Question: .

What does the Bible say about capital punishment? I have read a lot of pro and anti articles, religious or not, but somehow, it doesn't come concrete. Where do we draw the line on God's involvement concerning judgment on human affairs. Does every human affair and making need to involve God? Please help.

- Jesse

Answer:

Dear Jesse,

Capital punishment is not forbidden in Scripture. Genesis 9:6 teaches that whomsoever sheds blood, the killer's blood will be shed. Numbers 35:31 is another passage you may wish to consult.

Some say that those passages are part of the old covenant, and that the new covenant is love, and therefore excludes capital punishment. This (that capital punishment is not love, or humane, or civilized) argument is the basis of most discussions today, both in and out of Christianity. What constitutes love - what is a loving act - what about "tough love" - etc. therefore is a matter which we can debate - and over which Christians can differ without dividing.

However, there is more to this matter - and that concerns the authority that civil governments have. What Christians should do is one consideration, noted in the paragraph above. But there is no nation today that is 100% Christian, and that claims to be the kingdom of God on earth. Therefore, our opinions, as stated above, will differ. But, the very real problem of crime and justice on this earth, now, still exists. What does the Bible say about that issue?

Jesus reiterated the principle of justice - that the scales balance in terms of capital punishment in Matthew 26:52. Jesus recognized the authority of Rome and he submitted to it (John 19:11) and Matthew 22:21). Paul said that civil rulers are ministers of God (Romans 13).

Some Bible students contrast Romans 13:4 (the government is an avenger bringing wrath upon evil doers) with John 8:3-11 (the woman caught in adultery should have been stoned according to the law of Moses, but Jesus forgave her).

But this is an apples and oranges comparison. 1) In Romans 13 the authority is the Roman government which has the power to act. In John 8 the law is the Jewish law, which has no civil authority, as the land of Palestine was occupied by Rome, and under Roman law. Therefore, such civil codes such as stoning dictated in the law of Moses could not be enforced. 2) Even if the Romans were not occupying Palestine, then the Jewish authorities in John 8 were not following the law of Moses. The law said that both male and female had to be brought before the people - the man who was involved in John 8 was let go. 3) John 8 would also have to be understood within the context of the motives of the scribes and Pharisees - the crime, its punishment, and justice were not the issue. They simply used this situation - and it appears that they manipulated this situation - to serve their own ends, which were to try to trap Jesus so that they would have a reason to get rid of him.

Big subject and lots of discussion is possible - hope I have given you a little food for thought.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht