A man enters a school with a gun and shoots several students, a few teachers, the principal, and a police officer. In the end, five people lie dead on the floor as a result of the gunshot wounds that they suffered when the gunman randomly opened fire. Later, after a lengthy trial in civil court, a jury finds the man guilty of first-degree murder.

What sentence should the above-described murderer receive? Would it be appropriate for him to be given the death penalty? Would the death penalty be a violation of the teachings of the Bible? Some in our day are vocal advocates of capital punishment, while others are just as sincere and outspoken in their opposition to it. Regardless of one’s thoughts about the death penalty, most recognize that it can be an emotional question. It is a topic that has, indeed, stirred great controversy through the ages.

Some individuals and nations are changing their viewpoints about capital punishment. Some that once opposed it now favor it. Others that advocated it in the past are now some of its strongest opposers. The matter of the death penalty reaches into the arena of national and international politics. For instance, any nation in Europe that practices capital punishment will not be accepted into the European Union.

How shall we determine the rightness or wrongness of the death penalty? It matters not what we have always practiced, what the majority of people want, or even our own personal "gut feeling." The truth is, God is the giver of life (Acts 17:25), so He is the One that has the final say in determining if humans ever have the right to take the lives of others. In this article we will first briefly state the case "for" capital punishment, then consider some objections to it.

Capital punishment has been approved by God in every age of mankind’s history. In each of the three great ages of humanity’s existence, the Patriarchal Age, Mosaic Age, and Christian Age, God has authorized the practice of the death penalty for criminals. After the world-wide flood in the days of Noah, God told Noah and his family (by telling these eight people, God was actually telling every person in the whole world, making it a world-wide decree), "Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man" (Genesis 9:6). Why was murder wrong? Because man was made in God’s image. And, what was to happen to one that killed (murdered) another? His blood was to be shed. This is nothing short of capital punishment, the death penalty for violators of law.

Later, in the Law of Moses God instructed Israel to carry out the death penalty in certain cases. Jehovah declared that some people committed a sin that was "worthy of death" (Deuteronomy 21:22). A variety of means were authorized in carrying out capital punishment under the old law. In some instances God said it should be death by stoning (Leviticus 20:2,27), while at other times it was to be death by fire (Leviticus 21:9), sword (Deuteronomy 13:12-15), or hanging (Deuteronomy 21:22). This point is plain: in the Law of Moses, God not only authorized the death penalty, He actually commanded that it be carried out in some cases.

What about during the Christian Age, when the law of the Christ is in force? When the apostle Paul stood before Roman authorities, he stated, "I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die . . . " (Acts 25:10,11). Paul basically said that if he had committed a crime that was worthy of death, he was prepared to receive his due punishment, which was death. The language that Paul employed by the Spirit of God made it plain that he did not oppose capital punishment in cases where there was evidence to show that one had violated the law.

Also, in Romans 13:1-7, we read about civil authorities. In speaking about such authorities ("the powers that be," 13:1), Paul stated that "he beareth not the sword in vain" (13:4). Not "chains," not "a whip," but "the sword." The sword was an instrument used to kill, so it was a symbol of death. Again, to declare that civil powers have the right to "bear the sword" indicates that they have the authority to carry out the death penalty in punishing criminals.

Let us now consider some common arguments that are presented in opposition to capital punishment. Objection #1: "No one has the right to take a person’s life except God – God gives and He takes away." Would this same thought not have applied during the time in which the Law of Moses was in affect? Since God was the giver and taker of life during the Mosaic era, did that eliminate capital punishment during that time? No. In fact, as we have already noted, God commanded it during that era. Also, God has granted civil governments the right to carry out the death penalty ("sword," Romans 13:4).

Objection #2: "We are supposed to love our neighbor (Romans 13:9). How can we love him and at the same time take his life?" Notice two commands that existed side by side under the Law of Moses: love your neighbor (Leviticus 19:18) and put a person (your neighbor) to death if he committed adultery (Leviticus 20:10). Thus, the command to carry out the death penalty did not violate or contradict the charge to love others. The New Testament teaches us to love our neighbor (Galatians 5:14). We are not to take personal vengeance in matters of injury (Romans 12:19), but rather are to turn such matters over to civil authorities, who have the right to carry out "the punishment of evildoers" (1 Peter 2:14), including the practice of capital punishment.

Objection #3: "The Bible says, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ and since capital punishment is definitely killing, then capital punishment is wrong." Did the command, "Thou shalt not kill," eliminate the death penalty under the Law of Moses? No. The same God that commanded, "Thou shalt not kill," also commanded the Israelites to kill/put to death offenders in certain situations. Thus, "Thou shalt not kill" did not forbid capital punishment. The truth is, the statement, "Thou shalt not kill" means, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13, NKJV). Not all killing is murder, because "murder" is the intentional killing of an innocent person. That is what Jehovah forbid, not the decision of civil authorities to put to death a convicted criminal.

Objection #4: "The death penalty doesn’t do any good." God says otherwise. Under the Law of Moses, if an Israelite suggested to his brethren that they go and worship other gods, such a one was to be put to death. What benefit would the practice of capital punishment bring to the nation of Israel? Hear God’s answer: "And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die . . . And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you" (Deuteronomy 13:10,11). The death penalty was used as a deterrent to do evil. Not only that, at least one of the major purposes of capital punishment was to carry out justice. Numbers 35:33 states, "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it." God said that putting to death the murderer is for the good of the land. Such action is just. Yes, the punishment of the evildoer is a blessing to a society that desires peace and order in the land.

Objection #5: "But Genesis 9:6 [‘Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed’] is part of the old law, and Jesus abolished it." Actually, the message of Genesis 9:6 was given before the Law of Moses, which Jesus nailed to His cross, was in effect. Like God’s message about marriage, which was also given to mankind before the Law of Moses (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5,6), His message about the death penalty was a universal principle to men of all times.

Objection #6: "The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment." God commanded the death penalty. Since His word is right and all His works are done in truth (Psalm 33:4), it is not possible that His commands are cruel. Thus, the principle of the death penalty, in and of itself, is not cruel. We would also ask, what about the cruel way in which the murderer and rapist killed his victims? What about their treatment?

Objection #7: "Sometimes innocent people are executed." That is true, but abuses do not change the principle. It is also true that on occasion innocent people are put in prison. Does that mean that we should do away with prisons simply because there are some mistakes that sometimes sneak into the system of justice?! Abuses do not change principles.

Objection #8: "Capital punishment is out of date. It is no longer practiced in places that have culture." 1 Peter 2:13,14 sets forth the right of civil authorities to carry out "the punishment of evildoers." A few verses before that we read that the word of the Lord lives, abides, and endures forever (1 Peter 1:23,25). God’s word changes not. People’s ideas change, but not the principles of God’s word. People need to base their thoughts and actions on the message of the Bible, not the common practices of the society in which they live.

It is my observation that a lot of people have not really seriously studied the principles that are involved in the matter of capital punishment. Folks tend to make emotional arguments that are not supported by sound reasoning. They appear to simply repeat ideas that they have heard others express. We can do better than that. Yea, we must do better. Let us be determined to approach the question of the death penalty just like we do any other topic: open and study the Bible in order to learn God’s will.