What Do The Scriptures Say About Cremation?

Question: “Is there any Scriptural evidence to support or refute cremation? What if the surviving family does not feel comfortable with the loved one’s wishes for cremation?

Answer: There are no Scriptural examples of cremation (unless one thinks of Nadab and Abihu being consumed by fire in Leviticus 10), so the Bible does not teach one way or another on the subject. I assume your question is based out of concern for the bodies of loved ones at the Resurrection, since the Bible states in passages such as I Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” If one’s body is cremated, how can he/she rise from the dead?

What happens to the body at the time of burial has no affect on the Resurrection. Even those whose body is buried intact will decompose and as Genesis 3:19 states, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Whether we are cremated or buried, chances are that when the Lord returns we will all be dust.

I Corinthians 15 provides some insight into what will happen on the Last Day, including what kind of body we will have. Notice vs. 50-53: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Here we read that the dead will not rise in their former, corruptible bodies, but will be raised in an incorruptible body, one that can enjoy heaven for all eternity, and one that can withstand the tortures of hell.

I leave it to individual families to decide on how the bodies of loved ones will be laid to rest, but if your concern has to do with the Resurrection, I see no need to worry because the power of God will raise all in the last day, giving them incorruptible bodies.