What's the history of the phrase 'rest in peace'?

It came about back in the old days when most Christians were Catholic. They believe that people went to purgatory to await their judgement, and that we on earth can pray to sway God's mind on their behalf.

Some Christians today do hold an agnostic idea that we simply go to sleep until the final judgement, though it contradicts stripture.

I could probably find you a Christian somewhere who believes Jesus was from outer space. I'm serious. These days, anything goes.

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Somewhere in my vast collection of books, I have one on the origin of words and phrases. I can picture it in my mind, but I have no idea where to start looking for it! If I find it before this ends, I'll post what it has to say.

I believe this is Judeo/Christian, even though it is not a biblical phrase. The idea of rest is a central theme of the Bible starting with creation and ending with the Judgment and subsequent "rest." The idea is not sleep so much as reward. The Sabbath was instituted so that they could enjoy the fruit of their labors. Of course, by the time Jesus came, they had turned it into a restriction, but God meant it to be restorative and rewarding.

When the Israelites came into the promised land after wandering in the wilderness, that was referred to as "entering (their) rest." The work of this life is the struggle with sin. At the end of life, that struggle is over.

When the Angel heralded the birth of Christ he said, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” The peace he spoke of was peace between God and man - the peace made possible by Christ, His very birth being a sign of God's goodwill toward us.

What I believe the phrase means is that the deceased is going to their reward, at peace with God, restored to a perfect relationship with Him.

The apostle Paul referred to the end of life as the end of a race. The runner rests, but it is a triumphant rest, not simply slumber.

The Word says that there remains a rest for the people of God. The body "rests" in the dust. The Spirit and Soul "rest" from their labors on this earth, in the peaceful presence of God.

Your question attempts to separate superstition from christians. They are as superstitious a group as any other group. And just like any group pre 1900 or so, they feared the spirit of the dead coming back to haunt them for their misdeeds to the deceased.

The phrase in Latin is "requiescat in pace" and is a prayer that the deceased may rest peacefully, not in torment, while awaiting Judgment Day.

Earlier Christian graves, such as those in the catacombs, bore the single initial "R," standing for either Requiescit ("He/she rests") or Refrigerio ("In [a place of] refreshment").

Other catacomb burial inscriptions:

A.Q.I.C. -- Anima Quiescat In Christo ("May his [or her] Soul Repose in Christ")

B.I.C. -- Bibas [for Vivas] In Christo ("May you Live In Christ")

B.Q. -- Bene Quiescat ("May he [or she] Rest Well")

C.O.B.Q. -- *** Omnibus Bonis Quiescat ("May he [or she] Repose With All Good souls")

D or DEP. -- Depositus ("Laid to rest")

D.I.P. -- Dormit In Pace ("Sleeps in Peace")

E VIV. DISC. -- E Vivis Discessit ("Departed from Life")

INP -- In Pace ("In Peace")

I.X. -- In Christo ("In Christ")

OB. IN XTO. -- Obiit In Christo ("Died In Christ")

P.T.C.S. -- Pax Tibi *** Sanctis ("Peace to Thee With the Saints")

Q., Qui. -- Quiescit ("He Rests")

Q.I.P. -- Quiescat In Pace ("May he [or she] Rest in Peace")

S.I.D. -- Spiritus In Deo ("Spirit [rests] in God")

(Y!A has replaced the Latin word c-u-m [meaning "with"] with asterisks.)

that phrase means that he was dead and the soil resting when it gets back to its creator