I was thinking about the Christian religion yesterday, I don't know what brought it on, but I realized something.

If a Christian truly believes what they are taught by the bible then it is a violation of these teachings to back and participate in the death penalty.

In the bible it is god's job to judge and punish, man's job to forgive.

Manmade laws are not to be considered over that which the bible teaches. So basically, Christians should be relying solely on god for the judgement and punishment of the criminals and the sinners, right?

And "the eye for an eye" is still god's form of punishment to be meat out by him not man, right?

Genesis 9:6:

"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." (KJV)

“But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:4)

“And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man” (Gen.9:5)

Those passages could mean many different things. So your interpretation is that they are the reasons the death penalty is allowable by the bible?

God is the judge. Man is not. God is the punisher, man is not.

I think the bible quotes are pretty cut and dry. Id like to see what else they could mean. If you could please show me other ways to look at these scriptures id be more than happy to further explain them.

First quote could be referring to war, that is what I got from it.

Second and third quotes can also be referring to war and the sanctity of man to each other.

How many quotes can you find that state that god alone is the judge of man? Man is not the judge of other men?

The bible makes disctinctions between killing in war, execution of a criminal, murder, sacrifice, and suicide. If you read the bible thoroughly, you will see that this is so. (Many of Nob's favorites were anything BUT peaceful or non-violent; David, who was Jesus's ancestor, for example.)

Determination of which criminal deserved punishment, and what type of punishment should be meted out, was a priestly function under Mosaic law. At some point down the road, the functions of a priest and a judge became separate, but that's neither here nor there. God's intermediaries (the priests) interpreted the law for the common people, a preponderance of whom did not know how to read or write.

In other words, the office of executioner was taken out of the hands of the unruly mob, and given to those who were officers of the law. This was pretty cutting edge back in the day, when feuds and mob rule were common, and authority (the Sumerian and Egyptian dynasties) viewed mob law as a handy means of population control.

But like the person who posted above me says: The bible is fairly cut and dried about these things. If you read the bible it will give you a better idea of what Christians believe than I can. Good luck! yours in Chaos, Scarlett

Cut and dried to you? Because I have read it and do not find those cut and dried answers you claim.

Even you in your explanation tell that the "interpreters" of the bible said this is what it says. Where in the bible does it state that man is the ultimate judge of man to the point of taking his life for punishment? In cut and dried terms of course.

proof can be found in the ministry and message of the Apostle Paul. Paul told those to whom he ministered, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1Corinthians 11:1). Paul was not sinless as His Saviour was. But he was meticulous in his service to God (see Philippians 3:4-6). And, according to his own testimony, he was careful to follow the life of Jesus Christ. Certainly, if Jesus had been opposed to the death penalty, then so would Paul have been.

However, Paul recognized the justice of the death penalty. When he was brought before the judgment seat of Festus, he said, “For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die” (Acts 25:11). By this, Paul admitted that there were offenses worthy of death and that the government had the right to administer death in those cases.

He further states in Romans that the powers that be (government) are ordained by God. They act as ministers of God for good. He further warns, “But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:4). The powers that be bear the sword to execute wrath on those that do evil. What do you think these powers are going to do with the sword? Are they going to slap someone on the wrist with it? No. They are going to “execute wrath” by executing someone. They are going to administer the death penalty.

God Himself established the death penalty long before the law was given to Moses. He told Noah, “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man” (Gen.9:5). This command has never been repealed. Not by the New Testament. Not by Paul. Not by Jesus Himself.

The Jesus of the Bible supported the death penalty. It was not His purpose for coming. Therefore, He said only a little about it. But He supported it nonetheless. When He returns to the earth the next time, His perspective will be different. Then, He will come as judge and will be executing the death penalty (see Revelation 19:11-15).

Mosaic Law very strongly supported the death penalty and Jesus never once disobeyed the law or taught against it. He said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Matt.5:17). The law made numerous provisions for the death penalty. Jesus did not come to destroy these provisions but to fulfill them. As such, He would have supported the death penalty.

Requiring the blood as stated is a statement of war, battle, etc....

You are still giving me your interpretations of what is written. I want the cut and dried version.

cut and dry

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

please read me that any other way you possibly can.

It refers to war or the battle of Christianity. Please remember Christianity has a bloody bloody past.

I sincerely doubt that you have read the bible, even though you claim to have done so.

If you have, then I beg your pardon--but if you have, then you should be able to give some evidence of what you're talking about, rather than putting the burden of proof on everyone else. Mosaic law as it concerns the punishment of criminals is cut-and-dried, and can be reviewed at length in the biblical books of Levi and Deuteronomy.

If you can't substantiate your claim, then your argument is of course invalid.

(I'm not a Christian--I just dislike weak, poorly-thought-out arguments.)

Jesus didn't have any type of huge problem with Mosaic law, again as noted by the other person who is replying to your post. xoxo

My opinion is that you have your own personal conflict because for whatever reason you disagree with the death penalty. The bible makes it as plain as day what is and isn’t acceptable. I think probably the worse interpretation of the bible is that Jesus was some toothless pacifist.

Matthew 10:34 - "I come not to bring peace, but to bring a sword"


John 2:15

"And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the Temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers money, and overthrew the tables. And said unto them that sold doves, 'Take these things hence; make not my father's house an house of merchandise.'

LUK 22:35 "...And the man without a sword must sell his coat and buy one."


MAT 18:5

"Whoever welcomes one such child for my sake welcomes me. On the other hand, it would be better for anyone who leads astray one of these little ones who believes in me, to be drown by a millstone around his neck, in the depths of the sea.

John 15:13

"There is no greater love than this: to lay down ones life for one's friends."

these are but a few examples

The bible is referring to the war that christians had to fight. These are not referring to the death penalty at all.

No the quotes I just laid down show that Jesus Christ was not a pacifist it has nothing to do with the stance of the death penalty. Those scriptures I’ve already laid down and you’ve had no sufficient rebuttal. Personally I don’t care what your argument against the death penalty is. The bible clearly states that the death penalty is a function of government. You have to either decide to follow your own morality or follow the guidelines of the bible.

The story of Cain and Abel is a very clear manifestation of the seriousness of this commandment. After Cain had murdered his brother Abel, God punished him, not by death, but by banishing him from the land whereby Cain became a wonderer. But, God also went ahead to “put mark on him to prevent him from being killed by anyone who would meet him” (Genesis 4:1- 16).

By his own example, God denounces justice based on vengeance and violence. “We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing,” says Pope John Paul II. The death penalty perpetuates the very evil it is trying to terminate. The practice and promotion of the death penalty is a reflection of the ‘culture of death’ of our times. The act of killing a person is intrinsically an evil, whether lawfully or unlawfully, by a murderer or by the state. It is the reasons that make it appear different.

There may be good reasons for all civilized people to have issues with execution of certain criminals, but to try to use a religious text that one only partially understands as the basis for an argument is only going to make your argument indefensible.

If there are good reasons to abolish the death penalty worldwide, doing a bit of research and finding those reasons, and presenting them without attacking a particular religious faith, is the optimal way to proceed. Accusing Christians of hypocrisy because they don't agree with your views is hardly an innovative approach.



That's someone who has definitely NOT read the bible saying that.

Now who's "interpreting" things? There is a lot of violence in the bible, and when we sit down and think about it: Life is a pretty violent deal. It was to address the violence that was rampant 4,000 or so years ago that the Levite priests first sat down and started coming up with laws, which were--if one reads the bible--given to them by God, to give to the people.

Mosaic law was in its day an establishment of justice and fairness, the likes of which the world had never seen before. People actually got to ARGUE their cases before a judge instead of waiting for their accuser and his family to come try to kill them. Under Mosaic law a rich man didn't automatically win every case, and widows and orphans were provided for.

And I certainly agree that Jesus was hardly a toothless pacifist. It would be nice if more people made an effort to understand his teaching, wouldn't it? xoxoxo

Biblical arguments against execution consist primarily of six arguments:

First, Jesus said:

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you... whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." Mat. 5:38-39

Second, Jesus forgave the woman "caught in adultery, in the very act." To those arguing that she should be put to death, Jesus said:

*"He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." John 8:7

Third, Jesus taught believers to forgive:

*"But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Mat. 6:15

Fourth, the New Testament teaches Christians not to judge:

*"Judge not, that you be not judged." Mat. 7:1

Fifth, Paul taught believers to:

*"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse... Repay no one evil for evil... do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I Will repay," says the Lord." Rom. 12:14, 17, 19

Sixth, the Ten Commandments teach "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:13).