The Bible's Teaching on Capital Punishment
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
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Capital Punishment -- Part 1
Do you recognize these names...
What is Capital Punishment?
Capital Punishment and the Ten Commandments
What is the Biblical Penalty for Murder?
A Further Explanation of Murder
Capital Punishment and the Law Given to Moses
Capital Punishment -- Part 2
Christ and Capital Punishment
Paul and Capital Punishment
Related Issues
Capital Punishment -- Part 1
- Ed Gein
- [2 were identified but investigators determined that 15 women met their end at his
hands] (Arrested November 1957)
- Albert DeSalvo
- "The Boston Strangler" [Murdered 14 women] (Arrested 1964; stabbed to death in
prison 1973)
- Charles Manson
- [Claims to have murdered 35 people] (Arrested 1969)
- David Berkowitz
- "The Son of Sam" [Convicted for 7 murders] (Arrested August 1977)
- Ted Bundy
- [11+ murders] (Arrested 1975; Electric chair 1- 24-89)
- Angeli Buono & Kenneth Bianchi
- "The Hillside Strangler" [Convicted of 14 murders] (Arrested January 1979)
- John Wayne Gacy
- [Confessed to torture and murder of over 30 victims] (Arrested December 1978)
- Richard Ramirez
- "The Night Stalker" [Credited with at least 14 murders] (Arrested 1985 & on
death row in San Quentin, CA.)
- Adolfo De Jesus Constanzo
- "El Padrion" [responsible for 15 murders] (Killed in a gun battle with police
in 1989)
- Jeffery Dahmer
- [Confessed to 17 murders of males] (Arrested July of 1991 and beaten to death by another inmate
while in prison.)
All of these are noted serial murderers. The first and the last, Ed Gein & Jeffery
Dahmer are well known to Wisconsin residents for obvious reasons.
Why am I talking about serial murderers? Horrific multiple murders like the ones just
cited spark talk about capital punishment. The recent conviction of Jeffery
Dahmer is no exception. I heard discussion in the press room during the trial. It was the
topic of discussion around supper tables. People gave their opinions at work and Wisconsin
legislators were urged to reconsider bringing the death penalty back.
What about capital punishment. Should it be reinstituted? I am sure there is a variety
of opinions among you folks. As with other topics, Christians need to know if the Bible
sheds any light on the topic. For in reality, when the Bible speaks on a topic, it speaks
authoritatively. So, in this study, I do not intend to address the diversity of opinions
about the death penalty. My purpose is to spell out the Bible's teaching on
capital punishment.
The logical place to begin is by defining capital punishment. The 1983 edition
of the American Heritage Dictionary defines capital punishment as the death penalty.
Certainly this is a concise definition but I prefer the definition from my 1899 edition of
Websters International Dictionary. It says that "capital punishment" is having
reference to or involving the head or life hence punishable by death.
This definition gives us an idea of the origin "capital punishment? The word
capital means head. Historically, a common means carrying out the death penalty was to
sever the head from the body. John the Baptist life was ended in this way.
One of the first things that anti-capital punishment supporters appeal to is the sixth
commandment. The commandment says, "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:13).
What does that mean? To answer that we have to look at the word "kill." The
Hebrew word translated "kill" (Strong's #7523) in this verse is
used 49 times in the Old Testament and in every relevant used means "to murder"
especially with premeditation, according to biblical scholar Charles Ryrie. Further, when
the sixth commandment is repeated in the New Testament a word is used that never means
anything else than to murder (Strongs #5407).
The Sixth Commandment clearly is a prohibition against murder; not an
injunction against capital punishment, the death penalty.
That brings me to my next question -- What is the biblical penalty for murder? Let's
look at Genesis 9:5-6. God says to Noah and his family,
"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; and at the hand of every man's brother will I
require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth a man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for
in the image of God made he man."
These verses are simply saying, murder is forbidden. Man-killing animals are to be
killed and any person who murders another is to be killed. Killing a man is an offense
against almighty God for man is made in God's image.
The verses makes it clear. Capital punishment, the taking of the perpetrators life, is
what God demands for the murder of a human being by man or beast. There are some other
specifics that the Lord laid out relating to capital punishment.
- There must be two or more witnesses before one accused of murder can be put to death
(Numbers 35:30)
- A person judged guilty of murder must die. Do not allow any kind of bargain or ransom
for his life. (Num. 35:30)
- The blood of the victim murdered defiles the land. The only way it is cleansed is by
administering capital punishment to the murderer. (Num. 35:33-34).
Naturally, the individual(s) who carries out the capital punishment for the lawful
authority was not considered a murdered. Likewise, the killing of enemies in war is not
considered murder. Additionally, killings judged accidental were not considered murder,
though there may be other lesser penalties.
It should be noted that from Noah until the institution of the Law, the Bible only
sanctioned capital punishment for murder. When God gave the law to Moses, additional
things were considered capital crimes worthy of death. These include...
- Hitting your parents -- Ex. 21:15
- Kidnapping -- Ex 21:16
- Cursing your father or mother -- Ex 21:17
- Killing an unborn infant -- Ex 21:22-25 (There is some discussion about the
interpretation of the passage. I believe it means if a woman has a miscarriage and the
baby lives there can be lesser penalties. If the baby dies or the baby and the mother die
the death penalty applies as the KJV & NIV translate the passage.
- An animal that has the habit of injuring others and the owner does not destroy it --
Exodus 21:28-29
- Witchcraft -- Ex. 22:18
- Worship of other gods/goddesses -- Ex. 22:20
- Working on the Sabbath -- Ex. 35:2
- Adultery -- Lev. 20:10
- Incest -- Lev. 20:11-12 & 14
- Sodomy (homosexuality/lesbianism) -- Lev. 20:13
- Bestiality -- Lev. 20:15-16
- False prophesying -- Deut. 13:1-10
- Rape under some circumstances -- Deut. 22:25
Their can be no doubt that the Old Testament teaches capital punishment. It began by
demanding it for murder and expanded its application under the Law given to Moses.
Therefore, the principle of capital punishment is well established.
Capital Punishment -- Part 2
In our last message we looked at the Old Testament scriptures relating to capital
punishment. There can be no doubt that the Old Testament clearly teaches capital
punishment. But what about the New Testament? Lets take a look.
First, Christ never condemned capital punishment. In fact capital punishment
was unjustly carried out against him. If capital punishment were looked upon with disdain
by Christ, he had ample opportunity to speak out on the topic. In Luke 23:41 the repentant
thief said he and the other offender had justly receiving the death sentence but Christ
was guiltless. "And we indeed [justly]; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:
but this man hath done nothing amiss." Christ could have said to the repentant thief,
"It does not matter what you have done, capital punishment is wrong. It should be
done away with." But, he did not say that when he had a golden opportunity to say it.
That brings us to the second incident that can shed some light of Jesus
Christs' view
of capital punishment. We find this in John 8:1-11. This passage deals with the Pharisee's
sting operation relating to the adulterous woman. It was designed to trap Christ and make
him reject the Law God had given to Moses or the Roman Law of the day. Christ did neither,
but in fact invited those without sin to throw the first stone. John 8:7 says, "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." This is hardly a rejection
of capital punishment. Christ did recognize a set-up when he saw one though.
Human government is ordained by God. If you have any doubt about that just look at
Romans 13:1-7. But what powers does God sanction for government?
- THE POWER TO TAX -- (6-7)
- THE POWER TO ENFORCE LAWS -- (2-3)
- THE POWER OF PUNISHMENT FOR EVIL (even capital punishment)
Note 1 Peter 2:13 before you look at Romans 13:4.
"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to
the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."
Romans 13:4
"For he is the minister of God to thee for good. 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."
The sword is a symbol of the Governments power to use capital punishment. Dr Charles
Ryrie says "it may be said that Romans 13:4 does teach the right of the government to
take the life of a criminal, although what cases is not specified."
If Romans 13:4 is not clear enough for you, there is another incident that involves the
apostle Paul that should make it clearer yet. Turn to Acts 25:1-12. The key verse in this
section is Acts 25:11,
"For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse
not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may
deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar."
What Paul is saying certainly is clear enough is it not? He says, "if I have
committed a crime deserving of the death penalty then I will not fight it. But I have not
and so I appeal to Caesar."
The prerogative of capital punishment is established in Genesis 9:6, developed in the
Mosaic law and reaffirmed in the New Testament. Capital punishment IS Biblical. It is
for today.
Some claim that capital punishment does not deter crime. If that is true it is because
the sentence is not carried out speedily. Ecclesiastes 8:11 warns,
"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the
heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."
Justice is to be swift. With the cumbersome court process we have today it can take up
to ten years before a sentence is carried out.
J. Edger Hoover said, "The professional law enforcement officer is convinced from
experience that the hardened criminal has been and is deterred from killing based on the
prospect of the death penalty."
His words ring true in Great Britain. In the June 6, 1972 issue of The Wall Street
Journal Felix Kessler said, "There has been a sharp rise in armed robberies and
violent crime throughout Britain since 1965, when the death penalty was dropped, and more
criminals seem to carry guns now."
I can tell you this. The criminal who receives capital
punishment will commit no more crimes in the future. At the very least we should return to
capital punishment for murder.
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"Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved."