What The Bible Says About Cremation

(Text: I Samuel 31:1-13)
By: Barry L. Cameron


Is it wrong to be cremated?
And, if not, how will your burned body be able to be raised imperishable?

* There is only once instance in the Bible of cremation (I Samuel 31:1-13).
- This was an emergency measure by the Israelites to keep the Philistines from molesting their bodies even further.

Footnote:
“Temple of the Ashtoreths” – “Ashtoreth” was a goddess of the Canaanites, worshipped by the Philistines. Her male counterpart was BAAL. They were worshipped by lewd rituals (Judges 2:11-23, Israel forsook God and served Baal and Ashtoreth)

“Bethshan” – A Canaanite city, 14 miles south of the Sea of Galilee. (The Canaanites could not be driven out of this city. Judges 1:27)

a. The Bible does not say that it is wrong to be cremated.
b. The God Who created the universe out of nothing with a word is fully capable of reassembling the decayed or cremated remains of the bodies of all of His saints in a moment of time. (I Corinthians 15:35-38)