God instituted Capital Punishment for the crime of murder (Genesis 9:5-6), which was singled out as an attack upon God himself and the most serious offense. There were 36 separate offenses throughout the Old Testament (Book of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy) that were punishable by death including Murder (no pity), rape, sacrificing to false gods, and so on. We can find instances of execution being carried out in the Bible (e.g., Leviticus 24:10-16). It was practiced both in ancient Israel (as reflected in the Old Testament) and in Judea in the first century (as reflected in the New Testament). Execution was given theological justification, both in the Old & New Testament. The Pentateuchal rationale for capital punishment was not basically in terms of societal order, and thus modern utilitarian values (e.g., does it deter?) have no bearing on the validity of the biblical attitude toward the penalty even though the Bible states it does deter (Deuteronomy 19:20; also see: Eccles. 8:11). The motive for capital punishment was not human desire for vengeance (retribution), and thus modern theological abolitionists on that basis cannot criticize it. There is not a verse in the Bible in either the Old or New Testament that overtly departs from the consensus on the topic. There are no theological stances in either testament (be they forgiveness of enemies, love, non-vengeance, etc.) that may be taken as an implicit challenge to capital punishment. The Bible distinguishes killing in battle, or in self-defense, or in accident, or as execution, from murder and negligent homicide (which alone merit execution).

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Some Claims

Claim: Some Christians claim the commandment, "thou shall not kill," is a prohibition of capital punishment.

Truth First of all, this an incorrect translation from Hebrew. The commandment should read, "thou shall not murder." This commandment would apply to individual instances of homicide and wouldn't be construed in any way to exclude society from executing murderers. It is worth noting that those making this claim do so oblivious to the fact that the ten commandments are located in the Book of Exodus and merely a chapter later we find Moses prescribing the death penalty for a variety of offenses including murder.

Claim: Some Christians claim that Chirst broke with the torah and the Old Testament is obsolete as a result.

Truth: Let's recount some facts: Jesus' acceptance of God's unchanging torah (Matt. 5:17-19), a torah wherein God's unambigious attitude toward murder is beyond debate; outlines apllications that are deeper than are explicit in torah (Matt.21-48); Jesus' repeated encouragement of others to obey the guidelines of torah (Matt. 8:1-4), especially if they would enter eternal life (Matt. 19:16-17); Jesus' quotation from torah specifically about the death penalty (Matt. 15:4); appeals to the "law [torah] and the prophets" (Matt. 7:12); instructs a leper concerning observance of Levitical guidelines (Matt. 8:1-4); instructs his followers to obey the teachings of Moses even as interpreted by the Pharisaic bet-din (Matt. 23:1-3); cites torah in a discussion with the Sadducees (Mark 12:18-27).

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Original Texts


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•  Reggie E. Ecarma, Ph.D., SBC - For Faith & Family 2006:
  Capital Punishment
  
  

•  Barrett Duke, SBC - For Faith & Family 2006:
  Overview Article on Capital Punishment
  
  "God instituted capital punishment as a legitimate punitive option for every state. Its institution predates Israel’s birth as a nation and Moses’ divinely inspired directions for the nation’s governance, eliminating the possibility that capital punishment was mandated solely for Israel. God issued guidance on capital punishment to earth’s only surviving people (Gen. 7:20-24); these people and God’s instructions to them provided the foundation for all subsequent governments."

•  Betty Miller, The Conservative Voice 1/29/05:
  What Does the Bible Say About Capital Punishment?
  
  

•  Steve Farrell, Newsmax.com 3/18/05:
  A Conservative Case for Capital Punishment
  
  

•  Dennis Prager, World Net Daily 7/19/05:
  Judeo-Christian values, part 18: Murderers must die
  
  "To the Torah, the first source of Judeo-Christian values, murder is the great sin; the immoral shedding of human blood (as opposed to the moral shedding of human blood in self-defense or in a just war) pollutes the world. That is why the Torah legislated that even an animal that killed a human should be put to death. The purpose was not to punish the animal -- animals do not have free choice, hence cannot be morally culpable. And it was hardly to teach other animals not to kill. It was because a human life is so valuable, it cannot be taken without the taker losing its life."

•  Jack Graham, Baptist Press 10/11/05:
  FIRST-PERSON: The Bible and capital punishment
  
  

•  Larry Greenfield, The Jewish Journal 11/11/05:
  In the eyes of American and Torah laws, Williams should die for his heinous crimes
  
  

•  Steven Plaut, JewishPress.com 4/19/04:
  Preserving Human Dignity Through Capital Punishment
  
  "In other words, the preservation of human dignity requires capital punishment of convicted murderers. The position of Judaism is the opposite of the position espoused by liberals. It is precisely because of man`s creation in G-d`s image that capital punishment is declared justified and necessary. Human dignity requires execution of murderers, not compassion for their souls."

•  Steven Plaut, JewishPress.com 4/23/04:
  Judaism's Pro-Death Penalty Tradition
  
  

•  J. Budziszewski, First Things August/September 2004:
  Capital Punishment: The Case for Justice
  
  "For the teaching of Scripture and Christian tradition are just as clear about public justice as they are about personal forgiveness, and the teaching of Christ is that “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). The magistrate is “sent,” whether he knows it or not; he is “the servant of God to execute His wrath on the wrongdoer.” Yes, we have seen that he is a servant of God’s patience, too, but the one charge does not cancel the other. However tempered with mercy, public authority remains an augur or a portent of the wrath which will one day fall upon the unrepentant."

•  CNN 9/29/04:
  Panel Discusses Religion In Modern Times (Capital Punishment)
  
  "I do support Capital Punishment, because the scripture is so clear about it. Now, I want it applied in a fair and just way. But there's no doubt "The Bible" in the Old and New Testaments, not only allows but mandates capital punishment, because it affirms the fact that the willful taking of human life is the violation of God's law, God's plan and is to murder one who is made in the image of god."

•  Randy Thomasson, Campaign for Children and Families 12/13/04:
  Death Penalty for Scott Peterson 'Morally Right'
  
  "The death penalty is supported by California law, the Judeo-Christian ethic, and the moral conscience of millions of Californians and Americans. Whoever murders another person loses his right to life. A society that believes in the sanctity of human life must necessarily support the death penalty in order to protect the innocent."

•  BBC 2/23/03:
  Is Capital Punishment Biblical?
  
  "The command to take the life of a murderer is explained in light of the fact that mankind is made "in the image of God." What does that mean? The same word is used for Jesus Christ, who is the image of the Father (Col 1:15). We have no trouble visualizing that statement, but what does it mean that humans bear the image of the divine? I Cor 11:7 says, "man ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God..." The image and glory of God. What a striking statement. Somehow human nature reflects the image of the Divine. And even though we suffer from the effects of the fall into sin at the Garden of Eden, still there is something important in the life of even the poorest and humblest of human beings. To touch that life, to take that life, is an outrage against the Glory and Kingdom of God."

•  Rev. Mark H. Creech, American Family Association 5/19/03:
  Death Penalty Moratorium Debate
  
  "Therefore, Christian leaders shouldn't dignify the rejection of capital punishment as a "higher Christian way" that enthrones the ethics of Jesus. There is no question that capital punishment was not only advocated in the Old Testament, but also sanctioned in the New. The apostle Paul said, "It is not without purpose that the ruler carries the sword. He is God's servant, to inflict his avenging wrath upon the wrongdoer" (Rom. 13:4). The sword, mind you, is an instrument of death. Moreover, if no crime deserves the death penalty, then why would God allow Christ to be put to death on the cross for mankind's sins?"

•  Kerby Anderson, Probe Ministries 8/5/03:
  Capital Punishment
  
  "Capital punishment is taught in both the Old Testament and the New Testament."

•  James A. Smith Sr., Baptist Press 2/6/03:
  FIRST-PERSON: Death penalty underscores sanctity of human life
  
  "The sacredness and intrinsic value of human life demands that a moral society protect the unborn and execute its most heinous murderers. Opposition to abortion and support for the death penalty are not only ethically consistent, they are both required by a biblical worldview."

•  J. Christopher Pryor, Seattle Catholic 1/18/03:
  The Death Penalty and Catholic Morality

•  Irwin N. Graulich, Jewsweek Magazine 12/13/03:
  Capital punishment: America vs. Israel

•  Pat Buchanan, Townhall.com 2/11/02:
  Justice Scalia vs. John Paul II
  
  "Rather, it is the Holy Father and the bishops who are outside the Catholic mainstream, and at odds with Scripture, tradition and natural law."

•  Theology Online Reports:
  God and the Death Penalty
  
  "Jesus reaffirmed the capital statutes of God's law. Not only the murderer (Rev. 13:10; 1 Tim. 1:8-9; Rom. 13:4), but even the one who curses a parent must be put to death (Ex. 21:17 and Lev. 20:9) just as God commanded. God's commands to execute the one who strikes or curses a parent are the death penalty statutes that liberal Christians are the most embarrassed over. However, Christ was not at all embarrassed over His Fathers commands. Jesus repeated these commands without caveat or reservation."

•  David C. Trosch, Trosch.com:
  God's Justice in relation to Capital Punishment
  
  "The wisdom of God – known to us through His just laws – must never be referred to as unnecessary. God is the creator and has the perfect right to take life when He so chooses, and, He also has full right to order that it be taken under certain conditions. To believe otherwise is illustrative of either a weak faith, or a total lack of faith in God."

•  Dennis Gulledge, Gospel Gazette Online April 2002:
  Is Capital Punishment Scriptural and Therefore Right?

•  E. L. Bynum, Tabernacle Baptist Church:
  Is The Death Penalty Scriptural?

•  Mark A. Copeland, ChristianLibrary.org:
  Topical Sermons - Capital Punishment

•  Mario Derksen, Catholic Insight 2002:
  A Matter of Justice: A Truly Catholic Look at Capital Punishment

•  Glenn Dunehew, Media House International:
  What About Capital Punishment?

•  Gregory Koukl, Stand To Reason:
  The Bible and Capital Punishment

•  Grover Stevens, Rocky Point Church of Christ:
  Rocky Point Church of Christ on Capital Punishment
  
  "God has not only approved of the death penalty, particularly in the case of murder, but has required it in no uncertain terms in every age of Bible history -- Patriarchal, Jewish, and Christian."

•  Avery Cardinal Dulles, First Things April 2001:
  Catholicism & Capital Punishment
  
  "At no point, however, does Jesus deny that the State has authority to exact capital punishment. In his debates with the Pharisees, Jesus cites with approval the apparently harsh commandment, “He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die” (Matthew 15:4; Mark 7:10, referring to Exodus 2l:17; cf. Leviticus 20:9). When Pilate calls attention to his authority to crucify him, Jesus points out that Pilate’s power comes to him from above—that is to say, from God (John 19:11)."

•  Tom Strode, Baptist Press 6/8/01:
  SBC support for death penalty based on Bible, Duke says
  
  "Southern Baptists support capital punishment because it is a "biblical position" that remains applicable, said Barrett Duke of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission at a panel discussion on religious views of the death penalty."

•  Russell Grigg, Answers in Genesis:
  Why did God impose the death penalty for sin?
  
  "A matter of the will more than of the hand, sin is an act of rebellion, revolution, and anarchy against God’s righteous government. As such it is an affront to the holiness of God. The measure of God’s wrath against sin is the measure of His holiness. And the measure of the penalty—death—is the measure of the enormity of the offence."

•  Dennis Prager, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 6/9/01:
  Death penalty guards what is valued most
  
  "First, we who support capital punishment for murder - and only for murder - ask opponents to acknowledge that allowing all murderers to keep their lives after deliberately taking others' lives is, at the very least, unjust."

•  Rabbi Shmuel Jablon, Sh'ma:
  Supporting the Death Penalty in America
  
  "Halakha's recognition of the possibility of a societal need for the death penalty is shown by the way that various legal scholars have permitted its use despite the clear talmudic restrictions in Sanhedrin. For example, as Diament notes, the bet din was authorized within the same Tractate, not only to imprison those who murdered without all of the rules of evidence being fulfilled, but even to hasten their death through malnutrition (see Sanhedrin 71b). This is codified by Maimonides as well (see the Laws of Murderers, 4:8). Further, the Meiri also notes that the king is permitted "within his law," and the bet din is permitted as a hora'at sha'ah (decision for the needs of the time), to execute those who have committed heinous acts even without all of the requirements of witnesses being met."

•  Pastor Rick Rogers, Logos Resource Pages:
  On Capital Punishment

•  Gary DeMar, American Vision:
  The Bible and the Death Penalty in the New Testament

•  Gregory Koukl, Stand To Reason:
  Reasons for Capital Punishment

•  Greg Williamson, A Century 21 Disciple of Jesus 2003:
  What About Capital Punishment?

•  Daily Bible Study:
  What God Says About...Capital Punishment

•  Rev. Thomas Tyree, Jr., Grace Bible Church of Costa Mesa:
  Capital Punishment
  
  "The doctrine of capital punishment is authorized by the Word of God. It has been authorized throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament. Capital punishment started in the first dispensation of the Gentiles and applies in every dispensation of human history. It will even be practiced by Jesus Christ in the Millennium."

•  Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life:
  The Death Penalty: A Right to Life Issue
  
  "In the New Testament the right of the State to put criminals to death seems to be taken for granted. Jesus himself refrains from using violence. He rebukes his disciples for wishing to call down fire from heaven to punish the Samaritans for their lack of hospitality (Lk 9:55). Later he admonishes Peter to put his sword in the scabbard rather than resist arrest (Mt 26:52 par.). At no point, however, does Jesus deny that the State has authority to exact capital punishment. In his debates with the Pharisees, Jesus cites with approval the apparently harsh commandment, “He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die” (Mt 15:4; Mk 7:10, referring to Ex 21:17; cf. Lev 20:9). When Pilate calls attention to his authority to crucify him, Jesus points out that Pilate's power comes to him from above-that is to say, from God (Jn 19:1 l).Jesus commends the good thief on the cross next to him, who has admitted that he and his fellow thief are receiving the due reward of their deeds (Lk 23:41)."

•  George Zeller, The Middletown Bible Church:
  Capital Punishment: What Does the Bible Teach on this Vital Subject?

•  Dave Miller, Ph.D., Apologetics Press:
  Capital Punishment and The Bible

•  Pastor Humphries, Faith Independent Baptist Church:
  What Does The Bible Say About Capital Punishment?

•  Doy Moyer, Focus Magazine:
  Capital Punishment in Biblical Perspective

•  Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M., Bible.org:
  Capital Crimes (Leviticus 20)

•  Wesley Lowe, Pro Death Penalty Web Page:
  Capital Punishment and Christianity

•  James & Dave's Bible Page
  Issues of Life 2: Capital Punishment
  
  "...Paul tells us that civil government is ordained of God, and that one of its duties is to bear the sword and execute wrath against those who do evil."

•  Kevin Clauson, The Christian Statesman May-June 2000:
  Christianity and the Death Penalty
  
  "Nor should it disturb Christians to participate in a lawful execution. It is, after all, a God-ordained method of punishment for God-decreed crimes. There can be no more powerful reason for the death penalty."

•  Dr. Brian Kopp, Free Republic 7/22/01:
  Is Opposition to Capital Punishment Part of the Culture of Life?
  
  "Clearly, the continual teaching of Christianity has been that Capital Punishment is not only necessary but also just and licit, until as recently as the past decade in the Roman Catholic Church in particular, and earlier in some of the mainstream Protestant denomination. Some other conservative denominations continue to teach that Capital Punishment is morally licit and just."

•  Tom Flannery, Protestant Channel-Christianity.com 2000:
  The Death Penalty (A Christian Defense)

•  J. Daryl Charles, Christian Research Institute Journa:
  The Ethics of Capital Punishment

•  Wayne Jackson, Christian Courier: Penpoints 7/3/00:
  Is Capital Punishment a Deterrent?
  
  "We believe there is ample biblical evidence to establish the fact that the practice of executing criminals, especially those who commit premeditated murder, is consistent with the will of God. Such judgment has been implemented by divine authority in all dispensations of history."

•  Blake C. Lasslett, Clarion Press Booklets:
  Capital Punishment: Christian or Unchristian?
  
  "The Bible teaches that all unjust violence: murder, rape, kidnapping, etc., are forbidden and under God’s law punishable by death. (Exodus 20:13; 21:13- 16; Deut. 22:23-27)."

•  Christian Counterculture 6/8/01:
  The Death Penalty: God's Wisdom or Man's Folly?
  
  "Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die."

• withChrist.org:
  The Death Penalty is Moral and Just
  
  "Pursuant to the authority delegated by God (Gen. 9:6), government has a moral and just basis to withdraw "life" from those guilty of murder. While government must strive for fairness, perfection regarding trial proceedings is not required. God delegated this responsibility to society with full knowledge that men were imperfect. Those who oppose government's execution of murderers are in fact rebelling against God and what God has commanded through His covenant."

• Dr. Shelton Smith: Capital Punishment Revisited: Should Karla Faye Tucker Have Been Executed? Is It Scripturally Right or Wrong?

• John A. Kohler, III, Morris Fork Baptist Church: Objections to Capital Punishment Answered

• James L. Melton: Capital Punishment: Three Good Reasons for Supporting the Death Penalty

• Steven J. Wallace, Knollwood Church of Chirst: The Death Penalty—"Worthy of Death"

• David F. Reagan, Antioch Baptist Church: Would Jesus Oppose the Death Penalty?

• Richard Ciarrocca, Pilgrim Fundamental Baptist Press: The Death Penalty

• Integrity.com: Justice

• Father John A. Hardon, S.J., The Real Presence Association 1998: Capital Punishment New Testament Teaching

•  David Smitherman, Expository Files, February 1996:
  The Bible And Capital Punishment
  
  "There was then (as there is now) a difference between "murder" and "killing". "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:13) is really "thou shalt not murder." To use the sixth commandment as a prohibition against the taking of human life under whatever circumstances is an egregious misuse of that divine precept. That this is so is apparent when one considers a second point."

• John E Heinl, Richmond Times-Dispatch 11/9/96:
  A Short Essay on Capital Punishment
  
  "Regardless of your belief about the Old Testament, one thing is clear. It was perfectly OK and mandatory for the Jews to exercise capital punishment. I think it's perfectly OK for Christians to support capital punishment and for our American society to exercise it."

• J. Daryl Charles, The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life September 1995:
  Crime, the Christian and Capital Justice
  
  "Throughout the centuries the Church has, broadly speaking, defended the right of the state to impose capital punishment for certain heinous crimes. Among the Church fathers one finds varying perspectives on the death penalty though a general recognition of the state’s responsibility in implementing capital justice. Tertullian (late second century) and Lactantius (late third century) affirmed that, in the case of murder, divine law consistently required a life for a life. Theodosius II (mid-fifth century), who called for the Council of Ephesus (431) in the hope of settling the Nestorian controversy, enacted a legal code specifying capital crimes. While Augustine among others acknowledged the role of the state in mediating capital sanctions, various councils from the seventh century (Eleventh Council of Toledo) to the thirteenth (Fourth Lateran Council) followed the lead of Leo the Great (fifth century) in seeking to forbid clerics from engagement in matters of capital justice. The patristic and medieval periods in the main suggest the Church’s tacit recognition of capital punishment."