Do you believe that God believes in the death penalty?

Question

The bible says an eye for an eye, do you think this is God's way of saying he believes in the Death Penalty?

Answer 1

It is true that there are many Bible passages (especially in the OT) that support capital punishment, often for relatively mild offenses:

- Adultery (Leviticus 20:10)
- Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16)
- Breaking the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14 & 15)
- Disobedient children (Exodus 21:15 & 17; Leviticus 20:9)
- Homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13)
- Not being a virgin on your wedding night (but only if you're a woman - Deuteronomy 22:13-22)

But, there are many passages (esp. in the New Testament) that are ANTI-death penalty. For example, Matthew 5:38-39 insists that violence shall not beget violence. James 4:12 says that GOD is the only one who can take a life in the name of justice. Leviticus 19:18 warns against vengeance (which, really, is what the death penalty amounts to). In John 8:7, Jesus himself says, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

There are many, many practical problems with capital punishment (that I won't get into here), but purely from a moral standpoint, I can't imagine that Jesus would support it. True Christians shouldn't, either.

Answer 2

God instituted the Death Penalty in the Mosaic Law.

God will use Hell and the Lake of Fire as a Second Death (Spiritual separation from Him for all Eternity)

So, Yes, God supports the Death Penalty.

Answer 3

dazzling question. permit's first hit some intense factors. The "eye for an eye fixed" element is virtually consistently completely misapplied. circulate seem on the Code of Hammurabi, between the earliest, if no longer the earliest, code of rules. a lot of human beings will learn it to the Torah. The Code of Hammurabi gadgets out effects that variety via type of persons (royalty,etc). The Torah would not have this point of differentiation. In an extremely authentic way, became right into a blow FOR fairness, although rather grotesque. maximum literal interpretations might element to Moses' e book of Genesis 9:6, the place G-d states that via fact that guy bears G-d's image, the murders are to pay with their blood. maximum literalist are no longer swayed by utilising crime prevention arguments or fee arguments.

Answer 4

Well, I read everyone of your answers trying to find someone who knew where the death penalty is in God's word and no one answered, but here it is.

Genesis 9:6
"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."

God just said, if you shed man's blood, man will shed your blood. This right of capital punishment has not been rescinded during the Christian era. The really terrible thing about murder is that it strikes at the very image of God in man, which makes man of vital importance to God.

Our law should always be "that it is better to let the guilty go free, than to incarcerate the innocent."

Answer 5

I can't tell you for sure where in the bible it is at but I remeber reading in the old testament something about God allowing it I'm not sure if that changed after the blood of Jesus was shed but God does support Goverment and Man's laws so I would say He probably agree's with it but I'm not 100% sure

Answer 6

Because of sin we are all under a death penalty!
As for criminals it is biblical to curb the spread of wanton violence, the criminal is put to death to stop further contamination of the population , it is a quarantine measure, that has been abused unfortunately!

Answer 7

That is a though question...I believe that God's law teaches an eye for an eye, but with human error, WHO can we execute people if we are not 100% sure of their guilt...There have been too many mistakes made.

Answer 8

God created the death penalty, if God exists. After all, we ALL die, don't we?

Answer 9

The Bible teaches an eye for an eye and that vengeance belongs to God.
John 8: 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Answer 10

Well let's see...

"...thou shalt not kill..."

Seems pretty straight forward to me...

My personal opinion is that it's much worse for a criminal convicted of a heinous crime to spend the rest of his/her life in prison. Much worse than the death penalty...