Is it biblical to say ‘rest in peace’ (RIP) in regards to someone who has died?

Answer

The acronym RIP (or R.I.P.) is often observed carved on tombstones, and the phrase “rest in peace” is frequently heard at wakes and funerals. It originates from the Latin blessing requiescat in pace (literally, “may he begin to rest in peace”). Is it biblical to say, “Rest in peace”? The expression “rest in peace” is not found in Scripture in reference to a deceased person. Therefore, saying “Rest in peace” is not explicitly biblical.

Towards the end of the book of Daniel, an angel mentions Daniel’s death, stating, “You will rest” «But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.», (Daniel 12:13). Additionally, the prophet Isaiah declares, “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death” «He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. », (Isaiah 57:2). These two passages are the closest the Bible comes to the concept behind RIP. Nevertheless, the exact phrase “rest in peace” is not utilized.

Due to the fear that death can evoke, individuals have created certain clichés over time to console themselves. Following a death, we often hear non-biblical statements like “She’s an angel now” and “God needed another angel in heaven”; occasionally, we hear the platitude “He’s in a better place,” uttered without considering the possibility that he might actually be in a worse place. Individuals who never prioritize God suddenly exhibit religious behavior at a funeral. They attempt to reassure themselves and others that, irrespective of the deceased’s relationship with God during their life, he or she is now in heaven. However, we must not disregard what Scripture teaches.

The Bible clearly states that physical death is not the end (Genesis 2:7). It is a transition to the afterlife, where individuals will face judgment based on their faith and actions.

Jesus taught that there are only two options for every human being: heaven and hell (Matthew 10:28; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43;). He gave a vivid picture of those two options in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16:19–31. In this account, the rich man, who had given no thought to God during his earthly life, went to hell when he died. Lazarus, who possessed nothing on earth but a pure heart, was taken to paradise. Hell is described as a place of torment (verse 23), not a place of rest. According to Scripture, a person who dies without Christ is not “resting in peace” see John 3:18. “‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked’” «There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.», (Isaiah 57:21).

However, death is entirely different for those who are “in Christ” (Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 1:30). First Thessalonians 4:13 reminds us that, while it is natural to grieve for loved ones who have died, we do not need to grieve for believers in Christ as though we will never see them again. There is hope mixed with the sorrow. The Bible often refers to the dead in Christ as “those who are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20; Acts 13:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:10). The biblical writers used sleep as a metaphor because death for a Christian is only temporary. Paul said that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” «we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. »,

(2 Corinthians 5:8). Those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior are with Him in paradise upon death «And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.», (Luke 23:43). Therefore, after death, Christians enter a state of “rest,” which is “peaceful.” Nevertheless, is the expression “Rest in peace” supported by the Bible?

The issue with saying “Rest in peace” is that it is presented as a prayer. In Latin, it translates to “May he begin to rest in peace.” Praying for the deceased is not biblical. At the instant of death, an individual’s destiny is determined. The Bible neither instructs nor implies that we should intercede for the departed. Uttering “Rest in peace,” inscribing “RIP,” and other types of prayers for the deceased originate from Catholic tradition, not from the Scriptures.