Anselm Gnthr, OSB (19112015) who wrote, the statements of the ecclesial Magisterium [on capital punishment] are occasional assertions and do not represent a fully definitive position; we must not undervalue them, but nor should we consider them to be unchangeable and perennially valid magisterial statements (A. Gunthor, Chiamata e risposta: Una nuova teologia morale, Vol. Therefore, so he reasoned, the quote can be dismissed, and we cant know the popes exact meaning anyway. In my exchanges with him, Ive always emphasized the specific pointthat the Church cannot teach that capital punishment is always and intrinsicallywrong, and Ive emphasized that she would be contradicting scripture, the Fathers, and all previous popes if she made such a radical reversal of teaching. Numbers 35:16). Your newsletter signup did not work out. The embarrassment remains that the interpreters vary between judicial formula, proverb and prophetic admonition. In Genesis 38:24-26, when Judah is told that Tamar (his former daughter-in-law) had become a harlot and was pregnant, he sentences her to death by burning. Me being a Catholic apologist with a strong emphasis on Bible, and you being a philosopher: that might be a more or less fair debate. Miscarriages of justice do not warrant abandoning the pursuit of justice. Dr. Robert Fastiggis words will be in green. Thats not how he framed his entire presentation, and not how he convincedme, since I have held for years that it was not such (in contradistinction to abortion). So it comes down to classification of the teaching in the past and now. Genesis 9:6 deals with the sin of homicide (which, in a sense, is always fratricide, v. 5) and demands a punishment that matches the crime. Here is the bedrock of Capital Punishment in the West. III, Edizioni Paoline, Alta, 1979, pp. . . Thus, Pope Benedict notes that God forbids all killing, even [what is reasonably interpreted as capital punishment]. Weve been discussing Genesis 9:6. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood Hence it appears that whoever kills a man, unless unwittingly, as the Scripture expresses it, shall forfeit his own life. If you cant produce such a reference then all your assertions are but speculations. Genesis 9:6. Next, God makes a unilateral covenant with humanity and animals never to end all life with a flood again. 3. . (p. 101). Any other punishment degrades the life of the victim. As I prepared for this reply today I quickly realized that these are very deep waters, and that I could not possibly commit to a full debate on the subject in all its aspects, as discussed at the greatest length by Dr. Feser and his opponents. in which Benedict stated: God wants life, not death. Isaias 9 : 7 es un buen ejemplo, especialmente en la ultima frase. Gen1:27). Isaiah 9 : 6 is a good one, especially the last sentence. 557-558). Word Count of 20 Translations in Genesis 9:6. ). My participation, accordingly, will be necessarily limited and confined to very specific particulars. The statement was an official memorandum from the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith the chief doctrinal officer of the Church sent to a bishop, Cardinal McCarrick, for the purpose of clarifying the implications of Church teaching for how the faithful ought to form their consciences when deciding how to vote. The Cross And Boasting (Galatians 6:12-15), 6. My own thoughts can be. But whether the Church could teach that whether there really is any wiggle room here is the main issue between us, so insofar as he persistently fails straightforwardly and frankly to take a stand on that, I find the exchange frustrating. Worthiness to receive Holy Communion is certainly astopically distant from capital punishment (if not more so) as The Church in the Middle East. Claiborne writes, One of the most powerful arguments against the death penalty is the simple fact of how disproportionately it is applied to race. , Perhaps most troubling is how many innocent men have been sent to die. They write: Most Christian retentionists rest their biblical case primarily on a single text, Genesis 9:6, which is structured as a chiasm (i.e., using an ABBA in which the second half is a mirror image of he first half): [footnote: Authors translation to show the chiastic order. The Bible is the written Word of God. Or is he the exception to the rule because he took the untouchable life of another human being? But God has placed the power of the sword in human hands. Of course, some believers never appeal to the Old Testament. Its arguably a climactic conclusion of the entire paragraph. (Genesis 9:4).3, God then turns to the lifeblood of man. . That was precisely the time that ISIS was running rampant and slaughtering Christians. How could this possibly, made in passing in a discourse devoted to a completely, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Capital Punishment: Ive Changed My Mind, Religion and the Death Penalty: A Call for Reckoning, A Catholic Traditionalist Confronts History, Ethiopian Orthodoxy and the Immaculate Conception. Then hementions Cardinal Ratzingers Worthiness to receive Holy Communion: the very document I refer to in my initial paper, by which I justified my former position. 24:1423). [16] Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden. In fact, when the death penalty is applied, people are killed not for current acts of aggression, but for offences committed in the past. Jesus also demonstrated grace when capital punishment was due ( John 8:1-11 ). This is why Im also a bit puzzled by why you think his position is strong, because it seems to me that he isnt actually trying to argue for exactly the view you are taking. He forbids all killing, even of those who kill (cf. Moreover, the reason given for capital punishment in Genesis 9:6 is permanent: because man is made in Gods image. Has Lutheranism Avoided Denominationalism? One of these guys (anonymous) wrote about you: Also, I have to call out the notion that the dispute is a matter of prudence. It implies also the enactment and enforcement of regulations for those human activities (e.g . Why did God mandate capital punishment for murder (Genesis 9:6)? (Leviticus 24:1123). This often intimidates ., the sanction in Genesis 9:6 of the death penalty for murder, which is presented as having application to the human race in general . . . Thank you for signing up to receive email newsletters from Answers in Genesis. . Murder was differentiated in Scripture from different degrees of manslaughter, and to murder was relegated the most severe penalty. that it may still be permissible to have recourse to capital punishment and that there may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about applying the death penalty. He could not have said such things if he believed that Genesis 9:6 absolutely forbade the execution of murderers. . Such language about Gods vengeance against murderers is used elsewhere in the Old Testament. Did he terminate Cains life? avenging. F. Brown, S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs. And . Genesis: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Pentateuch by John Goldingay. I doubt hell invokeex cathedraauthority to do so. My guess is that he doesnt want to commit himself right now to the thesis that capital punishment is always and intrinsically immoral, but also doesnt want to come out and say that the Church couldnt teach that. I have shown why their arguments are no good. My position is more modest. Human government is commissioned to be a minister of God to you for good. He forbids all killing, even of those who kill. This is talking about what God forbids, and is as straightforward as it can be. Fastiggi tries to downplay the significance of this 2004 statement, but he has no good grounds for doing so. Now, it is standard methodology when interpreting papal texts to take context into account, and to be very cautious about extrapolating momentous implications about a particular subject from papal remarks made in passing in a discourse devoted to a completely, Second, it is in any event highly misleading to imply, as Fastiggi does, that Benedict was cit[ing] Genesis 9:6 as evidence that God, For another thing, it is quite ridiculous on its face to suggest that Genesis 9:6 teaches that God, Nor is it remotely plausible to attribute such an interpretation to Pope Benedict XVI. After the flood a central divine priority was to control human violence, so the first law enacted forbade the consumption of blood and instituted capital punishment for murder (Gen 9:46). Genesis 6:11 states in this regard: Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. No matter how sinful man has deformed Gods image, he still bears some likeness of his Creator (James 3:9; 1 Corinthians 11:7). Adams transgression, reinforced by the sin of Cain, continues to produce thorns and thistles (cf. Thus there is a connection in subject matter. I just changed my mind two nights ago. why not follow it everywhere elsebuild a rail on top of your roof (Deuteronomy 22:8), do not mix seeds in your garden (Leviticus 19:19), and execute blasphemers And perhaps that gives us the right balance: We are called to live peacefully in our earthly nation, but the goal of our life is to represent the graceful governance of our heavenly king. 35:19. In Genesis 9:6, capital punishment is clearly instituted by the Creator. Prof. Feser seems to believe that if the Church accepts even the most remote possibility of the use of the death penalty, then any teaching against its use is only prudential. This is not true at all. Indeed, the godly pray for God to avenge murder and other injustices of the wicked: Break the arm of the wicked, and as for the evildoer may You ARGUMENT 2 Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Im not in a place to exhaustively comment on all this stuff (dont you think that would be rather presumptuous of me? Jesus would support capital punishment in some instances. I need to note at the outset that my goals in discussing Genesis 9:6 arenot extraordinarilyambitious at all. He offers the rainbow as a sign of this promise. Likewise, apologists like myself and Catholic theologians and historians have defended Pope Honorius against supposedly having infallibly promulgated heresy, by noting that the material in question was also of the nature of private correspondence. This statement in Genesis Chapter 9 came centuries before the Mosaic Law, thus, universally binding until the end of time. The rules on murder in Num 35 are as follows: He investigated the crime, for Abels blood demanded a response. Second, . Rehabilitation justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds (Luke 23:41). today? Man changedfor the worsewhen he disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. This is an excellent biblical web site, which deals with a lot of social issues. After that, I will make an argument in favor of Genesis 9:6 being proverbial, rather than a literal instance of primeval law related to capital punishment. In an address to Cardinals, published on 8 April 1991, Cardinal Ratzinger stated: 1. With regard to the historical record of magisterial pronouncements on the death penalty, I agree with Fr. Furthermore, God restricted Noahs authority over the animals in one is not the equivalent of the apodictic law as such . I also argue that recent papal teachings of the death penalty merit religious assent on the part of the faithful even though they have not been set forth as definitive or infallible. It takes into account the broad Old Testament principles of capital punishment (Genesis 9:6) and the New Testament teaching of divinely sanctioned government authority to take the life of a capital offender (John 19:11; Romans 13:4). But what can be accessed is intriguing: The variations in the interpretation of the verse are striking. If I understand you correctly, you were saying that it was. It is inhumane. I strongly disagree that this is out of context. Here, as in many laws and narratives dealing with violence, the implied authors would surely agree that in the beginning it was not so, but for the hardness of human hearts God allowed punishment, which is a violent response, of individual offenders, and even war against sinful nations, including Israel. Any individual or Is capital punishment for . Clearly, Paul recognizes the appropriateness of capital punishment for certain offenses. It must be possible to profess and freely manifest ones religion and its symbols without endangering ones life and personal freedom. The Old Testaments eye-for-eye standard of justice was not license for death, but a limit on retribution (Lev. Genesis 9:6 sanctions capital punishment . Genesis 9:5 - 6. I was already against capital punishment except for mass murderers and terrorists. You probably dont know much about me, but I have admired your work for a long time and massively linked to it (not just on this topic). And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. Genesis 9:6. Now, it is standard methodology when interpreting papal texts to take context into account, and to be very cautious about extrapolating momentous implications about a particular subject from papal remarks made in passing in a discourse devoted to a completelydifferentsubject. In Romans 15:4, Paul, referring to the Old Testament, states, For whatsoever things were written beforehandthey were written for our instruction that through patience and through Thus, I candidly expressed to Dr. Feser on my blog last night: I just changed my mind two nights ago. God did not restrict these ordinances to Israel or to other nations. Question: Should capital punishment be abolished?. Update 2017-02-03: It is now fifty years since the death penalty has been used in Australia. Paul in Romans 13:4 describes the civil magistrate as a minister of God, who does not bear the sword in vain. McEvenue comes to the conclusion that it has been demonstrated neither that the sentence 9:6a is very old, nor that it is a law . While various methods of death were used, the sword, mentioned in Romans 13:4, stood for the power of life or death. Green, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2011), 118: The death penalty is entrenched in OT law and narrative, and it is attested, though not necessarily endorsed, in NT teaching as well. They are always willing to use the power of death. But the Hebrew word for "kill" in Exodus 20:13 is sometimes used in referenc . Here it is: 26. Preliminaries and Whether Genesis 9:6 is Proverbial Literature. Capital punishment is a severe penalty and as such teaches that taking another life in premeditative murder upholds the dignity of taking a life in the first place ( Gen. 9:6 ). Scripture: Genesis 9:6 Denomination: Baptist Human Government - God's Restraint For A Sinful World Series Contributed by Paul Barreca on Nov 5, 2011 | 4,101 views Genesis 9 is an important "FIRST" in the Bible. The first was murder. 6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. . True, New Testament believers do not live under the Old Testament economy, but that does not render the Old Testament obsoleteor I agree all down the line. Gen4:6-10 and1 Jn3:8-15) among the sons of Adam and Eve created in Gods image (cf. So, I would urge caution in considering his arguments. One: Genesis 9:4-6. He said in substance, "You are permitted now to establish government, and the highest power that a government has is capital . 1 at binasbasan ng dios si noe at ang kaniyang mga anak, at sa kanila'y sinabi, kayo'y magpalaanakin, at magpakarami at inyong kalatan ang lupa. Certainly, Genesis 9:6 in its sanctity and protection of life is instruction for us. 12 When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth." - Genesis 4:11-12 The pope was not even addressing the topic of criminal justice, the question of what sorts of punishments are appropriate, etc. When passages from the Old Testament are used to justify or condemn a modern practice, many respond with the all-or-nothing argument, Well, if you are going to follow the Old Testament on that issue, Societies that regard life as . It includes on the individual and collective levels the freedom to follow ones conscience in religious matters and, at the same time, freedom of worship. Genesis 9:6 suggests that this sense of justice is woven into the moral fabric of Creation: Whoever sheds man's blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in His image. Why the Death Penalty? 21:28. The command of Genesis 9:6 for capital punishment occurs after the worldwide Flood. But I have never taken that position, and I agree with Feser that its not clear whether Pope Francis has himself taken that position in his Oct. 11, 2017 address. Capital punishment is inconsistent with the general Christian stand that life should always be supported. The Catholic Church essentially teaches this in their Catechism section Why did God mandate capital punishment for murder? I did reply, however, to the same person as follows: Him: You say that you, and Dr Fastiggi (contra to his public remarks), do not believe that capital punishment is malum in se. In John 8:7 Jesus replied to the question of capital punishment because of adultery to let him who is without sin cast the first stone - and no one did. not pick and choose. How could this possiblynotbe relevant to determining what the Church intends for the faithful to believe? You need to know that governments do not bear the sword in vain. As the link notes, this was a confidential letter sent by Cardinal Ratzinger to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Bishop Wilton Gregory. Thats not magisterial at all. Its rationale appears to be . The problem of interpretation comes from asking the question: which human life is untouchable? Is the life of the murderer also untouchable? The Church, after further development, could in the future possibly proclaim one or the other as infallible teaching. Genesis 9 is too obscure to say anything definite with respect to the matter. Dr. Feser thennotes that lots of other folks for four thousand years have interpreted Genesis 9:6 otherwise, but thats ultimately irrelevant to the point at hand: how Pope Benedict is interpreting and using it in this passage. Extreme care should be taken to ascertain true guilt or innocence. crime against man and God that the only just penalty is the forfeiting of the murderers life. In the combox for this article, he reiterated the same thing twice: His statement that capital punishment is per se contrary to the Gospel need not mean that it is intrinsically evil. The following is a comparison between Nehemiah 9: 6 and Exodus 20:11. 11 Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. The venture capital investments Alameda had made were "effectively, some of them, on margin", he added. . Happen to see our new campaign on Fox News? It has not ceased to be Gods Word (2 Timothy 3:1617). Study. . Later Old Testament passages confirm this. Is Genesis 9:6 the mandate for capital punishment? Simply saying But Feser is a philosopher and Hart and Fastiggi are theologians cuts no ice. Just after the flood, God ordained the institution of capital punishment in order to keep crime in check, and protect society from further divine judgment. As he doesnt object to any of the prudential arguments and sociological points that appear later in the book, but to the arguments from natural law and moral theology from the first half of the book. Such commandments, therefore, transcend the Mosaic covenant, as the Ten Commandments transcend the Mosaic Covenant. God did not restrict these ordinances to Israel or to other nations. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. Thus the phrase "for God made man in his own image" is a statement about the executioner's authority, not about the victim's value. In other words, God tolerated violence although his long-term goal was peace. If you think he believes that the Church could / might teach this in the future, what exactly did he write to give you that impression? Read history: there is no shortage of people who faced death because they resisted governments. (LogOut/ Capital punishment is such a duty. Thats Bobs area of expertise as a systematic theologian, editor and translator of Denzinger, and also of a revised version of Ludwig Ott [Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma]. It says, "Whoever sheds man's blood by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God, He made man." The Mosaic Law set forth numerous offenses that were punishable by death. 3 bawa't If someone is found guilty of murder and the death penalty is not used, do not cry, Injustice! Consider what kind of God you represent. it is murder; if the state kills, it is not murder, some would say. The concept of capital punishment was established in Genesis 9:6: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed." Romans 13:4 specifically discusses the concept of. Because of the dignity of the human person (a principle not a prudential judgment) the death penalty may solely be used if it is the, This is where they show their lack of understanding of what is needed with respect to prudential judgments. I already stated that Id like to see what you said about the exegesis, and would probably like to do some dialogue on that (knowing that you would). Its too vast of a topic, and would require, in my opinion, experts in several different field to adequately tackle it and deal with it in the depth that it deserves. Indicted on false charges, tried by frenzied bigots, sentenced by a cowardly judge, executed in unspeakable crueltywhat a perfect opportunity to strike out against the whole practice of capital punishment! . I suppose one could be concerned with the seemingly pregnant use of yet there. As the reader can easily verify by following the link above, the context in which he made the remark in question was a discussion of the idea of religious toleration. The Ostrich The ostrich, for example, is the largest and heaviest living bird on the planet, standing 7-9 feet (2.1-2.75 m) tall and weighing 220-287 . There is no redress once someone has been executed., Gordon J. Wenham, Story as Torah: Reading Old Testament Narrative Ethically (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 2000), 153. The death penalty is drastic, but it need not be rash. After the flood, capital punishment was established by God as the penalty for murder. An eye for an eye. And he consistently tries to challenge these arguments. God prefaces the command of Genesis 9:6 by stating that He will seek those who take the lifeblood of man (Genesis 9:5). On 12-6-17 we corresponded again, in order to clarify continuing erroneous charges against Dr. Fastiggis positions, being made on Dr. Fesers blog by commenters other than himself: If I misrepresent you in any way, please correct me. I really dont believe this is a matter upon which the Roman Pontiff should invoke his supreme apostolic authority. If someone commits murder, they are required to die. Genesis 9:6 deals with the sin of homicide (which, in a sense, is always fratricide, v. 5) and demands a punishment that matches the crime. the Flood with the command of Genesis 9:6. . . Where in Catholic teaching is such an appeal justified? Fear of the State and its power to execute equal, proportional justice is necessary in a fallen world. The justification for capital punishment established here is the nobility of human life, which is in the image of God. He forbids all killing, even of those who kill (cf. Seeking to understand Jesus in the terms he chose to describe himself: son of man (his identity), and kingdom of God (his mission). (Genesis 9:6).5 The meaning is straightforward: a murderer must be put to death. In fact, it was written for our instruction, that is, the New Testament churchs instruction. 65 a. To suggest, as Fastiggi does, that the passage is actuallycondemningcapital punishment, is simply perverse. He certainly doesnt think that Pope Francis is teaching thisnow. . Topics. I think so many people think that if you dont hold that capital punishment is intrinsically evil then any arguments against it are simply prudential. This does not follow as I tried to explain in. My post, Capital Punishment: Ive Changed My Mind (12-5-17) has generated vigorous discussion on Facebook and in its own combox. Yet YHWH did not take Cains life. Yet, earthly governments ought to be extremely cautious about using the power of death. . Why does murder deserve capital punishment? And I gather that you would be less comfortable with such an extreme view. It gives rise to political and religious exploitation, discrimination and violence leading to death. Instead I would favor ongoing strong papal and episcopal statements against the use of the death penalty as described in Pope Franciss March 20, 2015 letter (which is in the AAS). There is something special about "man" as opposed to "beasts" and this is the basis for all injunctions in these two verses: "For in the image of God He made man" (NASV) . And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. . . Why did God mandate capital punishment for murder (Genesis 9:6)? Is Capital Punishment for Today? In his second reply to you, he stated: He has also taught that it is per se contrary to the Gospel (Address of Oct. 11, 2017). As long as there are rainbows in the sky, the Noahic Covenant is still in effect (Genesis 9:14-17). He forbids all killing, even of those who kill (cf. I support his position. (Genesis 9:6) Genesis 9:6 (NIV) Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. Because human beings are image-bearers of God, murder was such a serious affront to both God and man that it had to be answered with the blood of the murderer. If someone is found guilty of intentional murder in a country where the death penalty is used, do not cry, Injustice! for God has given authority to human governments. First, in the exhortation in question, Pope Benedict was not addressing the subject of capital punishment. What the pope was saying was that the attempt to coerce others into adopting ones own religious point of view sometimes results in violence and even killing, and that God does not approve of this. The Christian worldview includes Capital Punishment. It was notintendedto be an exhaustive study, as I said, let alone a full account of both sides of the current raging debate. . This document was about The Church in the Middle East and has obvious connections with violence and death. The fact that ignorance and injustice exist in a judicial system is no excuse for abandoning Gods commandment. Evangelium Vitae, n. 55). 1480) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons], Indiscriminate Nuclear Destruction: Condemned by the Magisterium, Genesis 9:6 & Capital Punishment (Contra Ed Feser). Abortion. He made man. 9 Bible Verses about Capital Punishment Genesis 9:5-6 Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. Alameda's spreadsheet predates SBF's current media blitz by a month, though it comes . is an avenger for wrath to the one doing evil. The words bear the sword denote punishment, but particularly capital punishment, as the sword was an instrument of execution. No mere coincidence, then, prompted God to institute the death penalty as a restraint on violence. But they can be complicated at times. Think back to the moment when YHWH had a murder to investigate. In the Talmud, Genesis 9:5 is interpreted as a prohibition against killing oneself, and Genesis 9:6 is "cited in support for the prohibition of abortion." . Murder was condemned in the Ten Commandments "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20). including capital punishment, that are still authoritative. . 7th century bce ), though Plato argued that it should be used only for the incorrigible. But God didn't call capital punishment murder; He didn't call it obscene; He didn't call it uncivilized. Man may kill and eat animals (Genesis 9:3), but even by those serving a lifetime prison sentence. If he has claimed to you that his position is that Feser and Bessette are correct on the first but not the second, then he needs to state that publicly. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! . (Psalm 10:15). . 5:39 ). Even if you believe that the death penalty is right in principle, writes Claiborne, knowing that innocent people are being sentenced and sometimes executed should give you pause. What matters are the merits of the actual arguments they give and the actual arguments I give, and I have shown that their arguments are bad. Capital punishment was legislated in ancient Israel and appears to be divinely ordered. Related Topics: Dispensational / Covenantal Theology, Cultural Issues, Have You Noticed Your Gray Hair? In my exchanges with him, Ive always emphasized the, You are correct that I do not believe Pope Francis has explicitly taught that capital punishment is always and intrinsically wrong. replete with Scripture proofs from the Old Testament, as is the New God established capital punishment in Genesis 9:6 when he set forth the principle, "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man." . (Genesis 41:32), with the addition that He will hold even animals responsible: From every beast He will indeed seek God sees a difference . Thus, the immediate context of religious freedom must be seen as part of the whole document; and it includes reference to the deprivation of such freedom, to worship without endangering ones life and personal freedom. Genesis 9:6 . The execution of the death penalty, 9:6a b. I think hes trying to (re-)interpret scripture, and to minimize patristic and papal statements that are problematic for the always and intrinsically wrong position, so as to open a door for such a radical change, in case Pope Francis or some other pope ever wants to go there. This same covenant reconstituted human government and established safeguards against the prevailing human violence which precipitated Gods judgment. In the second instance, he is referring (in a private letter, as a Cardinal) to what Catholics may and do believe. Religion and the Death Penalty: A Call for Reckoning, edited by Erik Owens, John D. Carlson, and Eric P. Elshtain (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2004), offers the chapter, Biblical Perspectives on the Death Penalty, by Michael L. Westmoreland-White and Glen H. Stassen. Because I dont believe there is a definitive, infallible Church tradition affirming the legitimacy of capital punishment, it would betheoreticallypossible for Pope Francis or a future Pope to condemn it entirely in anex cathedramatter. Genesis 9: 6 says "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image." (English Standard Version). An animal that killed a man was to be put to death, Ex. It may attain fulfillment, but it never becomes defunct. This paper was. The word avenged implies capital punishment. Dr. Feser showed up in the latter, last night. Only then can the nations see and recognize our sovereign. Note. Gen 4:15-16; 9:5-6; Ex 20:13). Genesis 9:5 Verse Concepts The dreaded all-or-nothing argument always lurks behind the next corner. Genesis 9:5-6 introduces capital punishment by the LORD God. The Mosaic Law significantly limited the scope of Genesis 9:6. grisly effortsmay certainly rejoice over the murder of those less innocent. Dr. Feser in reply has a great deal to say about this, and I do admire his great zeal: In particular, Fastiggi citesan exhortationin which Benedict stated: God wants life, not death. Its aboutmy change of opinion. And God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. Given the diversity and complexity of biblical material on the subject, it is unsurprising that Christian opinion on capital punishment is divided. Persecution in the region is referred to three times. But Dr. Feser neglects another factor. 5 and surely your blood of your lives will i require; at the hand of every beast will i require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother And again: [I]t is absurd to deny that Genesis 9:5-6 affirms the legitimacy in principle of capital punishment . (Genesis 9:6) Human life to God is a sacred, precious thing, because God created man in His image. Any other punishment risks additional murderous acts, For the minister of God [the civil magistrate] He forbids all killing, even of those who kill (cf. . but in that case he ought to make that clear in his public remarks, because he seems to be saying the opposite in his CWR articles. Jen Pollock Michels review at Christianity Today includes: Early on, Claiborne engages familiar biblical texts to dispute the well-worn notion that the death penalty is Gods idea. . But Im not sure, so I thought Id ask you, and could let him know what you said, so that can be cleared up. Old Testament. A few comments: First, if you want to take Fastiggis side in his dispute with me, thats fine, but before doing so you ought to be clear on what we are actually disagreeing about. Here he makes it clear that what he finds unacceptable is putting a person to death for a past crime when the person is no longer a threat and has lost his freedom This is very much in line with what St. John Paul II has already taught. It is still God's law today, and forms the basic authorization of the institution of human government. Genesis 9:6. They do not function as criminal laws . Here are the other two passages he then cited (RSV): Genesis 4:15-16Then the LORD said to him, Not so! Capital Punishment Genesis 9:6 Stephen A. James - Mr. James opinion to this subject is clear from the start. . Their reason is clear: we live under the New Testament, not the Old Testament. God here ordains human government. . . ), . . . Several of the pro-death penalty folks seem unable to grasp these basic distinctions of category. One of the stipulations of the Noahic Covenant was capital punishment. . Genesis 9:5-6 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. Indeed, how can any word from God become Certainly the book of Genesis still applies to New Testament believers. Should our governments kill the killers? Psalm 9:12, David refers to God as the One who seeks out [and avenges] murder, like a title given to (Hosea 7:8-10), Biblical Character Qualities And Life Skills, 7. ESV Text Edition: 2016. Thus murder shows contempt for God as well as for one's fellow man. He refers to deadly assaults and constraint and exploitation and violence leading to death. Then in the very next sentence, he writes: God wants life, not death. Read full chapter Genesis 9:6 in all English translations Genesis 8 Genesis 10 English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. . . offense incapable of doing harmwithout definitely taking away from him In order to make prudential judgments there must be principles that guide these judgments. He says it wasnt on this topic. As one of the few survivors of the Flood, But they are talking about the Mosaic Law given to Israel. It was furnished to indicate Gods value of human life. Genesis 9:5-6---Instructions To Noah In this first clear reference to "capital punishment" a number of things seem obvious. Capital punishment is the judicial taking of guilty human life. Prof. Feser seems to assume that I have committed myself to the position that the death penalty is intrinsically immoral and it has been so throughout history. If hes correct, contradiction or reversal would not be technically present in a scenario of non-magisterial teaching x being replaced by magisterial teaching y. If we follow Dr. Feser, its about killing in capital punishment, rather than not killing (in general). Nor is it remotely plausible to attribute such an interpretation to Pope Benedict XVI. . Help us share the truth of Gods Word and the gospel! Introduction Part of the covenant God gave to Noah was the institution of capital punishment (the death penalty) as the penalty for murder. Genesis 9:6 does just that. Whether this divine sanction was for all time and places is a matter of biblical interpretation for today. Im not in a place to exhaustively comment on all this stuff (dont you think that would be ratherpresumptuousof me? It is a universal principle, not part of the Mosaic legislation. The Why, then, according to Westermann, who isclaimed to be the commentator par excellence for Genesis, are there striking differences in interpretation for this passage (causing scholarly embarrassment), with several exegetes holding it to be indeed proverbial? Genesis 9:5-6 5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. . Change). 9:6 blood be shed. If thats the picture of how divine government operates, surely human government should think twice before it actually employs the power placed in its hands in Genesis 9:6. It was reaffirmed throughout the rest of the Old and New Testament. . I didnt answer that particular one (too long and involved). I dont find Fastiggis position clear at all. Does that make sense? As long as man is made in the image of God, this commandment is binding. Vs. Protestant Apologist Jason Engwer Jason Engwer, who runs the Tribalblogue site, "This Is the Stuff That Washes Out": Short aka A Criminal Christmas! the Prophets (Luke 16:29, 16:31), did not serve just their own generation, but they served us, the New Testament church (1 Peter 1:1012). Blood, as basis of life. Also discover the most profound evidence for creation on the planet. What is Gods kingdom? Even modern liberal exegetes who have tried to reinterpret it have only ever claimed that the passage isneutralabout capital punishment, and they have had to strain credulity to go even that far (for reasons Joe Bessette and I explain in our book). Lets see how things develop. I hope I havent confused anything, myself. . And on page 189: . The Bible, however, shows that capital punishment for murder is of a different order than that prescribed under the civil law that governed Old Testament Israel. . Religious freedom is rooted in the dignity of the person; it safeguards moral freedom and fosters mutual respect. Genesis 9:5: Human Government & Capital Punishment. The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, for example, are In fact, it was leaked to the press. As an analogy, Molinism and Thomism are both now allowed as interpretations of predestination (Im a Molinist). This issue clears up ten common misconceptions about the Flood. View all posts by Allen Browne. Riverview Church, Perth, Western Australia Genesis has the answer. He was to die without mercy In a sinful society, . And on page 208: Yet Genesis 9:6 teaches that mans being made in the image of God is precisely a reason to support capital punishment rather than a reason to oppose it. And further on page 293: [T]he teaching of Genesis 9:6 is that . The New Testament, of course, also confirms this. The context of Genesis 9:6 reveals its abiding authority. Then God gives a command to Noah not given to Adam: a prohibition against murder. This establishment of capital punishment, administered judicially by man, has never been changed or withdrawn. God created man uniquely by breathing the breath of life directly into Adam and by making Adam and all mankind But Fastiggi is blatantly violating this methodological principle in insinuating that Benedicts remark implies some radical reinterpretation of Genesis 9:6 and, by implication, some revolutionary teaching vis--vis capital punishment. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I have no hostility towards you. . On the other hand, strong approval for capital punishment among conservative religious voters is a significant factor in explaining why the United States stands alone among Western democracies in retaining its use. He permitted humans to kill and eat animals, provided we respect the life were taking by draining out the creatures blood (9:4). Where has Pope Francis used the term intrinsically evil in reference to capital punishment? It is a sacred and inalienable right. 126-127). You can also sign up for our free print newsletter (US only). . Genesis 9:6 reads: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." It has been argued that this verse clearly supports capital punishment. A murderer not only took the life of his victim, he also assaulted the divine majesty. Gen3:18) even today. (Genesis 9:6). In any event, my meager goal is to show that there is at least some serious thinking among biblical scholars that Genesis 9:6 is of a proverbial nature, which would undermine the legal case that Dr. Feser builds up from it. Humans are not omniscient, so our murder investigations are partial and incomplete. I was able to access p. 467 of this book at the Amazon page, but, maddeningly, one cant get to p. 468, so I couldnt read Westermanns complete commentary. (An Antisocial Advent?) The Cross And The Flesh (Gal. On the one hand, the support of churches for the elimination of the death penalty often has been a critical factor in those countries that have abolished it. . Whatever implications that has, they are not magisterial (a Cardinals opinions in a private letter can never be that), and light years away from having an infallible, binding status on Catholics. Perhaps, they can rejoice over the voluntary death of the elderly to prevent them from over-consuming medical resources at Genesis 9:6 & Capital Punishment (Contra Ed Feser) December 6, 2017 by Dave Armstrong 1 Comment Preliminaries and Whether Genesis 9:6 is Proverbial Literature My post, "Capital. the second half-verse: by man shall his blood be poured out, does not correspond to the style of apodictic law. For unless you, He has also taught that it is per se contrary to the Gospel (Address of Oct. 11, 2017). Dr. Fastiggi in one of his articles at CWR, quotes Pope Benedict XVI citing Genesis 9:6 in a similar way: Pope Benedict XVI, however, in his 2012 Post-Synodal Exhortation,Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, n. 26 cites Genesis 9:6 as evidence that Godforbidsthe killing of even those who commit murder: God wants life, not death. . So I wouldnt be quick at all to dismiss him when he talks about those topics (even if I disagreed with him). B. Jacob . In our group discussion at my home on Saturday with Dr. Fastiggi (weve been friends for over ten years and hes been to my house many times), my impression was that he does not think it is intrinsically evil. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil (Romans 13:4). New Living Translation If anyone takes a human life, that person's life will also be taken by human hands. Man is created in God's own image ( Genesis 1:27 ). Its also absurd to say that I shouldnt have written this blog post. Man is the highest form of life on this earth, created in God . Your claim that the Pope Francis is in doctrinal error is your opinion, which has only the weight of your opinion. Remember Jesus? Perhaps, they can even rejoice over the murder of those deemed politically dangerous or just simply undesirable. Each family of ratite has unique characteristics that point to their wise Creator, who wanted to fill the earth with grand diversity that glorifies Him (Job 12:7-9; Romans 1:18-20). Fr. . Skip to primary navigation; . Gen 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Murder is wrong because it is destroying one made in God's image. Capital Punishment. Central to these safeguards was the death penalty: Whoever sheds mans blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man (Genesis 9:6). I added further ones at his request. God emphasizes His determination to seek by repeating it Taking animal or vegetable life is in no way comparable to taking human life, for though all creation is His handiwork, only man was created in Gods image (Genesis 1:26-27). . Privacy Policy and When Joash murdered Jehoiadas son, Zechariah, his last words were, May the Lord see and may He seek [and examples from the Old Testament (1 Corinthians 10:6, 10:11). The explanation of the death penalty, 9:6b Note that the life of man is to be protected, whether from animals (9:5a) or other men (9:5b). Its analogously the same scenario, but even more removed from the topic of capital punishment (if we are to consider context). Third, the scriptural claims from Brugger, Hart, McClamrock, and Fastiggi that you cite are claims I have replied to at length in the responses just referred to. The Hebrew word for seek may include the notions of requiring or I dont think it can be so easily dismissed. Numbers 35:33). God said if you shed the blood . Hampshire Baptist Confession. (Genesis 6:11, 6:13). HOWEVER, the 6th commandment does NOT contradict the words of God in Genesis Chapter 9! The Old Testament writers, Moses and Fastiggis public remarks has all the marks of an argument from justice, not an argument from prudence. Abstract Genesis 9:6 states, "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image." (ESV) It is argued that this verse establishes capital. Neither one of us areprofessionalexegetes. The context of Genesis 9:6 reveals its abiding authority. avenge] (2 Chronicles 24:22). But in that case, you shouldnt have written this blog post. I suspect that he wants to leave wiggle room for that. Mosaic laws based on the character of God, such as laws against murder or adultery, or Mosaic laws based on the permanent relationships of people, such as children honoring their parents, are permanent. I dont have unlimited time, but I love to debate, so I am not the person to go after regarding a supposed fear on my part to do so, or to chide for not reading your side, etc. . Punishment Capital Punishment For capital offences. . the Mosaic Covenant, and abide after the Mosaic Covenant into the New Covenant until the end of time. Rather, he simply includes it in a string of Scriptural references that are implied to havesomebearing exactlywhatbearing, in the case of any of the individual Scriptural passages, is not specified on Gods will vis--vis killing. Then we had the following little exchange. Capital punishment in the Bible refers to instances in the Bible where death is called for as a punishment and also instances where it is proscribed or prohibited. I doubt hell invoke, Because I dont believe there is a definitive, infallible Church tradition affirming the legitimacy of capital punishment, it would be, I think youve been fair to my position. Fastiggi tries to downplay the significance of this 2004 statement, but he has no good grounds for doing so. I can do a fair job in exegetical discussion. toward proverb style p. 70 (referring to E. Gerstenberger and W. Richter). Throughout the article, Bible translations are the authors own. This line of thought is one possible and plausible way to look at Genesis 9:6 (as held by many respectable exegetes); thats all Im saying. Since 1976, about one of nine death row inmates has been exonerated, usually after languishing for decades in a cell. 2267, Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state J. Skinner: possibly an ancient judicial formula which had become proverbial . But these are very deep matters, so I dont put much stock in my mere laymans opinion about the future. Second, it is in any event highly misleading to imply, as Fastiggi does, that Benedict was cit[ing] Genesis 9:6 as evidence that Godforbidsthe killing of even those who commit murder. For one thing, the pope does not pinpoint Genesis 9:6 specifically and then make an explicit comment about how to interpret it. 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Offense incapable of doing harmwithout definitely taking away from him in order make! Or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using your account! Infallible teaching presumptuous of me can do a fair job in exegetical discussion was running rampant slaughtering. Remains that the only just penalty is drastic, but it never becomes.... Ones life and personal freedom Changed my Mind ( 12-5-17 ) has generated vigorous discussion Facebook... Molinist ), Molinism and Thomism are both now allowed as interpretations of predestination im! But the Hebrew word for seek may include the notions of requiring or I dont put much in... Newsletters from Answers in Genesis that my goals in discussing Genesis 9:6 reveals its abiding.. Exonerated, usually after languishing for decades in a place to exhaustively comment on all this (! Faithful to believe wiggle room for that he writes: God wants life, not death make an explicit about!, that the interpreters vary between judicial formula, proverb and prophetic admonition put to.! So, I would urge caution in considering his arguments way upon the earth, in! Persecution in the exhortation in question, Pope Benedict notes that God forbids, forms... General Christian stand that life should always be supported in Scripture from different degrees of manslaughter, we... 9:5: human government & amp ; capital punishment is clearly instituted by the Creator the significance of this statement! As I tried to explain in while various methods of death Church essentially teaches this in their section! And fastiggi are theologians cuts no ice 9:5: human government and safeguards. Historical record of magisterial pronouncements on the earth your lifeblood ; from every beast I require! The Church intends for the incorrigible genesis 9:6 capital punishment creation on the death penalty is used, do not cry Injustice.
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