What Does the Bible Say About Reincarnation?
Many people wonder what the Bible has to say about reincarnation. The Bible is surprisingly silent on the topic of reincarnation, neither offering support for reincarnation nor debunking it. Some people claim that this is because the passages about reincarnation were removed from the Bible. Arguments about whether the Bible supports reincarnation can be made either way.
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History
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Those who believe that passages about reincarnation were removed from the Bible believe this happened at the Council of Nicea. The Council of Nicea met in June of 325 A.D. with Constantine in attendance. It was at this point that Christian doctrine defined Jesus as God's only Son rather than as an example of how anyone could become a "son of God" by becoming more like God, just as Jesus exemplified the characteristics of God in the way that he lived.
Significance
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If reincarnation passages were originally included in the Bible, then the meaning of many of the Biblical passages referenced today are incomplete. Some people feel that embracing a belief in reincarnation as part of God's plan brings a new level of depth to Christianity. Those who support a belief in reincarnation point out that many of the passages in the Bible that make God seem unjust (such as I Samuel 15:3) actually make sense.
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Considerations
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Those who disagree with reincarnation point to Hebrew 9:27 for support, which says, "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..." However, those who support reincarnation point out that Jesus must have reincarnated for neither Mary Magdalene (John 20:10-18) nor the men walking on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) to recognize him. Some advocates says that Jesus' mention of Elijah returning also supports a belief in reincarnation (Matthew 17:10-12). Many others do not believe this kind of interpretation.
Function
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If reincarnation exists, argue advocates, then the function would be to give people multiple opportunities to learn life lessons and to become more like God. They claim that it takes time to develop the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and some would argue that it takes more than one lifetime to develop these spiritual fruit. Reincarnation would also explain why some people are born into easier lives while others struggle with serious issues from birth, such as the man in the Bible who was born blind (John 9).
Theories/Speculation
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If reincarnation passages were removed from the Bible, as some people argue, then they feel that many of the big questions in Christianity have answers. For example, the Bible records God's frustration with His people "forgetting" all He has done for them when what He is talking about happened to prior generations (See 1 Samuel 12:6-15). They feel that therefore God does not seem cruel in obliterating men, women and children to cut off an evil society (I Samuel 15:3). For those that merge reincarnation and Christianity, certain areas of the Bible therefore make more sense when viewed against the backdrop of reincarnation.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Faith Allen
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Comments
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I think also that we are forgetting that the Bible does give us hints to reincarnation like the verse where God says, "My mercy endures forever" so if this is the case then how is forever summed up in just one lifetime...
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lone77star
Apr 02, 2010
Faith in God is good, but wouldn't God want us to understand in order to find wisdom, and through that wisdom reach truth? Many people cannot remember a past life. A few can remember with crystal clarity. Many people have never been outside of their body. A few have walked the corridors of space, seeing without mortal eyes. Many people have never created a miracle. A few have kissed the face of God and done things comparable to Moses parting the sea, or Peter walking on water. Genesis 1:26 says that we were created in God's image. That makes us inherently baby gods. God wants his children to wake up from the poison of the Forbidden Fruit. Even Jesus had to remind his enemies, "ye are gods." Would God allow reincarnation in order to give every opportunity for us to come back to him? What do you think! -
chatterbox25
Sep 28, 2009
Thank you for this insight and for giving both sides of the spectrum
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jscottbrown
Jun 14, 2009
The Bible is, quite frankly, very silent on the issue of reincarnation. And the Hebrews passage certainly does not definitively put the issue to rest - or else the numerous instances of people who were brought back to life would make the passage a lie. Or what of the two people who never died in the first place? If reincarnation exists, Hebrews is likely talking about the final earthly death once a soul has reached a choice of whom it will follow. I also have a problem believing that the character of God is such that he would condemn people to eternal damnation for simply being born into a place where they don't hear his message of salvation. But regardless of whether one believes in reincarnation or not, it should be irrelevant to how they live their Christian life on earth. Christ called us to "be perfect, just as your father in heaven is perfect". A belief in reincarnation sho...
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Mitzi Saltsman
Dec 29, 2009
I would have a problem with adding this theory to the Bible, just to make it make more sense to me. Even if something is hard for me to understand, I take comfort in the fact that God doesn't have to be understood. He's God and I trust that whatever He does, is right. Job asked God questions that he didn't understand and God told him that He was the creator of the Universe and had it all under control.
