[Copyright material]

Illustrations

Preface

1 The body and soul and their ultimate destination
   The serious issues of life and death
   The wisdom of planning ahead
   Made in the image of God
   Burial or cremation?
   Bodies have to be treated with dignity

2 Accounts of burial in the Bible
   Examples of burial in the Old Testament
   God buried Moses
   Examples of burial in the New Testament
   Burial of the Lord Jesus

3 The how and where of burial
   How our mortal remains are laid to rest
   Bodies which have been totally destroyed
   Where our mortal remains are laid to rest
   Burial for criminals and enemies
   Bereavement and mourning

4 Burning in the Bible
   The wrath of God
   Burning is often associated with judgement
   Burning of other things by fire
   Two examples of God destroying by fire
   God’s condemnation of burning a body
   Defilement by cremation
   Non-burial considered a curse

5 Biblical teaching about eternal matters
   New Testament teaching about the unregenerate
   Jesus’ words to those who would follow him
   A passage from 1 Corinthians
   Burial as an illustration of the resurrection
   Baptism, burial and resurrection
   Pictures of the Second Advent
   The Apostles’ Creed

6 Contemporary views on burial and cremation
   Responses to proposals in favour of cremation
   The human conscience

7 Conclusions to be drawn
   The relevance of God’s Word
   Proposals in favour of burial
   How to respond to cremation
   One final and important question

Notes

Appendices
   Order of service for a Christian funeral
   Hymns for funeral services
   Bible readings for funeral services
   The author
   Author’s doctrinal statement

Index