What Does the Bible Say About Prayer For The Dead?

James 5:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

1 Corinthians 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

1 Peter 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Luke 23:43 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

1 Peter 3:18-20 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

2 Timothy 1:16-18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.

Philippians 1:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ...

Revelation 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

James 2:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? ...

2 Timothy 1:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains,

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

1 Corinthians 15:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?

Romans 4:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Acts 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

John 21:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

John 6:1-71 ESV / 2 helpful votes

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” ...

John 1:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Luke 16:19-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. ...

Matthew 6:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Matthew 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Genesis 1:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

2 Timothy 4:19 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

1 Timothy 3:15 ESV / 1 helpful vote

If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

29 Bible Verses about Prayer For The Dead

James 5:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Peter 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Luke 23:43 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Peter 3:18-20 ESV / 3 helpful votes

2 Timothy 1:16-18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Philippians 1:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Revelation 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James 2:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

2 Timothy 1:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 15:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 4:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Acts 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 21:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 6:1-71 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 1:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 1:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Luke 16:19-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 6:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 1:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

2 Timothy 4:19 ESV / 1 helpful vote

1 Timothy 3:15 ESV / 1 helpful vote

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29 Bible Verses about Prayer For The Dead

James 5:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 23:43 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:18-20 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 1:16-18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 1:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 2:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 1:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 15:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 4:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 21:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 6:1-71 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 16:19-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 4:19 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 3:15 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

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James 5:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Peter 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Luke 23:43 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Peter 3:18-20 ESV / 3 helpful votes

2 Timothy 1:16-18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Philippians 1:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Revelation 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James 2:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

2 Timothy 1:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 15:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 4:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Acts 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 21:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 6:1-71 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 1:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 1:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Luke 16:19-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 6:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 1:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

2 Timothy 4:19 ESV / 1 helpful vote

1 Timothy 3:15 ESV / 1 helpful vote