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The Bible And Capital Punishment (2)

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Capital Punishment In The New Testament

What was the purpose of the New Testament? Unlike the Old Covenant, the New Covenant is not designed to govern or regulate civil governments. It is designed for those in Christ’s kingdom (the church), which is spiritual in nature (John 18:36). Its purpose is to help man achieve and maintain a right relationship with God, so for the most part, it does not concern itself with telling men of the world how to regulate their civil affairs. But in defining our relationship to civil authorities while subject to a Higher Law, there are references which reveal God’s attitude toward capital punishment.

New Testament References To Capital Punishment

What does the inspired apostle Paul tell us in Romans 13:1-6 regarding the government’s role in dispensing capital punishment?

1) Governmental authorities are established by “God” (vs. 1).
2) They serve as ministers of God, as “an avenger who brings upon the one who practices evil” (vs. 4 – NASV).

When a government fulfills its responsibility upon those who are evil, it “does not bear the sword in vain” (vs. 4). This is a clear allusion to the administration of capital punishment. Thus the New Testament clearly supports the government’s right to exercise the death penalty!

Consider what the inspired apostle Paul said in Acts 25:11, “If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

Paul stated that he was willing to die if he “committed anything worthy of death.” This is a clear implication that in Paul’s mind some crimes were worthy of death!

While the New Testament is focused upon the responsibilities of disciples of Jesus in His spiritual kingdom, there is certainly no indication that it is wrong for government to administer capital punishment when necessary. The principle established in Genesis 9:5-6, given to all of mankind before the Old Covenant, remains a responsibility placed upon all the governments of men! But what about objections commonly raised whenever the issue is discussed?

Common Objections To Capital Punishment

1) The Bible says “thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13).

The word “kill” is best translated “murder”; cf. Exodus 20:13 (NKJV, NASV, NIV). This command forbids anyone killing with malice and premeditation. In the next two chapters, God prescribes the death penalty for nine different crimes! (e.g., Exodus 21:12-17,29).

Note that the command “not” to murder is directed toward individuals; one must ignore the context and twist the Scriptures to apply it to the issue of capital punishment!

2) The Bible says that the Lord “has no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 18:32). While this statement is true, consider the context of this statement:

(a) “The soul who sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:4).
(b) Certain sins makes one worthy of death (Ezekiel 18:10-13).
(c) God encourages the wicked to repent and do what is right (Ezekiel 18:21-23).
(d) But even the righteous person who begins to do wickedness shall “die” if they do not repent (Ezekiel 18:24).

The whole thrust of the passage is this: repent before it is too late! God may have no “pleasure in the death of the wicked”, but that doesn’t prevent Him from carrying it out! (cf. God’s death penalty on 24,000 in the plains of Moab (Numbers 25:1-13).

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