Capital Punishment and the Bible Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Ess

Capital Punishment and the Bible Capital punishment has endlessly been an arguable issue and for good reason.The Old Testament clearly c in alls for the close penalty on many occasions,whereas many of the teachings of Jesus and others in the sweet testament readilydenounce it. Therefore, both advocates ands opponents of capital punishment get Biblical references to support their beliefs. Opponents use the creation story to show that all are created in Godsimage. Genesis 127a states that God created man in his image.1 God, thus,has the power to give and take away life as he chooses. All men are to preservelife to the outflank of their ability. M. Margaret Falls says that we cannot treatpeople as mere instruments to personal survival, advantage or fulfillment.2 Advocates leave alone also utilize Genesis 127 to prove that because man iscreated in Gods image, man must preserve as many lives as possible, Therefore,the death of one, who has murdered many, will spare the useless and countlessdeaths of others. Gods command to preserve life seems much more of the essence(p) herethan the preservation of criminals. Capital punishment is never used de jure in the New Testament.Jesus constant preaching of love and forgiveness shows his condescension for theharming of others. One example of love is found in John 1517 This is mycommand Love each other. An example of forgiveness is Matthew 614 For ifyou forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will alsoforgive you. Jesus practiced what he preached by not condemning guilty persons. InJohn 81-11, Jesus did not let the people stone a wom... ...Falls, M. Margaret, The Christian Century, Against the Death penaltyA Christian Stance in a Secular World, The Christian CenturyFoundation, Cicero, IL, 1986.Finlay, Terence J., The Ten Commandments, Charles Scribners Sons,NY, NY, 1961.Harrison, R. K., Numbers An Exegetical Commentary, Baker BookHouse, pace Rapids, MI, 1992.Hoekema, David, The Christian Centur y, Capital Punishment TheQuestion of Justification, The Christian Century Foundation,Chicago, IL, 1979. beatified Bible, New International Version, Zondervan Publishing House,Grand Rapids, MI, 1973.Kaiser, Walter C. Jr., Hard Sayings of the Old Testament,InerVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1988.Steffen, Lloyd, Christianity and Crisis, casting the First Stone,Christianity and Crisis, Inc., Syracuse, NY, 1990.