Scripture Passages for the Funeral Service
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The following readings are particularly appropriate for use in the funeral service. This list is meant to be representative and should not be considered all inclusive. Selection of appropriate scriptures will be made in coordination with the participating clergy. This list has been taken from The Funeral: A Service of Witness to the Resurrection (Supplemental Liturgical Resource 4), copyright 1986 The Westminster Press, by permission.
Old Testament
Psalms
Epistles
Gospels
Old Testament
Job 19:23-27 I know that my redeemer lives
Isa. 25:6-9 God will swallow up death forever
Isa. 26:1-4, 19 God will keep them in perfect peace
Isa. 40:1-11, 28-31 Comfort my people
Isa. 40:28-31 Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength
Isa. 43:1-3a, 18-19, 25 When you pass through the waters
Isa. 44:6-8 I am the first and the last
Isa. 55:1-3, 6-13 Ho, everyone who thirsts
Isa. 61:1-4, 10-11 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me
Isa. 65:17-25 I create new heavens and a new earth
Lam. 3:19-26, 31-36 My affliction and roaming
Dan. 12:1-3 Many of those who sleep in the dust shall awake
Joel 2:12-13, 23-24, 26-29 Turn to me with all your heart
Some have found this passage from an Apocryphal book useful in certain circumstances:
Wisdom of Solomon
3:1-7, 9; 5:15-16 The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God
At the loss of a child:
Zech. 8:1-8 Children playing in the streets of the city
Isa. 65:17-25 I create new heavens and a new earth
For those whose faith is unknown:
Eccl. 3:1-15 For everything there is a season
Lam. 3:1-9, 19-26 The Lord's steadfast love
Psalms
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Ps. 16:5-11 The Lord is my chosen portion
Ps. 23 The Lord is my shepherd
Ps. 27:1, 4-9a, 13-14 The Lord is my light and my salvation
Ps. 39:4-5, 12 Lord, let me know my end
Ps. 42:1-6a As a hart longs for flowing streams
Ps. 43 Give judgment for me, O God
Ps. 46:1-5, 10-11 A very present help in trouble
Ps. 90:1-10, 12 Teach us to number our days
Ps. 91 The one who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Ps. 103 Bless, the Lord, O my soul
Ps. 106:1-5 O give thanks to the Lord
Ps. 116:1-9, 15 My delight is in the Lord
Ps. 118 Open the gates of righteousness
Ps. 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills
Ps. 130 Out of the depths I cry to the Lord
Ps. 139:1-12 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?
Ps. 145 I will exalt you, O God my King
Ps. 146 Hallelujah! praise the Lord, O my soul
Epistles
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Rom. 5:1-11 Hope does not disappoint
Rom. 6:3-9 Baptized into Christ's death, raised to live with him
Rom. 8:14-23, 31-39 Nothing can separate us
Rom. 14:7-9, 10b-12 Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's
1 Cor. 15:3-8, 12-20a Christ raised from the dead
1 Cor. 15:20-24 In Christ shall all be made alive
1 Cor. 15:20-26, 35-38, 42-44, 50, 53-58 Death is swallowed in victory
1 Cor. 15:35-44 The natural body and the spiritual body
1 Cor. 15:50-57 We shall all be changed
2 Cor. 4:16--5:1 Visible things are transitory, invisible things permanent
2 Cor. 5:1-10 From God we have a house not made with hands
Eph. 1:11--2:1, 4-10 Saved by grace through faith
Phil. 3:7-11 Knowing him and the power of his resurrection
Phil. 3:20-21 Our citizenship is in heaven
Col. 3:1-17 Set your mind on the things above
1 Thess. 4:13-18 The comfort of Christ's coming
2 Tim. 2:8-13 If we died with him, we shall also live with him
Heb. 2:14-18 Christ was tempted in every way
Heb. 11:1-3, 13-16; 12:1-2 Faith, the pilgrimage, the cloud of witnesses
1 Peter 1:3-12 Without seeing Christ you love him
1 Peter 3:18-22; 4:6 Christ's ministry to the spirits in prison
1 John 3:1-3, We are children of God
Rev. 7:2-3, 9-17 These are they who have come out of the great tribulation
Rev. 14:1-3, 6-7, 12-13 Rest for the saints
Rev. 21:1-4, 22-25; 22:3-5 A new heaven and a new earth
Rev. 22:1-5 The Lord God will be their light
For those whose faith is unknown:
Rom 2:12-16 The law written on the heart
Rom. 14:7-9, 10c-12 None of us live to ourselves
Gospels
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Matt 5:1-12a The Beatitudes
Matt. 11:25-30 Hidden from the wise, revealed to babes
Matt. 25:1-13 Wise and foolish virgins
Matt. 25:31-46 The Last Judgment
Luke 7:11-17 Jesus raises the son of the widow of Nain
Luke 18:15-17 We enter the kingdom only as children
Luke 23:33, 39-43 Today you will be with me in Paradise
John 3:16-21 God so loved the world
John 5:24-29 Whoever hears and believes has eternal life
John 6:37-40 Whoever comes to me I will by no means cast out
John 6:47-58 Whoever believes in me has eternal life
John 11:17-27 I am the resurrection and the life
John 11:38-44 Lazarus raised from the dead
John 14:1-6, 25-27 Let not your hearts be troubled
At the loss of a child:
Matt. 18:1-5, 10 The greatest in the kingdom of heaven
Mark 10:13-16 Let the children come to me
For those whose faith is unknown:
Matt. 25:31-46 As you did it to one of the least of these
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