The Bible does not directly address the question of whether cremation is something God approves of. However, it does appear to give some direction on the matter. In the Scriptures listed below, you will notice that when bodies and remains were burned, it was usually associated with someone who had went against God. In (2 Kings), notice that Josiah burns the bones of the false prophets, but he gives command to not disturb the bones of the man of God.
(2 Kings 23:16-18) Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile it, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God who foretold these things. The king asked, “What is that tombstone I see”? The people of the city said, “It marks the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and pronounced against the altar of Bethel the very things you have done to it”. “Leave it alone,” he said, “Don’t let anyone disturb his bones“. So they spared his bones and those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.
(1 Samuel 31:12) …They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them.
(Joshua 7:24-25) Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today. “Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.
Not The Best Argument Against Cremation
The argument has been made that God will not be able to resurrect the bodies of those who have been cremated. This is used as a reason for cremation being wrong. The idea that God, who created us to begin with, could not resurrect someone because they were burned to ashes makes for a pretty weak argument against cremation. By examining the Scriptures, a better case can be made.
There will be many resurrected bodies who died in fires that were not a result of cremation. A dead body that is buried will eventually decay and return to the dust it was made from. It will not be a problem for God to resurrect a body that has returned to dust, or one that has been burned to ashes.
(Genesis 3:19) By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Proper Burial In The Bible
Proper burial was not taken lightly by God’s people.
(Ecclesiastes 6:3) A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.) The burning of bodies was never part of the way God’s people dealt with their deceased. Burial, often in a cave, or placed in a tomb, was considered proper.
(Genesis 23:19) Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
(Acts 8:2) Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
There are no words from the Bible that specifically condemn cremation. Even so, following the example the Bible sets on matters such as this would be the best advice. That would be a burial which does not involve cremation.
