE OF GOD'S WRATH 

Throughout the Bible the destruction of a human body or of an object by fire is used as an indication of God's wrath. Note The Following: The example of Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:6) The example of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1,2) The example of the men who rebelled with Korah (Numbers 16:35) The example of idols (Exodus 32:20; Deut. 7:25; 2 Kings 10:26. The example of magic books (Acts 19:18-19) The example of unsaved cast into the lake of fire for eternal punishment (Revelation 20:15)

  • BURIAL ANTICIPATES A RESURRECTION 

"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Rom.8:22-23). See also 1 Cor. 15:20-23; and 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 2 Cor. 5:1 The physical body is LIKENED to the seed for the resurrection body. When planted, a seed decomposes, and the new plant comes forth. The Bible uses this to illustrate resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:35,44

Heathenism  Conflicts  with

​this  reality.   They  possess

no such knowledge or hope.

The Hindus  and  Buddhists,

for   example,   believe   in

reincarnation. They believe

the soul will be reincarnated

in another entirely unrelated

body, or into a non-physical

sphere of existence.  God's  

people  have always  buried  

their  dead  with  a  glorious

hope  instilled  in  their  soul.

Please know that the manner of one's burial does not affect their resurrection.  Cremation of a Christian does not prevail over God's ability to resurrect the cremated remains of a Believer to a glorified body.  Many Christians have been burned alive due to persecution.   However, we must understand that whether in life or death. we do all to the glory of God. This includes a determination to be consistent with the biblical pattern of burial when afforded the opportunity and ability to do.  


In these dark days of obvious and rampant apostasy and doctrinal error, a biblical emphasis in all matters of Bible teaching is rightly demanded of us by the Spirit of God.

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger