Funeral Readings
The following Bible readings express different aspects of Christian belief about death, bereavement, life and resurrection (the victory of life over death).
You can copy and paste the references in bold type into the
search box on the right, and click the 'search' button, to read the
passage
online.
The verses marked with an asterisk (*) are particularly appropriate at the funeral of a child.
Ecclesiastes
3. 1-8 (A time for everything)
Isaiah
25. 6-9; 26. 3-4 (He will swallow up death for ever)
Isaiah
61. 1-3 (Good news for the broken hearted) *
Lamentations
3. 22-26, 31-33 (The love of the Lord never ends)
Wisdom
of Solomon 3. 1-9 (No torment will touch them)
Matthew
5. 1-12a (The Beatitudes) *
Matthew
11. 25-30 (I will give you rest) *
Matthew
18. 1-5, 10 (The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven) *
Mark
10. 13-16 (Let the children come to me) *
Mark
15. 33-39, 16. 1-7 (Christ's death and resurrection)
Luke
24. 13-16, 28-35 (The road to Emmaus)
John
5. 24-29, 6. 37-40 (Seeing the Son and believing in him)
John
6. 53-58 (Whoever eats this bread will live for ever)
John
10. 11-16 (I am the good Shepherd) *
John
11. 21-27 (I am the resurrection and the life)
John
14. 1-6, 18, 19 (I am the way, the truth and the life)
John
20. 1-9 (The risen Christ)
Romans
8. 31-39 (Nothing will separate us from God's love)
Romans
14. 7-9 (The Lord of the dead and of the living)
1
Corinthians 15. 3-20 (Witnesses to the risen Christ)
1
Corinthians 15. 20-26, 35-38, 42-58 (Death, where is your
victory?)
2
Corinthians 4.16 - 5.9 (Incomparable glory)
Philippians
3. 7-11 (The power of Christ's resurrection)
2
Timothy 2. 8-13 (We shall live with Christ)
1
Peter 1. 3-9 (A living hope) *
1
John 3. 1-2 (God's children) *
1
John 4. 7-18a (God is love) *
Revelation
7. 9-17 (God will wipe away every tear)
Revelation
20. 11-13 (The book of life)
Revelation
21. 1-7 (The new Jerusalem)