Subject: Does Bible support capital punishment? |
Bible Note: Hi Pup: I have struggled with the same question for many years. The references I am going to cite, I know that you are aware of them. I also think that we who profess to know the value of a single soul should think very carefully before we would suggest sending that soul into eternity unsaved. Genesis 4: 9-15 We have the first murder. Cain kills Abel. Cain was not put to death, but rather he was cursed from the earth and became a fugitive and a vagabond. In Genesis 9 :6 after the flood the lord says "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed...". This verse seems very clear and on the side of Capital punishment. In Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. We must remember that under the law Capital punishment was the judgement for many sins. However, in Numbers 35:6 the Lord appoints 6 cities of refuge for the manslayer. and in verse 11. provides the rules for the person who kills someone unawares. Which today we would refer to as second degree murder and manslaughter. In 2 Samuel 11 we read of King Davids great sin. he lusted after another man's wife and committed adultry with her. She became pregnant by King David. David in trying to cover his sin conspired with Joab to send Uriah into the forefront of the battle and to not protect him and Davids instructions in V15 "retire ye from him, that he may be smitten and die." As we know Uriah was killed. Today in some states David would get the death penalty. Instead, David stole Uriah's wife and displeased the Lord. Nevertheless, he did not receive capital punishment as stated in Genesis 9. The examples I have looked at in the old testament show God,s law regarding murder in Gen.9 However, in each example there is punishment with grace. WHAT SHOULD THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHRISTIAN BE REGARDING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT? In Romans 12:19 which refers back to Deut. 32:35 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written Vengence is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. The Lord Jesus in Luke 23:34 could say "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Stephen in Acts 7:60 as he is being stoned to death could pray in a loud voice" Lord, lay not his sin to their charge." Others as referred to in Hebrews 11:38 "of whom the world was not worthy" were tortured and killed for the testimony of the Gospel. When we read these accounts, many of these early Christians prayed for their killers salvation and forgiveness. In Matthew 5:38 The Lord Jesus said "Ye have heard it said an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." I realize the Lord is not talking about murder here, however the first part of this verse is misused many times to support the idea of Capital punishment. The scriptures appear to differentiate between 2nd degree murder and manslaughter and 1st degree murder. Part Two to follow Peace Robert |