Is the death penalty justified by any interpretation of the New Testament?

Answer 1

This is a difficult question to answer, but I will try to give you one that will be marginally acceptable. When Jesus died on the cross he fulfilled the law. In the Old Testament, God clearly gave the state the right to execute for specific crimes. Today, in western society, the only crimes for which the death penalty is imposed is capital murder or treason. We must remind ourselves that we do not live in a theocracy of love, but in a democratic society ruled by laws. The law is unforgiving, and in a theocracy we would be ruled by religious law and not by love (look at Iran), and religious law is no different than civil law---it is unforgiving. Love is forgiving, but the problem is that people do not embrace love the way they should; therefore, most people are not forgiving. People demand justice for the criminal, and for the violent criminal they demand death. They do not realize that their demands for death are just as vicious as the crimes that are committed.

I do not believe that Jesus would say that we should allow criminals to run the streets and that there should be no institutions of incarceration and rehabilitation. He would say that criminals ought to be detained and reeducated, to have the gospel preached unto them, that society should work with these people so that they could be properly reintergrated back into society as law abiding and productive citizens. I believe that he would insist that there is a better alternative to the death penalty and this alternative is love. His commandment, "Love thy neighbor as thyself" could be appropriately applied in this issue. If you would not desire to have yourself executed, then why insist that someone else should be executed?

Today, prisons are warehouses---they rehabilitate no one. Volunteer prison ministers, such as myself, have gone a long way to helping inmates realize that there is a better way of living than a life of crime, and it is our intention to encourage them to seek a good Bible believing church when they get out and to serve God. This is the better way of Jesus Christ. Putting a man or woman to death is the last resort---which is why it takes so long for executions to be carried out. Many of the inmates that are executed are reformed and have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and this makes it a bigger waste. Every time that a God fearing man or woman is executed or murdered, then the Body of Christ suffers---martyrs do no one any good.

I am not active in opposing the death penalty because God has not placed me in the position to do so. He has assigned me to prison ministery to preach the gospel to inmates and lead as many to salvation as I can. I am not a politician and have no desire to become one. The death penalty is a multifaceted issue----political, social, spiritual and personal. I choose to leave the debate as to its value or uselessness to those who are better qualified to participate in the arguement.

Answer 2

I am not sure I could make a case for the death penalty using The New Testament. Having said that, there is nothing in the New Testament which can be truly interpreted as rescinding the death penalty.

Jesus said that He did not come to do away with The Law,(of Moses), but to fulfill it. Mosaic Law is divided into Two Parts. Leviticual Law, and Ceremonial Law. The death penalty would fall under Leviticual Law. Ceremonial Law, is the Law Christ fulfilled in His coming.

Answer 3

The Hebrew word used in both versions of the Ten Words (Commandments), ratsach, is not nearly as specific as is the English word murder. The Hebrew language has fewer words than English or the Greek language and in Hebrew a word is often defined in the sense in which it is used. For example, in the Priestly Code of Numbers, the word is used twice (35:27, 30) for legal killing done by the blood avenger. Also, there are several places in Deuteronomy (4:42, 19:3, 4, 6, as well as 15 or so other passages scattered throughout Numbers and Joshua that use the word to refer to unintentional killing or causing accidental death (manslaughter). It can also mean to murder or assassinate. A cognate noun means “shattering” or “mortal wound” (Psa 42:11), which suggests that the word emphasizes violence, not whether the action was legal or premeditated.

Answer 4

It is not mentioned, but the new is an extension of the old. It is hoped in the new that the sinner will repent and be sorry for sins, thus opening the door for forgiveness. Forgiveness was also available in the old testament as well.

However, if one completely refuses to repent, and is a danger to others, the sinner then puts himself under the old testament laws, refusing grace and forgiveness. There is no recorse but to restrain or punish evil behavior according to the law.

Answer 5

Jesus received and submitted to it.However when Pilate told Jesus that he had the power to put Him to death, Jesus informed him that he would have no power at all except it be given by His , Father. John 19:10-11.One other interesting thing that Jesus told Pilate was " My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight,that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." John 18:36. There is the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the world.As Christians I don't believe that we could take any part in Judging a person to be put to death or pull the switch.I hope this helps you with your question.

Answer 6

Yes. The death penalty is a necessary part of justice. Crimes don't just affect the victim, they affect the perpetrator. They twist and corrupt them in a real way, God knew this, so He gave the death penalty for crimes like rape and murder to cut out that evil. By allowing them to live, they can abuse and corrupt others, and so our prisons keep getting worse. It frustrates me to see this, since I love justice and want it done, but our society doesn't have the wisdom to understand the necessity of the death penalty and issue it for these crimes.

Answer 7

I don't know, but one thing is for sure...I fully support the death penalty (the American death penalty) It keeps the people who have committed crimes agents society from committing them again! i see no reason why someone would not support a system that works efficiently.

Answer 8

The death penalty can not be justified by anything.

Answer 9

Not by any of the parts that accurately reflect the true teachings of Jesus.

Some of the nonsense written by Paul and a few other parts that were added by the Romans to support their brutal ways could be supportive of it.


Love and blessings Don

Answer 10

What do our laws have to do with the New Testament? Are you pushing for a theocracy?