Can you really justify the death penalty using the bible?

Question

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Answer 1

That girl is loony. I do n ot support the death penalty.

Answer 2

Factually, there are passages in the OT supporting the death penalty.

But there is nothing in the NT condemning the death penalty. So, while it may be hard to justify the death penalty from readings from the NT, it most certainly isn't against it, either.

For without a death penalty, Jesus would not have died for our sins. And Jesus also did not save the lives of the theives that were being crucified also, only their souls. Again, no admonitions against the death penalty.

So when the Pope and other religious leaders start talking about being against the death penalty, it certainly isn't coming from the Bible.

Let's face it - this anti-death penalty belief hasn't been mainstream until the last 100 years. And I really don't find their arguments pursuasive or based on anything but emotion and cheap rhetoric.

Answer 3

First off, as far as christianity goes, the Bible is to be taken as a whole, not just a piece here and a piece there. Often the Bible is misrepresented due to peoples ignorance of it. The ten commandments were more than just a set of rules to live by, they were a demonstration that we as humans couldn't live up to them.

Later these commandments were further broken down to more distinct cases to clearify things. Such as "Thou shalt not kill" and later stating that 'Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer ...' Numbers 35:30. It isn't in violation at all.

Now as to other parts of old testiment law that aren't practiced by Christians, thats an easy one to answer. Those were repealed with Christ's teachings and his death. A lot of the traditions, like sacrifice, were no longer needed.

One last thing and is one that most people don't really talk about but should be taken in. Romans 13:1-7 states "1Everyone 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. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For 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. 4For 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. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

Answer 4

You can justify it using the bible but you can't from the point of view of Christianity.The Old Testament is not Christian.Only all that came after Jesus Christ and came from his teachings is Christian.

Jesus NEVER justified murder or killing under any circumstances. His basis was turn the other cheek and forgive.

For supporters of the death penalty who are CHRISTIAN (i.e. they follow the teachings of Christ) and support the death penalty they are basically hipocrites. The two simply do not go hand in hand.

Answer 5

Some people will point to passages in the Old Testament and say those justify the death penalty. However, if you point to other passages in the Old Testament that have laws such as the one saying parents can stone unruly children to death, then you will be told that the New Testament overrides those outdated laws in the Old Testament.

What I would like to see is where does it say that a person can pick and choose which laws in the bible they are going to follow? Are there any passages in the New Testament that support the death penalty? If not, then why not follow the other laws in the Old Testament that many christians ignore today.

Answer 6

If God does not exist, then what is right and what is wrong?

if it is a matter of opinion, who's?
If it is decided by society, how?

Take both questions all the way back to the beginning of recorded human history and answer.

If you say that Murder is against the law, then you just legislated morality.
Morality is legislated every day in our courts, the only difference is who's morality will be legislated.

So what and or how do we base our laws on?
Again, what is right and what is wrong?

Answer 7

Yes it does say thy shalt not kill referring to murder, it also say a man who takes another mans life should be stoned to death, maybe we need to go back to that, be a lot less murders.

Answer 8

No, you can't justify the death penalty by what was written by cavemen, the Old Testament".

It is disingenuous and evil to pick and choose what you want to practice out of a document like that.

Answer 9

You can justify anything using the Bible if that is what you want to do. Thats how holy wars are started.

Answer 10

To paraphrase God, when he was talking to Moses, if you take a life you lose your life