Judaism, the religion of the Jewish people, is the foundation upon which Christianity was built. The Bible consists of two parts: the Old Testament (Ancient Testament), focusing on Jewish teachings, and the New Testament (Nouveau Testament), focusing on Christian teachings.
The Jewish people believed that the concept of reincarnation was widely accepted throughout the world. This belief is alluded to in the Old Testament and explained more explicitly in the Gospels.
Consider the following passages:
“Now the Jews believed that Elijah would return to earth before the Messiah appeared. So when Jesus’ disciples asked him if Elijah had already come, he replied, ‘Elijah has already come, but they did not recognize him, and they treated him as they pleased. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.”
(Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 17)
This passage clearly indicates that Jesus was implying that Elijah had reincarnated as John the Baptist.
On another occasion, the disciples encountered a man blind from birth and asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
This question demonstrates that the disciples believed in reincarnation and karmic retribution.
If this question contradicted the truth, Jesus would have surely rebuked them. However, he simply replied, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
(Gospel of John, Chapter 9)
The following passage further reveals the belief in reincarnation:
Nicodemus, a Pharisee, asked Jesus about rebirth, and Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Nicodemus asked, “How can someone be born when they are old? Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Seeing Nicodemus’ confusion, Jesus said, “You are Israel’s teacher, and do you not understand these things?”
(Gospel of John, Chapter 3)
This rebuke suggests that Jesus was surprised that a Jewish teacher did not understand reincarnation, as this teaching was orally transmitted to knowledgeable disciples during that time. These esoteric teachings were recorded in the Kabbalah, which predates Christianity.
Later, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai compiled and organized the Kabbalah into the Zohar, meaning “Splendor” or “Radiance.”
The Zohar contains esoteric teachings reserved for initiated spiritual practitioners. It states:
“All souls undergo trials and evolve from one life to the next, but humans are unaware of their predetermined destiny. The soul does not know how many lives it must experience, nor how many souls on earth are still bound to the cycle of rebirth and have not yet returned to the divine realm.
Ultimately, all souls return to their origin, the spiritual realm, but they must be as pure as when they first descended. Otherwise, they continue to reincarnate. If one life is not enough, then two, if two are not enough, then three, and so on, until they achieve complete purity and transcend the cycle of rebirth to reunite with God.”
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