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Interesting perspectives!
BY PATHEOS EDITORIAL TEAM
While not a focus of biblical teachings, there are several references to cremation in the Bible. Notably, the scriptures mention:
1 Samuel 31:8-13 - "And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. ... And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days."
Amos 2:1-3 - "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 6:8-10 - "The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein. ... And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house ..."
More commonly, the Bible instead refers to various burial practices–and many passages allude to the concept of resurrection, which is strongly intertwined with how various faith traditions deal with the corpses of their dead. As might be expected, different religious perspectives and historical practices shed light on how various faith traditions view cremation.
Biblical Perspective:
The Bible mentions the cremation of Saul and his sons, in addition to reference to the Moabites burning the bones of the king of Edom, and God speaking of His “judgment” upon Israel for her sins–resulting in many (who had died in battle) being cremated. More particularly, however, the Bible contains references to burial practices and the belief in a physical, bodily resurrection. The most significant example of burial and resurrection from the dead is Jesus Christ. This narrative forms a central tenet of Christian faith (Matthew 28:6). In addition to Jesus’ burial, certain biblical passages emphasize the importance of proper burial generally speaking (e.g.,Genesis 23:4-20; 2 Samuel 2:4-7; Acts 5:5-10). Because of the Bible’s emphasis on the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:42-44),
https://www.patheos.com/answers/bible-perspectives/what-does-the-bible-say-about-cremation