Summary Post: God's Only Begotten Son

Note: This post summarizes what is written in this entire section.

A.    Introduction

If Jesus is not God, who was he? A random man who became perfect? I believe Scripture shows both that reincarnation is biblical and that Jesus was the reincarnation of Adam and David. Reincarnation also relates to universal salvation, as if reincarnation is biblical, universal salvation becomes intellectually possible as even those who died without hearing the gospel and being saved could be saved in another life. Biblical reincarnation also has some similarities with the Catholic belief in purgatory, as Catholics believe in an intermediary, purifying time for people who are not ready for the new heaven and the new earth yet as they are not fully sanctified. What if Catholics are right about an intermediary, purifying time, and reincarnation is the means by which God sanctifies His people fully? Finally, reincarnation does not contradict what the Bible does say about death and resurrection, as nothing in Scripture says unbelievers will not reincarnate and have another chance to choose to God before the last judgment. Scripture also does not contradict the idea that Christians may return to earth in the end times via reincarnation.  Actually, as I will show, Scripture supports it.

B.    Helpful Background on Reincarnation

1)     The definition of reincarnation is the rebirth of a soul in another body.

2)     Reincarnation is mostly an Eastern religion belief and is believed by Hindus and Buddhists. It is also a belief in one form of Judaism: Kabbalah Judaism.

3)     Biblical reincarnation would need to be different that the type of reincarnation described in other religions. Namely, in the Bible, God’s merciful dealings with people are more complex and loving than the straightforward law of karma. Suffering is not necessarily a punishment in the Bible. God uses suffering as the means by which Christians become like Christ. Many of the holiest people in the world have suffered the greatest. If reincarnation is true, we are certainly in no place to judge a person’s or community’s situation or our own personal circumstances on past life actions. There is much mystery that surrounds this.

4)     Reincarnation was believed by some in the early Church, like Origen, though it was declared heresy in 553 A.D.

C.    Is reincarnation unbiblical?

There is nothing in the Bible that contradicts the idea of reincarnation besides, potentially, Hebrews 9:24-25. There is just not much in the Bible about reincarnation period. The most famous verse that is used to refute reincarnation is Hebrews 9:24-25. People argue reincarnation is unbiblical because people are “destined to die once, and after that face judgment.” While people die once and face judgment, believers in reincarnation would say that each specific person faces judgment and is reborn as a new person in a new body, though with the same soul, and that person will face another judgment at the end of their life and “die once”. People’s bodies and identities in that body die once, but the soul may live on in a new body. That next lifetime may be lovingly ordered by God to address a previous life that God judged in mercy. From this more nuanced perspective, reincarnation could still be true. (See other more minor reasons why reincarnation may not be biblical by reading my post.)

D.    Is reincarnation biblical?

1)     John 9:1-3 The blind man from birth could only have sinned before being born blind if he had had a past life and sinned.

2)     Hebrews 11:13-16 People who desired earth had an opportunity to return. How? The only way people ever return to earth: through a mother’s womb – so, reincarnation.

3)     Revelation 3:12 Jesus says those who overcome will not leave God’s temple any more. Maybe this is referring to people who have been fully purified and have overcome – so, there is no need for them to go back to earth.

4)     Job explicitly says in Job 1:20-21 that he will return to his mother’s womb. That is the exact definition of reincarnation – returning to a mother’s womb. So, Job believed in reincarnation. He stated it as if reincarnation was general knowledge – a common occurrence.

5)     Isaiah 26:17-19 refers to the earth giving birth to its dead in the context of dead living and bodies rising. What does that mean if not reincarnation? The dead live and bodies “rise” – why? Because the earth gives birth. Dead live and bodies rise because they rise through literally being born again. That is reincarnation, explicitly.

6)     Matthew 16:13-14 describes how people thought Jesus was one of the prophets. How could he have been if not for reincarnation? He lived at another time and had a different body. At least some of the people at the time of Jesus believed in reincarnation.  

7)     How can those who pierced Jesus see Jesus when he returns (Revelation 1:7) apart from reincarnation? Those who killed Jesus died a long time ago. Yet if they reincarnated when Christ returns, they would be able to see him.

8)     Matthew 24:30-34 reveals that the generation with Jesus will not pass away before the end times occur. Was Jesus lying? That whole generation passed away. But if they return through reincarnation when Jesus returns, they will not have passed away before he returns. And this is exactly what Matthew 19:27-29 affirms. Matthew 19:27-29 says in the “new world” – in the “regeneration”, the “palingenesia”, the “rebirth” – the literal Greek word for reincarnation – the disciples and Jesus will reign and judge together. If reincarnation is not true, why would Jesus use the Greek word for “rebirth”, which is the definition of reincarnation, to describe what will happen when Jesus returns? Perhaps reincarnation is exactly how Jesus and his disciples will return to earth, as that is the only way people return in God’s world: through a mother’s womb.

9)     1 Samuel 2:5-8 says God is said to kill and bring life, to bring down to death and raise up as general acts He does related to all humanity. This seems to mean more than an occasional raising of the dead, like in the case of Lazarus. Could reincarnation be biblical?

10)  Wisdom 8:19-20 explicitly says that because (the author, presumably), was good, he entered an “undefiled body” upon birth. He could not have been good before being born unless he had had a previous life.

11)  1 Samuel 2:3-8 references God bringing death and making alive, bringing down to the grace and raising up all people. What could this refer to if not to reincarnation? 

12)  Amos 9:1-2 says God brings down from heaven and up from Sheol and back to earth. 

13)  Psalm 90:2-6 speaks to God renewing people like the cycle of grass that is renewed in the morning and withers in the evening.

14)  Job 14:14 refers to Job’s renewal to come, and the Hebrew word for renew means “change”, like a change of clothes – perhaps referring to change of body.

15)  James 3:6 speaks to life being a “course” or “wheel” – so, a cycle, like reincarnation proposes.

16)  Tobit 13:1-2 says God leads to Hades and brings up again, talking of the general human populace, not specific individuals.

17)  Sirach 41:10 says that whatever comes from earth returns to earth, implying reincarnation.

18)  2 Maccabees 7:22-29 and 2 Maccabees 12:39-43 speak to resurrection being a reality that could mean reincarnation and the efficacy of praying for the dead so they could repent in a future life.

19)  Wisdom 1:16-2:22 refers to the unsoundness of reasoning that reincarnation (or something like it) is not true, though Wisdom says reincarnation (or something like it) is a secret purpose of God.

20)  Resurrection could refer to reincarnation. “Reincarnation” was not penned as a word until the 19^th century, though the idea of reincarnation is much more ancient.

21)  God’s protection of Cain in Genesis 4 is not logically possible apart from reincarnation given that anyone who killed Cain would be punished 7 times over.

22)  Reincarnation is implied in God stating he judges people to the third and fourth “generation”, which can also refer to a “dwelling” or “revolution” of the same person, not their ancestor, given that He only judges people for their own sin, not their parent’s (Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 5:9, Deuteronomy 24:16, Ezekiel 18:20).

23)  The law of karma is in the Bible (multiple verses, see my post), but thankfully God’s mercy and love triumph over judgment and the law of karma.  

Reincarnation, as off as the idea may seem to some, in no way contradicts God’s character or His heart. In fact, I think reincarnation reveals His character and His heart. God does not want anyone to perish, but His standard is incredibly high: we are to share in His divine nature of love (2 Peter 1:4). He gives people more than one opportunity to hear the gospel, repent, and become like Christ. Does not that sound like a more loving Father than One who gives only one opportunity, particularly given that so many die without hearing the gospel – and so, would perish without another opportunity? Again, Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.” Romans 11:33 says, Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” There is much mystery that remains if reincarnation is biblical that God has not shared with humanity. But, we can trust His ways are completely just, loving, and wise. We can also trust reincarnation is biblical according to these passages and the witness of reincarnation in the life of Jesus, Elijah, and Eve, which I explain next.

E.     Biblical Examples of Reincarnation

1.     John the Baptist: John the Baptist is the reincarnation of Elijah. Malachi 4:5 says Elijah will be sent (not someone like Elijah) before Jesus comes the first time. Luke 1:17 says that John the Baptist will have the spirit and power of Elijah, which is by some standards the definition of reincarnation. Spirit and soul are distinct in the Bible, however (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12). The soul is our very self and the spirit is our inmost part by which we connect with God in the spiritual realm. The soul is what is reborn from a reincarnation perspective. Yet, Jesus says John the Baptist is Elijah (Matthew 11:13-15, Matthew 17:9-13, Mark 9:13). Jesus, of all people, is most trustworthy to know this, so, John the Baptist must be Elijah. (See my post for a full description of the soul vs. the spirit and an answering to objections that John the Baptist is Elijah).

2.     Jesus

1)     Jesus was Adam: Jesus preexisted his life in Israel (Micah 5:2, John 1:29-30, John 8:58). John 17:5 says Jesus had glory with the Father before the world existed. What man had glory with God before the world existed besides Adam before the Fall? “World” in the Greek here means civilization. Adam is also, in the truest sense, the only son of God, with no other human father to speak of. Jesus is called God’s only Son multiple times in Scripture. Adam is also said to be made in God’s image, and Jesus is God’s image too and the firstborn of all creation. Adam was the firstborn of all creation too, as the first living creature. Does God have more than one only son? More than one firstborn? What better man to reconcile all things to God and pay humanity’s debt than the man who brought sin into the world? Jesus says he is the beginning of God’s creation (Revelation 3:14). Adam was the beginning of God’s creation (Mark 10:6). Adam was a “type” of the one to come, Jesus. “Typos” in Greek means “pattern” or “figure”. Adam was a “figure” and “pattern” of Christ – perhaps because they are the same soul? 1 Timothy 2:13-15 speaks of the importance of the future Adam and Eve continuing in faith, love, holiness, and self-control. How is this possible apart from both of them having a future life on earth? How would that happen apart from reincarnation? If Jesus is not God, what sounds more like God? For God to start over with a new “son of God”? Or give Adam a second chance and redeem and restore him? Scripture and God’s character show that Jesus was Adam, and that Eve will also be reincarnated in the future when Christ returns.

2)     Jesus was David: David is also called God’s begotten son (Psalm 2:7), firstborn, and the highest of the kings of the earth (Psalm 89:27). The only other individual called God’s son, firstborn, and highest of all the kings of the earth is Jesus. Can there logically be two firstborns of God and two highest of kings? End times passages reveal David and Jesus occupying the same exact role as king and shepherd of God’s people, who is sought after by God’s people (Revelation 20:4-6, Ezekiel 37:21-28, 1 Peter 5:4, Matthew 26:31, Micah 5:2-4, Hosea 3:4-5, Ezekiel 34:22-24, Jeremiah 30:9). Jesus is the most sought-after person by God’s people, yet Scripture says that person’s name is David. Could Jesus and David be the same soul? They have the exact same role in end times and do the exact same things. The Bible uses David and Jesus interchangeably when referring to the end times. Further, many of David’s psalms were about Jesus. Could he have been prophesying about himself as he spoke in the 1^st person (Psalm 16, Psalm 22)? Jesus is the root and offspring of David (Revelation 22:16). Could this metaphorically be because Jesus was Adam, the root of David, and Jesus was the “offspring” of David from a reincarnation standpoint? Amos 9:11 says that the “booth” (body) of David that is fallen will be repaired in days of old… could this be pointing to David reincarnating as Jesus? This verse is quoted by Peter in Acts 15:7-18 as referring to Jesus. Jesus is the reincarnation of David.

F.     Concluding Thoughts  

1.     Reincarnation is biblical: Jesus, John the Baptist, and Eve are all written about in Scripture as being reincarnated. Many Scriptures point to reincarnation. So, reincarnation, while it is not emphasized in Scripture, is biblical. Rightly understood, this is a positive, not a negative message, as reincarnation is a means by which all can hear the gospel, repent, and be saved. This shows God’s mercy and love for humanity. He does not just give us one chance, but many – including many for his only son, Jesus – the last Adam.

2.     Jesus is worthy:  Adam sinned. David, while he also sinned, was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). David fully repented (Psalm 51), and he desired God above all else (Psalm 27:4). Jesus’ victorious, selfless, sacrificial life was due to his amazing love, obedience, and single-hearted desire for God. Jesus is worthy of our great respect, praise, and honor as our Savior, Lord, and King.