Why do Christians say they don't believe in reincarnation when it is in their Bible?

Question

Matthew 17

11Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." 13Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Answer 1

You are just the perfect picture of a non believer trying to make sense of spiritual matters... Thanks for the laugh... Jim

Answer 2

Elijah - Work Prophetic of Things to Come.

About 450 years after Elijah’s time, Malachi prophesied that Elijah the prophet would appear “before the coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah.” (Mal 4:5, 6)

The Jews of Jesus’ day were in expectation of Elijah’s coming to fulfill this prophecy. (Mt 17:10)

Some thought that Jesus was Elijah. (Mt 16:14)

John the Baptizer, who wore a hair garment and a leather girdle around his loins as did Elijah, denied that he actually was Elijah in person. (2Ki 1:8; Mt 3:4; Joh 1:21)

The angel had not told John’s father Zechariah that John would be Elijah, but that he would have “Elijah’s spirit and power . . . to get ready for Jehovah a prepared people.” (Lu 1:17)

Jesus indicated that John did that work but was not recognized by the Jews. (Mt 17:11-13) After John’s death a visionary appearance of Elijah along with Moses occurred at Jesus’ transfiguration, indicating that there was something yet to take place as represented by the work that Elijah had done.—Mr 9:1-8.

You are incorrect regarding the Bible and Reincarnation.

Answer 3

Jesus isn't saying here that Elijah will come back in the form of John the Baptist, but rather that John the Baptist will renew the work of Elijah to make sinners see the error of their ways and be faithful to God, only that he will succeed in converting many nonbelievers where Elijah failed.

For once, I don't even need to provide Bible passages to refute this claim, because it is so blatantly opposite of the main message of Christianity - that Jesus died and rose from the dead for all humans so that we also could do the same, and live with God in eternity; hence there is no need for reincarnation in Christianity.

Answer 4

That is not reincarnation. The spirit of Elijah "came back" and lived in John the Baptist.

Answer 5

Exactly, the point, when Jesus said Elijah had already come and His discoples understood that He was talking to them about John the baptist.
that pretty well answers your question doesn't it, Elijah had not come back but the same spirit was in John that was in Elijah.

reincarnation is not real, once dead you do not come back to life and won't until the return of Christ.

Answer 6

I don't think he was talking about reincarnation here. He said the spirit of Elijah, not Elijah.

This is a translation issue.

Answer 7

Sho-nuff, I have to admit this is a question I've always wondered about myself, even as a kid, and while researching the religion of my OWN birth (Catholicism) and others, I never got a good answer about it. I eagerly await replies just to answer my own curiosity about it!

_()_

Answer 8

well to be sure I am going to check that out, and when I get a good answer I will post again, untill then I am also interested in the answers you get :) THANKYOU MYRTLE BEACH! UNDERSTOOD NOW!!!I KNEW THERE WAS A REASON I DIDNT BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION.:)

Answer 9

I am really partial to the idea. Concepts of reincarnation appeal to me. I haven't really decided which way to go on this one yet.

Answer 10

You are confusing what is spiritual with what is physical.
Keep working on it, ShoNuff...I believe you'll get it one day.