There are a handful of cases where bodies were burned in the Bible—but none of them set a moral precedent for cremation:
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Achan and his family were stoned and then burned as part of God’s judgment on Israel (Joshua 7:25). This was punishment, not normal burial practice.
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The men of Jabesh-Gilead burned the mutilated bodies of Saul and his sons before burying the bones (1 Samuel 31:12-13). This was likely a practical measure to prevent further desecration by enemies, followed by proper burial.
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Certain kings of Judah were burned with spices in their funerals—a mark of honor, not disgrace (2 Chronicles 16:14, 21:19).
These examples show that burning wasn’t universally forbidden. Context matters.
The New Testament and Jesus’ Burial
The New Testament offers no teaching on cremation. What it offers is the model of Jesus’ burial: His body was wrapped in linen and placed in a tomb. This became the pattern Christians followed for centuries.
