What does the Bible say about reincarnation?

Answer 1

The idea of reincarnation is not taught in The Bible. In fact, the Bible teaches the resurrection, which is much different than reincarnation. How? According to the teaching of reincarnation, when a person dies, the soul, the "real self," passes on to a better existence if the individual has lived a good and proper life, but possibly to an existence as an animal if his record has been more bad than good. Each rebirth, it is believed, brings the individual back into this same system of things, where he will face further suffering and eventual death. The cycles of rebirth are viewed as virtually endless. Is such a future really what awaits you? Some believe that the only way of escape is by extinguishing all desire for things pleasing to the senses. To what do they escape? To what some describe as unconscious life.

According to the Bible, the soul is the complete person. Even though a person may have done bad things in the past, if he repents and changes his ways, Jehovah God will forgive him. (Ps. 103:12, 13) When a person dies, his conscience and thinking stops.(Ecclesiates 9:5,10) Death is like a deep, dreamless sleep. There will be a resurrection of the dead. (John 5:28,29) This is not a reincarnation but a bringing back to life of the same personality, the same person. (Acts 24:15) For most people, the resurrection will be to life on earth. It will take place after God brings the present wicked system to its end. (Psalms 37:10,11; Matthew 5:5) Sickness, suffering, even the necessity to die, will become things of the past. (Dan. 2:44; Rev. 21:3, 4).

Reincarnation is the most ancient of doctrines and is believed in now by more human minds than the number of those who do not hold it. The millions in the East almost all accept it; it was taught by the Greeks; a large number of the Chinese now believe it as their forefathers did before them. It was believed by the Jews, and not only believed by Jesus but he also taught it.

Another View:

Most early Christians actually believed in reincarnation. An early Christian leader in the third century named Origen espoused it. In the sixth century, the head of the Christian Church was Emperor Justinian, who could and did overrule the papacy. Pope Vigilius and Emperor Justinian had a disagreement as to whether the teachings of Origen should be part of official Christian theology. Justinian condemned Origen, had Pope Vigilius arrested and put in jail for refusing to sign a papal decree condemning Origen's teaching on reincarnation, and ordered all references of reincarnation omitted from the Bible - including an entire chapter devoted to it. Here is the official decree of Emperor Justinian:

"If anyone asserts the fabulous preexistence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. (The Anathemas against Origen), attached to the decrees of the Fifth Ecumenical Council, A.D. 545, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2d ser., 14: 318)."

From that point on, anyone caught teaching the doctrine of rebirth faced governmental prosecution if not execution. However, minor references to reincarnation still remain in the Bible and there was an entire reincarnationist sect for a time that espoused it: the Cathars or Cathari (from the Greek word, katharos, which means "the pure ones"), that were based in what is now called the south of France (then Languedoc). After it was realized that the Church in Rome could no longer control the "heretics" and collect church taxes, triggered by the murder of a papal legate in France by Cathar knights, Pope Innocent the Third ordered their execution in what came to be called The Albigensian Crusade. Essentially constituting a large land grab for northern French noblemen and Catholic mercenaries, entire towns were reduced to ruins and many atrocities (torture, rape, etc.) were committed. One consequence was that the fledgling, decimated nation of Languedoc melted into becoming part of France.

With the Church desiring greater control over the masses, they wanted people to think that they only have one shot at salvation - only through the Church - and that there is no chance to have another incarnation later on. Free-thinking individuals who espoused reincarnation were thought of as a threat to Church control and were suppressed. That is the real reason why reincarnation is not part of official Christian theology and is not taught in Christian Sunday school and in seminary today. Not because it was ordained that reincarnation doesn't happen but because a long-dead emperor - Justinian - wanted to gain more control over the masses.

Evidence for the validity of the doctrine of rebirth is found in past-life regression studies as well as within near-death experience research. It is suggested to do an online search on these topics.

Answer:

The belief that one is reborn in one or more successive existences, which may be human or animal. Usually it is an intangible "soul" that is believed to be reborn in another body. Not a Bible teaching

Reincarnation: According to this belief, when a person dies, the soul, the "real self," passes on to a better existence if the individual has lived a good and proper life, but possibly to existence as an animal if his record has been more bad than good. Each rebirth, it is believed, brings the individual back into this same system of things, where he will face further suffering and eventual death. The cycles of rebirth are viewed as virtually endless. Is such a future really what awaits you? Some believe that the only way of escape is by extinguishing all desire for things pleasing to the senses. To what do they escape? To what some describe as unconscious life.

Bible: According to the Bible, the soul is the complete person. Even though a person may have done bad things in the past, if he repents and changes his ways, Jehovah God will forgive him. (Ps. 103:12, 13) When a person dies, nothing survives. Death is like a deep, dreamless sleep. There will be a resurrection of the dead. This is not a reincarnation but a bringing back to life of the same personality. (Acts 24:15) For most people, the resurrection will be to life on earth. It will take place after God brings the present wicked system to its end. Sickness, suffering, even the necessity to die, will become things of the past. (Dan. 2:44; Rev. 21:3, 4) Does such a hope sound like something about which you would like to learn more, to examine the reasons for confidence in it?

Answer 2

Answer:

The Bible says nothing about reincarnation.

Answer:Hebrews 9:27 - And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, [NKJV]

Answer 3

The Bible doesn't teach or support reincarnation.