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issues: the death penalty - 1
issues: the death penalty - 1
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Is it consistent to be pro-life AND support the death penalty?
Does the death penalty effectively address the crime of murder?
There are Christians on both side of this issue.
Biblical Perspectives
There are four primary passages both sides cite in their views of the death penalty.
Genesis 9:6-Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in
the image of God has God made man.
Is this a command or a proverb?
Advocates:
• It would be contrary to the analogy of Scripture to understand this as anything
else than a charge given to man to execute the death penalty.” – Andrew Murray
• “When violence in the form of murder is done to a man, it is in effect an outrage
against God.” – Charles Ryrie
• Other passages in the OT support this reading, particularly Numbers 35:16-21 “-
…The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.”
Opponents
• Why then isn’t the command carried out for the other 17 capital crimes listed in
the Exodus and Deuteronomy?
• What about the persons God didn’t want executed – Cain, Moses, David, Tamar,
and Gomer.
• Many scholars believe Genesis 9:6 has the form of a proverb, not a command.
This makes the passage a life principle instead of a mandate for punishment. It’s
advice based on the likely consequence of your actions: “if you are a killer, you will
end up being killed.”
• Jesus interprets Genesis 9:6 in His statement to Peter in Matthew 26:52-“all who
take the sword, by the sword will die” (literal translation)
How do we distinguish between what OT passages apply to today and which
ones do not?
Advocates
• Genesis 9:6 was given to Noah, the first of a new humanity. It therefore applies
to all mankind and is binding today.
• The other capital crimes were given to Moses, and as such are applicable to the
Jewish nation only.
Opponents
• Does this mean that the 10 commandments are no longer binding? They were
given to Moses.
• There is no mandate to obey if the text is a proverb.
John 8:1-11 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in
adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this
woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone
such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order
to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the
ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and
said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at
her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard
began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the
woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are
they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I
condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
How does Jesus relate the death penalty in this passage?
Advocates
• The passage was probably not an original part of John’s Gospel, but was added
later.
• Jesus released the woman from death because of the Pharisee’s failure to abide
by Deuteronomy 22:22-24. (They did not produce the male involved.) The woman was
released on a technicality, not necessarily because Jesus opposed capital punishment.
Opponents
• Jesus released the woman from the death penalty, but admonished her not to
commit adultery again.
• “The accusers were convicted of their own sins and accepted the fact that there
is no justification for the vengeful execution of one sinner by another. If all Christian
followed their example, there would have been no blessing of capital punishment in
Christian history.” - Bishop Lowell Edrahl Pro Life / Pro Peace, 114.
Romans 13:1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is
no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have
been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is
rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on
themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do
wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right
and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do
wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an
agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to
submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of
conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants,
who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe
taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then
honor.
Advocates
• The sword represents the instrument of capital punishment. That rulers are
appointed by God with this kind of authority demonstrates God’s approval of capital
punishment.
Opponents
• The passage in questioned is between teaching on peacemaking Romans 12:14-
21, and love Romans 13:8-10. The point is to instruct Christians to avoid the violence
brought on by a rebellion against tax paying. The sword is a symbol of the authority of
the Roman government, not an indication of approval for capital punishment.
Acts 25:11- If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse
to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has
the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!"
Advocates
• Paul’s words reveal in him a presupposition that some crimes are worthy of
death.
Opponents
• Just because Paul understood the laws of his day in no way communicates that
he agreed with them.
• Nowhere in the NT do the followers of Jesus support the death penalty.
• The NT describes several instances of the death penalty…all were unjust
o John the Baptist, crucifixion of Jesus, stoning of Stephen, stoning of other
Christians, Herod’s killing of James, threatened death for Paul, Paul’s plea for
Philemon, and persecution of Christians in the book of Revelation.