Capital punishment is a very controversial topic for Christians. It seems strange to punish people who kill others by killing them to show that killing people is wrong. Nonetheless, the use of capital punishment is biblical. In certain rare circumstances, the state has the authority to take a life.
God instituted capital punishment in Genesis 9:6 which states, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.” Capital punishment was a powerful enforcer of the law in Old Testament Israel. The Old Testament Law commanded execution for several offenses including murder (Exodus 21:12), kidnapping (Exodus 21:16), striking or cursing a parent (Exodus 21:15,17), adultery (Leviticus 20:10), incest (Leviticus 18:6-18), bestiality (Exodus 22:19), rape (Deuteronomy 22:24), homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13), witchcraft (Exodus 22:18), breaking the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14), blasphemy (Leviticus 24:14), being a false prophet (Deuteronomy 13:5), and many other transgressions. The use of the death penalty in the Old Testament shows how precious human life is to God. Murder was a serious offense to God and man and must be answered with the death of the murderer.
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In Romans 13:1-7, the Apostle Paul recognized the authority of the government to use capital punishment when appropriate. Verse 4 states, “For he [the authority] does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” Note that Romans 13 says that the state has the authority, not the obligation, to execute. The state is not required to use the death penalty in all the circumstances listed in the Old Testament Law. Oftentimes God showed mercy when the death penalty was due. Although David committed adultery and murder, God did not demand that his life be taken (2 Samuel 11:1-5, 14-17; 12:13). Jesus also showed mercy when capital punishment was due (John 8:1-11). In Ezekiel 33:11, we see that God has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” Similarly, Christians should only use execution as a last resort and should never rejoice when the death penalty is employed. Since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), every sin we commit should end in the death penalty. But God demonstrates His love for us by not condemning us and sending His son Jesus to die for us. (Romans 5:8).
Clearly, the Old Testament Law supports capital punishment. However, Christians who oppose the death penalty believe that the developments of the New Testament replace the Old Testament Law. Many of Jesus’ actions and teachings support mercy and humility which might suggest that Christians should not use capital punishment. However, although Jesus Himself never uses violence, He never denies the state’s authority to exact capital punishment. Furthermore, the Old Testament Law ordered the death penalty for many crimes which are considered minor today. Christians should not exert the death penalty in all the cases cited in the Old Testament Law because some cases are only appropriate within the context of the Old Testament.
To conclude, the death penalty is a biblical punishment, but it should only be used in rare circumstances. The state isn’t required to use capital punishment, though they do have the authority to. The death penalty should not be used in all the cases specified in the Old Testament Law—some are only appropriate within the context of the Old Testament. Regardless of whether you choose to support or oppose capital punishment, your actions must be motivated by Christlike values and not vengeance or hate. Capital punishment must be carried out justly and must not target the innocent.
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