Does the Bible teach reincarnation?
There is an opinion, which says that Jesus, and by extension the Bible, supports reincarnation. Proponents of this view cite Matthew 17:1-13 and conclude that that John the Baptist was a reincarnation of Elijah. This is a very poor understanding of that portion of scripture. Reincarnation can mean two things. It can be defined as follows: in some systems of belief, a person or animal in whose body somebody’s soul is born again after he, she, or it has died, or, it can mean a reappearance of something in a new form. In religious thought, reincarnation takes on the former definition, not the latter. In other words, for reincarnation to occur, someone or something, has to die first.
If someone has to die before their soul is transmigrated to another person or animal or whatever, then Matthew 17:1-13 cannot be taken as a Biblical example of reincarnation. The reason is this. Elijah did not die. In 2 Kings 2:11 it says, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” Now if Elijah did not die but was taken up by a whirlwind into heaven, pray tell, how could he have been reincarnated? There would have been no soul to transmigrate.
On the opinion that Jesus taught reincarnation we turn to Hebrews. The theme of Hebrews is the supremacy of Christ. Christ is depicted as supreme to Moses, Angels, the Prophets and so on. In Hebrews 9:27 it says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” That leaves no room whatsoever for the false teaching of reincarnation in Christendom. Others may still subscribe to reincarnation, but they do so at their own peril. For the verse concludes, “but after this the judgement.” This is no laughing matter ladies and gentlemen. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)
If someone has to die before their soul is transmigrated to another person or animal or whatever, then Matthew 17:1-13 cannot be taken as a Biblical example of reincarnation. The reason is this. Elijah did not die. In 2 Kings 2:11 it says, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” Now if Elijah did not die but was taken up by a whirlwind into heaven, pray tell, how could he have been reincarnated? There would have been no soul to transmigrate.
On the opinion that Jesus taught reincarnation we turn to Hebrews. The theme of Hebrews is the supremacy of Christ. Christ is depicted as supreme to Moses, Angels, the Prophets and so on. In Hebrews 9:27 it says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” That leaves no room whatsoever for the false teaching of reincarnation in Christendom. Others may still subscribe to reincarnation, but they do so at their own peril. For the verse concludes, “but after this the judgement.” This is no laughing matter ladies and gentlemen. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)
