What does the Bible say about cremation?
The Bible does not directly forbid cremation. Burial was the normal practice in biblical times and reflects belief in resurrection, but God can raise a body from any state — fire, dust, or sea.
Biblical patriarchs, kings, and Jesus himself were buried — pointing to the body as good and to resurrection as the hope. The early church likewise practiced burial.
Cremation is not condemned in Scripture, however. God’s power to raise the dead is not limited by what happens to the body: "He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."
Both burial and cremation can honor God if approached as Christians. The resurrection is not threatened by either; the dignity of the body is honored in either when done with reverence and faith.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.