What does the Bible say about reincarnation? | GotQuestions.org

Today's question is, what does the Bible say about reincarnation?

In this video I'll answer that question from a biblical perspective.

Then afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the.

End.

To reincarnate is literally to incarnate again.

That is, reincarnation is a rebirth into a new body of flesh and blood.

In most contexts, reincarnation refers to the process, after death, of a soul returning

in a new body.

Claims of remembering a past life imply reincarnation.

According to some religious and philosophical systems, reincarnation involves more than human

souls and bodies.

A dog's spirit can reincarnate as another dog, for example, or a human soul can reincarnate as

a cow.

Reincarnation, also referred to as the transmigration of the soul, rests on concepts such as the

eternal, uncreated nature of the soul and the need for the soul to mature, grow,

transform,.

And evolve.

Of course, there is no proof for reincarnation.

Any evidence put forward is entirely subjective.

Feelings of déjà vu, reoccurring dreams, feeling one has an old soul, irrational phobias,

and an affinity for other cultures and eras are all interpreted by some as confirmation

that they are living another life in a different body.

The concept of reincarnation in any of its forms is completely without foundation in.

The Bible.

The truth is that we die once and then face judgment, Hebrews 9, verse 27.

The Bible never even remotely suggests that people have a second chance at life or that they can come back

as different people or animals.

Reincarnation has been a popular belief for thousands of years, but it has never been accepted by Christians or

followers of Judaism because it is contradictory to Scripture.

Several passages in Scripture refute the idea of reincarnation.

Jesus told the criminal on the cross, "'Today you will be with me in paradise' Luke 23,

verse 43, not, "'You will have another chance to live a life on earth.'".

Matthew 25, verse 46 tells us that upon death, believers go on to

eternal life, while unbelievers go on to eternal punishment.

We are created as individuals, and our identity does not change after death.

See Luke 9, verse 30.

Some who believe in reincarnation point to Matthew 17, verses 10 -12 as biblical

support for reincarnation.

The disciples ask Jesus about the commonly taught prophecy that Elijah must come before the

Messiah, and Jesus responds by identifying the Elijah of the prophecy as John the

Baptist in Matthew 17, verses 11 -13.

However, Jesus was not teaching that John the Baptist was Elijah reincarnated.

For one thing, Elijah did not die.

He was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire, 2 Kings 2, verse 11.

So, the literal coming of Elijah would have been a descent from heaven, not a reincarnation.

Jesus calls John the Baptist Elijah because he came in the spirit and power of Elijah

in Luke 1, verse 17, not because he was Elijah in a literal sense.

Also, Elijah himself had just appeared talking with Jesus in Matthew 17, verse 3, which

shows that Elijah had not changed his identity—he had not become John.

Finally, the people had earlier asked John the Baptist if he was Elijah, and he said, no, I am not,

John 1, verse 21.

Belief in reincarnation is a central tenet in the majority of Indian religious traditions, such as Hinduism,

Sikhism, and Jainism.

Many modern pagans also believe in reincarnation, as do some New Age movements along with followers of

Spiritism.

For the Christian, however, there can be no doubt—reincarnation is unbiblical and must be

rejected as false.

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