Christians who believe in capital punishment and those who do
not both use the Bible to buttress their beliefs. So, what does
the Bible really teach regarding capital punishment? To begin
with, it should be noted that in the very first book of the
Bible God clearly communicates his position with respect to
capital punishment: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man
shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made
man” (Genesis 9:6). It is instructive to note that this passage
not only predates the Mosaic Law, but it demands universal
adherence to the sanctity of life. Furthermore, in Exodus 21 and
Deuteronomy 19 the Bible reaffirms God’s perspective on capital
punishment by underscoring the principle of “life for life.” To
murder a person who is made in the image of God is not only to
show contempt for the apex of God’s creation but also to show
contempt for the Creator himself. Thus, while capital punishment
may be reprehensible from a secular perspective, it is basic to
a biblical worldview. Fi