by Robert C. Veil, Jr.
Question: What does the Bible say about cremation? It seems that a lot more people are
getting that done.
Answer: Yes, the cremation rate in the United States has increased dramatically over the past
few decades, growing from 15% in 1985 to over 56% in 2020. According to the National Funeral
Directors Association, the cremation rate is expected to continue rising, potentially reaching over
78% by 2040. Some of the factors driving this increase include lower costs, environmental
concerns, and the greater flexibility cremation offers for scheduling funeral or memorial services.
Another possible reason for the increase in the number of cremations may be cultural and religious
shifts away from traditional Christian practices.
When we look to the Scriptures for guidance, we find no passage which specifies or requires
one particular type of burial or final disposition of the body of a deceased person. That is, there is
no command or implication that a person must be buried after death in order to be pleasing to God,
nor any stated penalty for not doing so.
It is true that the cultural traditions of biblical days typically included burial of the dead.
Abraham famously purchased the cave of Machpelah specifically for the purpose of providing a
burial place for his wife and other family members, (see Genesis 23:17-20; 25:9-10; 49:31-33).
Cave burial was thus generally accepted, and this practice continued, even unto the death of Christ
in Jerusalem. The burial cave, or tomb of Jesus was donated by a wealthy man from Arimathea
named Joseph, (see Matthew 27:57-61).
But Jesus did not specifically command this type of burial so far as is known. It appears to
have been a provision lovingly provided by His disciples, in keeping with accepted norms of burial
at that time. It would seem we can learn from this that funeral and burial practices should be
respectful, dignified and lovingly provided, but which specific forms are utilized is a decision left
to the discretion of surviving relatives.
Jesus did make reference to burial a number of times, but, again, these seem to be cultural,
and not bound as a required practice for all time. For example, in teaching the importance of putting
the kingdom first, Jesus said to a man who delayed his discipleship, “Leave the dead to bury their
own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God,” (Luke 9:59-60). This passage
teaches the relative unimportance of physical burial compared to preaching and teaching the gospel
to those still living. Similarly, when Mary anointed our Lord’s feet, He approved it as a preparation
for His own burial (John 12:7). But again, this does not bind burial as the only option for
disposition of a decedent’s body any more than it would require a particular type of anointing prior
to burial.
The principle of paying honor and respect to the dead is clearly taught in the Scriptures, as
is the practice of mourning our loss at death, though not in the same manner that those who have
no hope would do so, (see Acts 8:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:13ff). Whichever method of disposition is
selected, therefore, should be respectful, dignified, and designed to minimize pain or distress to
survivors.
Some object to the practice of cremation on the grounds that the body is to be raised in the
general resurrection, when Christ comes again. While the doctrine of the general resurrection is
clearly taught in the Bible, (see 1 Corinthians 15:12ff), it should be obvious that God is capable of
raising or reconstituting the body whether it has been burned, or has decayed over years of time.
What is the difference? The same God who created with the power of His voice all that we see, is
certainly capable of raising the dead, regardless of how they died, or how their body was disposed
of after death. Consider those who have been lost at sea, and whose bodies have been eaten by
fish, which in turn have been eaten by other fish or by humans. How will these be raised? What
seems impossible to men is entirely possible to God.
What is important is that we live faithfully during our earthly lives, and trust that God will
do right after our death!
