Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 2/27/2005

Question
Hello!

My name is Helena Lundkvist, and I´m doing a school project abot the death penalty. I know that some christans are against it, and some belive that it´s right. What´s your opinion, why do you think that? If you think that it´s right at what crimes should it be the punishment? Thank you for your answer.

Bye!

Answer
Hi Helena,

THanks for this great question.  THe Bible is clear in both the Old and the New Testaments that Capital punishment is mandated for murderers.

Genesis 9:6
6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Exodus 21:24-25
24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Leviticus 24:17
17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Romans 13:1-4


Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God:  the powers that be are ordained of God.  2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 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 King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Revelation 13:10
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Lately the value of life has been so tarnished, that people are not afraid to kill one another.  It was God's plan to remove murderers from this planet in order to keep society from becoming worse and worse.  

I hope that this is a help to you.

In Christ
Pastor Don