How Does God Feel About Capital Punishment?

One of the most controversial political issues in America today is capital punishment. Whenever prosecutors seek the death penalty for suspected criminals on trial, heated debates are bound to arise, even among Christians. What does the Bible (God's Word) say about the death penalty?

There are opponents of capital punishment that seem very quick to whip out the Sixth Commandment, "Thou Shalt not kill" (Exod. 20:13; Deut. 5:17; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Rom. 13:9; and Jas. 2:11 KJV). They probably do not know that the Hebrew word translated "kill" in the Old Testament literally means "murder." (The same is true of the Greek word translated "kill" in the New Testament.) That is precisely why the New International Version, the New American Standard Bible, and other English translations use the term "murder" instead of "kill." Furthermore, the Sixth Commandment obviously did not cover killing in all instances. God ordained the Israelites to punish certain sins with death. He Himself instituted the death penalty in His Law (Exod. 19:12-13; 21:12-32; 22:18-24; 31:14-15; 35:2; Lev. 20:2-27; 27:29; Num. 1:51; 3:10, 38; 15:35-36; 18:7; 35:16-28; 35:30-31; Deut. 13:5-10; 17:21-22; and 22:21-24).

We are not living under the Old Testament Law today (Rom. 6:14; 10:4; 2 Cor. 3:3-11; and Heb. 7:11-19). However, in Romans 13:4 the apostle Paul teaches us, "For he [the governing official] is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer" (NIV Emphasis added). What is the ultimate purpose of a sword? Is it not to kill? Soldiers and law enforcement officials are equipped with lethal weapons to kill if it ever becomes necessary (God forbid). Therefore, it should be clear that the apostle Paul was referring to capital punishment by sword. Since he (not once but) twice refers to the sword-bearing ruler as "God's servant," it naturally follows that God does not condemn capital punishment in the New Testament.

However, the person that faces execution must obviously be guilty and not innocent! Because every criminal justice system on earth has its flaws, this is obviously a controversial issue. Nevertheless, I consider this a peripheral Christian debate over which people (both inside and outside the Church) can disagree agreeably.