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Post by Josh on Aug 25, 2016 10:45:20 GMT -8
Hebrews 9:27-28 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
This verse is often the proof-text against reincarnation. In the last year or so I've encountered a couple different Christians who question this and have suggested that some form of reincarnation may be compatible with Christianity.
Does this passage on its own sufficiently exclude the possibility of rhuman reincarnation?
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Post by jeremiah on Sept 5, 2016 22:05:34 GMT -8
On it's own it may not suffice for those doubting, but combined with the whole NT teaching of final judgement then I would think so.
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Post by Josh on Sept 9, 2016 13:36:35 GMT -8
The folks I've talked to about this acknowledge a final judgment but are open to repeated life cycles before that, so this seems to be the clearest proof text contra to my mind
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Post by robin on Sept 10, 2016 12:08:32 GMT -8
I'm one of those who falls into the "open to reincarnation" category. I find myself revisiting this idea quite a bit. The Hebrew passage speaks of Judgement after an individual dies. From the viewpoint of a reincarnation, that judgment may require a reincarnation, but for those who are saved, God will not require reincarnation. Revelation 3:12 says "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.
Other exsamples would be the be the return of Elijia, in the form of John the Baptist.
"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. Malachi 4:5
"But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him…" Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
(Matt 17:12-13)
And John 9:12 "he went along he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (John 9:1-2)
How could an unborn child be guilty of sin, unless it was punishment for something done prior to his birth?
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Post by Josh on Sept 11, 2016 14:47:07 GMT -8
Robin, how do you interpret the word 'once' in Hebrews' phrase" "it is appointed once for man to die and then the judgment"? It seems to me like it's saying "one death" only, not numerous possible deaths.
Also, if the basis for being reincarnated is basically not having grace applied to you at judgment (which I think you're implying), how would it be that Elijah was sent back? Wouldn't we expect him to have been counted among God's people at judgment?
This leads me to another question: does your (potential) view then hold that there is no final simultaneous judgment for all humanity, but instead, numerous "individual judgments" throughout history?
As to John 9, I guess I've always thought that the disciples were simply entertaining the (erroneous) idea that infants can sin, even in the womb. Nevertheless, it is a strange question.
On a side note, I'm not aware of any precedents in larger Jewish thought of the time that include reincarnation. Have you heard of any?
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