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While reincarnation is often associated with Eastern spirituality, it was also an essential aspect of Greco-Roman thought, influencing early Christianity through the philosophical currents of the time. Greek philosophers like Plato believed in the soul’s transmigration and saw life as part of a continuous cycle of purification. Within this cultural and intellectual backdrop, the early Christian movement found its roots, leading many to question whether reincarnation could be compatible with Christian beliefs.

Despite its resonance with the beliefs of early Christians and the influence of Jewish and Greco-Roman views, reincarnation was systematically excluded from Christian doctrine in the 4th century. The Church, concerned with creating a cohesive theological framework, aimed to distance itself from doctrines it deemed incompatible with its vision of salvation and resurrection. This effort, culminating in councils like that of Nicaea, sought to establish a clear distinction between Christian beliefs and surrounding philosophies. Some speculate that reincarnation’s exclusion was part of a larger Roman effort to consolidate religious power and authority, helping to ensure the necessity that imperial subjects pursue salvation in this one life alone through strictly heeding the dictates and authority of the Church (i.e., the Emperor and Pope).

A great little book on this subject is May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation? by Abbot George Burke, which you can download for free via the author’s website here. (Much of the following I’ve drawn from Abbot Burke’s research, and I strongly encourage you to read his book for a deeper dive into this topic.)

Early Christian and Jewish Beliefs on Reincarnation

The earliest followers of Jesus, who were deeply embedded in Jewish culture, may have been familiar with concepts of reincarnation, known in esoteric Judaism as gilgul or soul transmigration. This belief was accepted among certain mystically inclined Jewish sects, including the Essenes and the Pharisees, groups known for their intensive spiritual practices. And as Reza Aslan explored in his 2013 book Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus was most likely a member of the Essenes. In any event, influenced by both Jewish teachings and Greco-Roman culture, many early Christians naturally grew up believing in the cycle of rebirth as a way for souls to reach spiritual maturity — a process the Greeks called metempsychosis. As Burke concludes, “in the Apostolic Age and later, until Christianity was reshaped to suit the religio-political ideas of the Byzantine Emperors … reincarnation was so common as to be a truism among Christians.”

‍Scriptural Passages with Reincarnation Themes

The New Testament includes several passages that suggest openness to reincarnation. In Matthew 17:10-13, Jesus identifies John the Baptist as Elijah returned, which aligns with Jewish expectations of Elijah’s reappearance before the Messiah:

“And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed…Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.”

This passage suggests that reincarnation was a concept Jesus’ contemporaries understood and accepted without dispute.

Additionally, in John 9:1-3, when Jesus and his disciples encounter a man born blind, the disciples ask whether his blindness might be due to his sins in a past life, prior to his current birth:

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

Jesus’ response offers a spiritual teaching rather than dismissing the concept of past lives outright.

Theological Reflections on Reincarnation

In later centuries, certain Christian thinkers explored reincarnation’s compatibility with the faith. Cardinal Mercier, a prominent theologian of the early 20th century, offered a nuanced perspective, suggesting that at least one form of reincarnation was philosophically defensible within Christian doctrine. His views were not widely adopted, but they demonstrated a willingness to reexamine reincarnation’s place within Christian doctrine among more openminded thinkers.

Saint Padre Pio, a revered Catholic saint, responded to a follower’s inquiry about reincarnation with an insightful remark: “The only thing that matters is this: Are you seeking God now?” This response, while indirect, implies that belief or disbelief in reincarnation is less relevant, from a traditional Christian perspective, than one’s immediate relationship with God.

Perspectives from Jewish and Greco-Roman Mysticism

A number of Jewish mystics, especially within the Kabbalistic tradition, support reincarnation as a means for the soul to attain spiritual refinement through multiple lives. Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai, a 2nd-century mystic, taught that reincarnation offers souls the necessary experiences to reach divine unity. Similarly, Greco-Roman philosophies such as those of Plato and later Neoplatonic philosophers emphasized reincarnation as the soul’s method for spiritual evolution and purification. These views created a framework that, although later omitted, may have naturally influenced early Christian beliefs.

Moral and Ethical Implications

Reincarnation also resonates with Christian ethical principles. It aligns closely with the law of divine justice, or karma, whereby “you reap what you sow” (Galatians 6:7). Through successive lives, souls encounter opportunities to rectify past mistakes and grow in love and wisdom, a process exemplifying Christian beliefs in God’s justice and mercy. This cyclical process mirrors the Christian concept of sanctification (or theosis, as it is called in Eastern Orthodoxy), suggesting that, rather than suffering eternal damnation in hell if one fails to atone for one’s sins in the present life, reincarnation offers every soul a compassionate chance to continually evolve and grow in spiritual truth and purity until true sanctity is attained.

‍Conclusion

Though reincarnation was omitted from formal Christian doctrine in the 4th century, its philosophical and ethical framework aligns with early Christian teachings on divine justice, mercy, and the soul’s journey to God. As writer Robert Graves noted regarding the aforementioned passage in Matthew 17, “No honest theologian can therefore deny that his acceptance of Jesus as Christ [Messiah] logically binds every Christian to a belief in reincarnation—in Elijah’s case, at least.” And indeed, today about one-third of American Christians profess a belief in reincarnation, according to a recent Pew Research survey. The research found that:

Overall, Catholics are more likely than Protestants to say that they believe in reincarnation (38% vs. 26%), but there is wide variance within these groups. Nearly half of Hispanic Catholics (47%) believe in reincarnation, compared with a third of White Catholics. The gap among Protestants is even more pronounced: 48% of members of the historically Black Protestant tradition say they believe in reincarnation, while just 31% of mainline Protestants and only 16% of evangelical Protestants say the same.

For those willing to explore the reintegration of reincarnation with Christianity, I believe the idea offers an expanded understanding of the Christian ideal of divine compassion, whereby God offers countless opportunities for souls to seek redemption, atonement, and divine union—not just one brief lifetime of a chance.

Ultimately, it’s only through one’s own direct experience that questionable points of religious doctrine can be truly answered for each individual, and that means that each seeker needs to take a leap of faith to seek the truth for themselves. As Christ says in the Gospel of Thomas, verse 2: “Whoever seeks, must seek until they find.”

If you’re interested, I’m happy to help you step through that doorway.