For Christians: Where does it say anything about abortion in the Bible?

Question

I'm pro-life, but not Christian, and many people have told me that being Pro-Life is a Christian value. I can't find any passages in the Bible that say this. I know Jeremiah 1:5 is used by Christian pro-life people (though I see its in the OT). When reading that passage, I always thought it was saying that god knew your soul before he placed you in a body.

Being Pro-Life has been linked to Christianity commonly, but reading Hosea 9: 11-16, I am confused.

Are there Bible passages in either OT/NT that say abortion is wrong?
Why is being Pro-Life seen most commonly as a Christian value?

Answer 1

That is a very interesting question. I'm pro-life, and I AM Christian. I regularly read my Bible, but I am not aware of any passages explicitly concerning abortion. I believe that this is because abortion really wasn't a problem then... it's only become widespread in recent years.

I think the reason pro-life is usually considered a Christian value is because Christians will tend to believe that a baby is an individual as soon as conceived. I would agree with this, because I would say that you are not your body, but you are your soul. As soon as you are conceived, your soul sort of attaches itself to that body, making the baby an individual.

Generally, I think the entire abortion debate is about whether a baby is an individual or not. And because Christians generally see a baby as an individual as soon as it is conceived, they are against abortion. This would explain why most Christians are pro-life, because they basically believe abortion is murder (which I do).

Hope that helped...

Answer 2

I'm Christian, and I am certain that nowhere in the Bible does it say anything about abortion.

First of all, I'm not sure if they had abortions in those days, but I know that only a century or two later, an emperor had doctors remove a baby from his daughter's womb. It must've been a really barbaric version of the modern abortion, and it's possible that they had that during Jesus' time too.

Second, the Ten Commandments say, "Thou shalt not kill." But is abortion really killing? Or does life not start until after birth? Well, the fetus is technically alive in the mother's womb, but some people think that life doesn't really start until after birth. The Church teaches that abortion is against this commandment. And this is primarily because teaching the opposite would be hypocrisy. You are right to say that Pro-Life is linked with Christianity commonly. We try to be consistent in our teachings. How would it make sense to say that murder, death penalty, and euthanasia (spelling?) are all wrong but abortion is OK? Christians believe killing to be wrong- no ands, buts, or ors. End of story. And that's exactly why. (Of course, there is an exception to the death penalty, lol, but I won't get into that right now...)

Answer 3

First, one of the ten commandments forbids people from taking other peoples' lives. A fetus is a person. As a result, they are entitled to the right to life like all human beings should be. Ontologically, as soon as the egg and sperm unite, a human being is created. Therefore, any action which destroys the development of an embryo from its beginning stages until the day the adult is buried in the ground, is a violation of God's commands.

There is also a portion in Leviticus where if a person accidentally kills a pregnant mother, he must make restitution for two deaths. This supports the notion that an unborn child is still a person.

The Bible does not speak directly to abortion because it was not an issue back then. However, with what the Bible does instruct, it can be deduced that abortion is clearly murder as well.

Answer 4

The passage in Hosea is talking about Ephraim, or Israel, and their consequences of rejecting God. For hundreds of years God warned them and sent preachers to try to get them to just do right. Instead of listening to the messages, they just kept killing the messengers. God finally had it and this is what they can now look forward to, sadly.

There aren't any verses in the Bible that deal with abortion specifically. I think it comes down to a matter of common sense. Common sense says killing is wrong. You don't need the Bible to tell you that. Many atheists on this board say that that is just part of their moral code, or they just know that it's wrong. What difference does it make if the child is inside or outside the womb?

If you want to go Biblically, the only thing the Bible says is not to murder, or intentionally kill someone with forethought.

I think being pro-life is seen mostly as a Christian value because most Christians are. It could also be a Muslim value--I don't know.

Answer 5

Well, you bring up an interesting point.
Of course not all Christians are pro-life, and not all pro-lifers are Christian.
I happen to be Christian (Roman Catholic) who is both pro-life and pro-choice. I believe women should have the choice to end their children's lives, but in a perfect world, they would never make it. Therefore, they everyday choose to keep their child, not being forced to keep him/her.
Anyway, enough about me. The reason Christianity is associated in the public's eye with pro-life movements is that there are many Christian groups lobbying for that position in a very visible way. You just don't see a lot of aethiest groups doing the same.
Also, no, there isn't anythign in the Bible about abortion because, like homosexuality, that wasn't a very clearly defined concept 2,000 years ago. So the best the Christian church could do is extrapolate as best they could through tradition and other teachings what the "right" or "safe" thing is to do.
The Church believes that if it is guided by the Holy Spirit, this is a correct inference.
But hey, the Church is made of people and people are always fallible, so you have to be careful and consider your own moral stance based on many factors and with careful contemplation.
hope this helps.

Answer 6

There is no passage that I know of in the Bible that directly refers to abortion. Most of what I hear is Exodus 20 "Thou shalt not kill", etc. and since your Jeremiah verse implies that life starts in the womb, most pro-lifers put two and two together to show that abortion is equivalent to murder. Of course, you will hear people say that life starts at birth, after the fetus exits the womb, but heartbeat is apparent after a relatively short amount of time. As far as I can understand, the Hosea passage refers to a culture that is going against the will of God and sinning blatantly.

Answer 7

The Bible never specifically addresses the issue of abortion. However, there are numerous teachings in Scripture that make it abundantly clear what God’s view of abortion is. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that God knows us before He knits us in the womb. Psalm 139:13-16 speaks of God’s active role in our creation and formation in the womb. Exodus 21:22-25 prescribes the same penalty for someone who causes the death of a baby in the womb as the penalty for someone who commits murder. This clearly indicates that God considers a baby in the womb as just as much of a human being as a full-grown adult. For the Christian, abortion is not a matter of a woman’s right to choose. It is a matter of the life or death of a human being made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6).

The first argument that always arises against the Christian stance on abortion is, “What about cases of rape and/or incest?” As horrible as it would be to become pregnant as a result of rape and/or incest, does that make the murder of a baby the answer? Two wrongs do not make a right. The child who is a result of rape/incest could be given up for adoption to a loving family unable to have children on their own – or the child could be raised by its mother. Again, the baby should not be punished for the evil acts of its father.

The second argument that usually arises against the Christian stance on abortion is, “What about when the life of the mother is at risk?” Honestly, this is the most difficult question to answer on the issue of abortion. First, let’s remember that this situation is the reason behind less than one-tenth of one percent of the abortions done in the world today. Far more women have an abortion because they do not want to “ruin their body” than women who have an abortion to save their own lives. Second, let’s remember that God is a God of miracles. He can preserve the life of a mother and a child despite all the medical odds being against it. Ultimately, though, this question can only be decided between a husband, wife, and God. Any couple facing this extremely difficult situation should pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) as to what He would have them to do.

94% of the abortions performed in the world today are for reasons other than the life of the mother being at risk. The vast majority of instances can be qualified under "A woman and/or her partner decide they do not want the baby they have conceived." This is an utmost evil. Even in the more difficult 6% of instances, abortion should never be the first option. The life of a human being in the womb is worth every effort to allow a full-term birthing process.

For those who have had an abortion – the sin of abortion is no less forgivable than any other sin. Through faith in Christ, any and all sins can be forgiven (John 3:16; Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:14). A woman who has had an abortion, or a man who has encouraged an abortion, or even a doctor who has performed one – all can be forgiven by faith in Jesus Christ.

Answer 8

It's most commonly associated with being Christian not because it specifically says in the Bible "Don't have an abortion". They didn't have abortion in those days (that we know of). It's associated with Christianity for the fact that Jesus taught us ever life is sacred and should a person choose to accept God and the teachings of Jesus they will be welcomed into Heaven. Common thinking is that people who would kill a fetus do not believe all lives are sacred. The majority (not everyone) who believe in abortion are non-Christians and vice versa. It's just a sterotype.

Answer 9

Good question, friend. There are a few other equally vague references besides those you cited. The "Choose Life" slogan you've heard actually comes from a passage in Deuteronomy.

I'm glad you've made an independent decision to stand up for life with us.

I'm a strong Christian but my reasons for opposing the current policy of Abortion-on-Demand aren't just based on my Christianity or the Bible.

I think the media likes to shut people like you OUT of the discussion and PRETEND it's only Christians who oppose the current policy.

Answer 10

Honestly, it isn't just a Christian value. I think it is most commonly associated with Christians because we believe all human life is divinely created and has worth and value. I believe there are others who are not Christians and feel the same way. To my knowledge, abortion is not specifically addressed in the bible. I am not completely sure if it dates that far back, but I could be mistaken about that.