A Christian expression used to describe a Christian who has died. I see it on tombstones a lot.

In the New Testament people who are dead are often said to be sleeping. Jesus said it about Lazarus, for example. The phrase "asleep in Christ" is mentioned in I Corinthians 15.

A similar metaphor of death as sleep is active in the etymology of the word "cemetery", which is from Greek words meaning "sleeping chamber".

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.