: It is not a formal legal pronouncement; a threat, a prophetic admonition. S. McEvenue sees it quite differently: The chiastic form and rhyming quality lean . 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. He contended that the topic of the Exhortation was religious toleration, not criminal justice or punishments, including the death penalty. The death penalty was imposed as a measure of protection for organized society, but purely social considerations fail to give sufficient warrant for the severe punishment. So I wouldnt be quick at all to dismiss him when he talks about those topics (even if I disagreed with him). Punishment Death penalty Mosaic law For murder. Where in Catholic teaching is such an appeal justified? Capital punishment is inconsistent with the general Christian stand that life should always be supported. . According to Genesis 9:6, capital punishment is based upon a belief in the sanctity of life. We should I need to note at the outset that my goals in discussing Genesis 9:6 arenot extraordinarilyambitious at all. Study. 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." . 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. Moreover, the reason given for capital punishment in Genesis 9:6 is permanent: because man is made in Gods image. To my knowledge, Bob has not said otherwise. The Bible is the written Word of God. God emphasizes His determination to seek by repeating it . I suppose one could be concerned with the seemingly pregnant use of yet there. 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. 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). avenge] (2 Chronicles 24:22). . 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 . My understanding is that if the Churchdidteach such a thing in the future, the way it could be explained as non-contradictory to the past is to note (as you have) that past teaching was not definitive or magisterial. Though other passages in Scripture clearly teach that capital punishment is allowed under certain conditions this passage does not. Rehabilitation The first was murder. . All life means all life. God sees a difference . Genesis 9:6 . Religious freedom is rooted in the dignity of the person; it safeguards moral freedom and fosters mutual respect. But they can be complicated at times. I try to adhere to what the recent popes have taught about capital punishment. However, this research paper claims that Genesis 9:6 can be translated in a way that does not specify who executes the judgment of shedding blood. one constantly employed in seeking and avenging murder. More likely, hell continue to use his ordinary papal magisterium to explain why the death penalty as used today is inadmissable and contrary to the Gospel. God instituted capital punishment after the flood. 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. 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. It gives rise to political and religious exploitation, discrimination and violence leading to death. Furthermore, speaking before Genesis 9:6 sanctions capital punishment . Why did God mandate capital punishment for murder (Genesis 9:6)? 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. God did not restrict these ordinances to Israel or to other nations. Of course, this is true not only of Paul, but also of the other New Testament authors. I suspect this wont happen. Jews, with their long experience of often deadly assaults, know full well the benefits of religious freedom. Psalm 9:12, David refers to God as the One who seeks out [and avenges] murder, like a title given to 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. today? 5:19-25). 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. Throughout the article, Bible translations are the authors own. Gen4:6-10 and1 Jn3:8-15) among the sons of Adam and Eve created in Gods image (cf. 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. As God gave to Adam the creation ordinance of marriage that still has abiding authority, so God gave to Noah post-Flood ordinances, including capital punishment, that are still authoritative. These laws include the dietary laws and worship laws. I dont believe he thinks the Church could proclaim it to be in the future, either. even nearly so. . Whether he will or should in the future is another matter. (Genesis 9:4).3, God then turns to the lifeblood of man. Internet Explorer is no longer supported. Now I shall turn my attention to the first of two key biblical passages that have been disputed, as regards the death penalty (and that I highlighted in my announcement of my change of opinion): Genesis 9:6 (RSV): Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image., Dr. Feser and co-author Dr. Joseph Bessette state intheir bookthat Genesis 9:6 . As a matter of fact, the law God gave to Moses to regulate the Israelite nation made provision for at least sixteen capital crimes. This same covenant reconstituted human government and established safeguards against the prevailing human violence which precipitated Gods judgment. God will personally seek out and avenge4 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. For more information on this, you might check out www.probe.org. But you wont know that unless you actually bother to read what I wrote. Of course, some believers never appeal to the Old Testament. 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). (LogOut/ Chapter 9 describes God's interactions with Noah and his sons following the flood. In Genesis 4, God gives Cain a mark lest any who came upon him should kill him. So thats a dont kill passage, as is obviously, Exodus 20:13. You can also sign up for our free print newsletter (US only). Gods commandment required the death penalty because in the image of God He made man (Genesis 9:6). So Im not clear exactly why you think it is Fastiggi, and not me, who is correct in the dispute between us. It is true that Jesus taught the importance of forgiveness ( Matt. . Genesis 9:6 says that death was the penalty for the crime of murder only - not for all the other sins listed in the Mosaic Covenant. I just changed my mind two nights ago. Think back to the moment when YHWH had a murder to investigate. Does that give you cause for pause before you call on governments to use capital punishment? 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) . No ransom could take away the death penalty (Numbers 35:32). Capital punishment? Then God repeats it a third time for even greater emphasis that He will seek out and avenge murder from all mankind and from every individual man [responsible].. Why did God mandate capital punishment for murder? Im not in a place to exhaustively comment on all this stuff (dont you think that would be ratherpresumptuousof me? . The taking away of human life by murderincluding those forms of murder known by their various euphemisms As Fastiggi has made it very clear in his public work that he is objecting to the first point Feser and Bessette are making in their book, not the second. The taking of human life is always wrong including when the state does it. Its also absurd to say that I shouldnt have written this blog post. God said if you shed the blood . All rights reserved. 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). But what do we have here? Bible Gateway 82 Romans 13:1-14 2. . the second half-verse: by man shall his blood be poured out, does not correspond to the style of apodictic law. Israel was a single small country a long time ago. . Date: March 10, 2021 @ 7:00 pm. . 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. What Fastiggi and I have been debating at Catholic World Report is, specifically, whether the Church could in the future teach that capital punishment is always and intrinsicallyimmoral. particular way: Noah and his descendants must not consume the lifeblood of an animal Numbers 35:16). Blood, as basis of life. . And Jesus clearly interprets it as a proverb . I strongly disagree that this is out of context. including capital punishment, that are still authoritative. The fact that ignorance and injustice exist in a judicial system is no excuse for abandoning Gods commandment. He forbids all killing, even of those who kill (cf. Such commandments, therefore, transcend the Mosaic covenant, as the Ten Commandments transcend the Mosaic Covenant. The embarrassment remains that the interpreters vary between judicial formula, proverb and prophetic admonition. I suspect that he wants to leave wiggle room for that. They keep saying you believe capital punishment is intrinsically evil (one guy today charged you with public equivocation on that score), and I keep saying that neither you nor I believe that; nor do we believe it will likely be promulgated as such. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. examples from the Old Testament (1 Corinthians 10:6, 10:11). 7th century bce ), though Plato argued that it should be used only for the incorrigible. But Fastiggi seems to have been arguing at CWR that the Church couldteach this. I simply argue that there is no definitive, infallible teaching of the Church in favor of the legitimacy of capital punishment. 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. Alameda's spreadsheet predates SBF's current media blitz by a month, though it comes . I have shown why their arguments are no good. PNG police shoot four protesting university students dead in Port Moresby, Parliament told. 65 a. in His image. . ESV Text Edition: 2016. Its not a passing statement at all. society that desecrates Gods image invites divine judgment. 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. Genesis 9:5 - 6 23 Votes Q. Tomorrow is the release of Shane Claibones new book, Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why Its Killing Us (HarperOne, June 2016). 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. (LogOut/ (Genesis 6:11, 6:13). Genesis 9:5-6---Instructions To Noah In this first clear reference to "capital punishment" a number of things seem obvious. 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. Indeed, how can any word from God become This statement in Genesis Chapter 9 came centuries before the Mosaic Law, thus, universally binding until the end of time. 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. 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. No matter how sinful man has deformed Gods image, he still bears some likeness of his Creator (James 3:9; 1 Corinthians 11:7). Prior to the Flood, men who lived by depraved consciences made themselves odious before the thrice-holy God. 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. Gen1:27). Does that make sense? Nor is it remotely plausible to attribute such an interpretation to Pope Benedict XVI. 2. The justification for capital punishment established here is the nobility of human life, which is in the image of God. In Genesis 9:6, capital punishment is clearly instituted by the Creator. . My own thoughts can be. This paper was. . Nevertheless, the prerequisites of legitimate personal defence are not applicable in the social sphere without the risk of distortion. And If I understand you correctly, you were saying that it was. I agree all down the line. The origin and biblical basis for death penalty began with the book of Gensis. I urged Mark Shea to have you on his show. If you cant produce such a reference then all your assertions are but speculations. He permitted humans to kill and eat animals, provided we respect the life were taking by draining out the creatures blood (9:4). toward proverb style p. 70 (referring to E. Gerstenberger and W. Richter). Genesis 9:5 Verse Concepts . Several of the pro-death penalty folks seem unable to grasp these basic distinctions of category. . . Capital Punishment. There are scriptural / exegetical, patristic, magisterial, moral theological, philosophical, law vs. grace, governmental, and dogmatic theological aspects to it: all distinct from each other, and each quite capable of generating necessarily very long discussions. . 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. . As for me: I didnt change all that much. Capital punishment is such a duty. To suggest, as Fastiggi does, that the passage is actuallycondemningcapital punishment, is simply perverse. 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. He investigated the crime, for Abels blood demanded a response. . Grounds for a Catholic being denied Holy Communion isa long ways indeed from what a Catholic ought to believe, as the highest ideal in the matter of whether we should put captive prisoners to death or not. believers from appealing to the Old Testament. 1). Most of the commands echo Gods commands to Adam to multiply and fill the earth. Update 2018-08-03: Pope Francis changes teachings to oppose death penalty in all cases. And justice, by Gods standards, includes punitive as well as rehabilitative measures. 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. Hampshire Baptist Confession. It is still God's law today, and forms the basic authorization of the institution of human government. . Privacy Policy and (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Africae Munus, November 2011), Photo credit:The Woman Taken in Adultery (1529), by Lorenzo Lotto (b. 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. Fastiggis public remarks has all the marks of an argument from justice, not an argument from prudence. Also discover the most profound evidence for creation on the planet. Are all these scholars out to sea without a clue? But in that case, you shouldnt have written this blog post. [and avenge] him for taking the life of a man. I can do a fair job in exegetical discussion. Furthermore, God restricted Noahs authority over the animals in one The Cross And Boasting (Galatians 6:12-15), 6. On page 103 they refer to the sanction in Genesis 9:6 of the death penalty for murder, which is presented as having application to the human race in general . Fear of the State and its power to execute equal, proportional justice is necessary in a fallen world. The death penalty is a barbaric relic of the past, according to our enlightened age. In re-establishing his kingdom after the flood, the divine sovereign made some concessions designed to head off the anarchic violence that wrecked the previous world: Genesis 9:6 emphasizes that the murderer shall have his blood shed "by man." The text is stating that other humans ("man") shall kill a murderer because God made "man" in His image. He offers the rainbow as a sign of this promise. The Old Testament writers, Moses and 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. Unfortunately in their book they manifest disagreement with the Magisteriums clearly taught principles that are meant to guide judgments regarding capital punishment. What is Gods kingdom? Moreover, it is applied to people whose capacity to cause harm is not current, but has already been neutralized, and who are deprived of their freedom.]. Human government is commissioned to be a minister of God to you for good. . Because of the sanctity of life, God ordains the ultimate punishment to protect it. 21:28. This is an excellent biblical web site, which deals with a lot of social issues. Even if the death penalty is not condemned as intrinsically evil, the application of it today can be condemned as cruel and unnecessary (St. John Paul II, 1999) and contrary to the Gospel (Pope Francis, 2017). Ive been reading both sides (but not absolutely everything, as I cover a lot of topics in my job as an apologist). Murder was condemned in the Ten Commandments "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20). Man is created in the image and likeness of God (Gn 1:26); the second account of creation expresses the same idea, saying that man, taken from the dust of the earth, carries in himself the divine breath of life. The traditional understanding of the reason for the great flood described in Genesis 6-9 is that man was being punished for his wickedness by being obliterated from the face of the earth. The sword is a symbol of capital punishment and, when wielded by the state, is an action authorized by God. The pope refers to persecution to the death in section 8: Yet this blessed land and its peoples have tragically experienced human upheavals. Copyright 2002-2022 Got Questions Ministries. God created man uniquely by breathing the breath of life directly into Adam and by making Adam and all mankind not pick and choose. I think, though, its acceptable for Catholics to argue that position. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Commentary on Genesis, Exodus, Matthew and select passages. Why are Christians pro-life when it comes to abortion while at the same time in favor of the death penalty and supportive of war. Human motives are never pure, especially where power is involved. 6 "Whoever jsheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; kFor in the image of God. The first instance of a law that has any semblance to the death penalty is found in Genesis 9:5-6. The following is taken from an article in the book, The Bible Has the Answer, by Henry Morris and Martin Clark, Creation Life Publishers. Their reason is clear: we live under the New Testament, not the Old Testament. This sanctity and protection of life are essential for a healthy society. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), PNG police shoot four protesting university students dead in Port Moresby, Parliament told, Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why Its Killing Us, fifty years since the death penalty has been used in Australia, Pope Francis changes teachings to oppose death penalty in all cases, Five inspirational angles on Christmas (Matthew2), Does the universe repay us as we deserve? Quite frankly, it doesnt pass the laugh test. You are correct that I do not believe Pope Francis has explicitly taught that capital punishment is always and intrinsically wrong. . In my article I made it clear that Pope Francis has not yet taught that the death penalty is intrinsically evil. Wasnt he tried and condemned and executed by the rulers of his land? In other words, God tolerated violence although his long-term goal was peace. Such constraint, which can take multiple and insidious forms on the personal and social, cultural, administrative and political levels, is contrary to Gods will. is not the equivalent of the apodictic law as such . . Terms of Service apply. An eye for an eye. The Lord orders Noah, The one who sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed Obviously, as suggested by the principles of justice as seen in the Old Testament, capital punishment should only be carried out after clear evidence and by a just court. 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). Even the thief on the cross who believed on Christ recognized the justness of his death sentence, And we indeed . How did he treat the murderer? . He was to die without mercy 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. The New Testament, of course, also confirms this. The Mosaic Covenant requires the death penalty for murder, He who strikes a man that he dies shall surely be put to death (Exodus 21:12; Genesis 9:5-6 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. It is inhumane. God specified that murder was to be punished by death because of the nature of man. 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. Numbers 35:33). . Then God said to Noah, The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth (Genesis 6:11-13). Old Testament. For unless you, He has also taught that it is per se contrary to the Gospel (Address of Oct. 11, 2017). 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. 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. Instead, he placed Cain under royal protection to prevent the community taking Cains life! Denial of the second follows from denial of the first, and the refusal to affirm the first and enter into legitimate debate on the second is telling of what his position is. 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. 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. Has Lutheranism Avoided Denominationalism? It does matter if teaching was definitive, magisterial, infallible or not. Capital Punishment and the Bible. He has, though, stated that it is against the Gospel. Gen3:18) even today. Im sure it will help. 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. Yet, God the Son remained quiet. The justification for capital punishment established here is the nobility of human life, which is in the image of God. . 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. . I was already against capital punishment except for mass murderers and terrorists. 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. Not that it mustbe done (pace the strawman of Hart). Doesthis preclude the death penalty? 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]. 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. 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 ). Fastiggi tries to downplay the significance of this 2004 statement, but he has no good grounds for doing so. Throughout the history of the church, theologians who have supported capital punishment have turned to this passage for support. You're almost done! The word avenged implies capital punishment. How many deaths have there been, how many lives ravaged by human blindness, how many occasions of fear and humiliation! No one was subjected to more injustice than Jesus Christ in His trial and crucifixion. Capital punishment is based on the Genesis account of creation. Then God gives a command to Noah not given to Adam: a prohibition against murder. My own hunch is that the Church would not do so in the first place. Capital punishment is the judicial taking of guilty human life. Gen4:15-16; 9:5-6;Ex20:13). Fastiggi comments that Benedict thereby cites Genesis 9:6 as evidence that Godforbidsthe killing of even those who commit murder.. offender is an absolute necessity are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.. What Fastiggi and I have been debating at, If you dont have time or interest in doing so, fine. Since human souls bear the image of God, human life is sacred. 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. Either one can be held. 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. . This is an apodictic statement of divine right which does not permit exceptions: human life is untouchable because it is divine property. Moreover, the command charges mankind with the task of executing the murdererby man the murderer is to be put to death. 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, 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. For their part, Muslims share with Christians the conviction that no constraint in religious matters, much less the use of force, is permitted. I dont think it can be so easily dismissed. If he did write something to that effect, it had to be using a synonym of intrinsic because I searched that word in his articles and I found what you see above. Learn how you can be the influence our kids need by supporting the ministry today. 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. sanctions the execution of murderers precisely in the name of the victims dignity as a creature made in Gods image (p. 10; italics in original, as throughout this paragraph). It is even possible that, in opposing government, you may be resisting something God set in place to limit violence. Jesus also demonstrated grace when capital punishment was due ( John 8:1-11 ). . And on page 189: . and protecting of life, is a sure barometer of the healthor impending deathof a society. Why does murder deserve capital punishment? . Topics. So human government is a necessity, and yet it is nothing like divine government (the kingdom of God). those who commit murder. And God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. While various methods of death were used, the sword, mentioned in Romans 13:4, stood for the power of life or death. Genesis 9:6. In order to make prudential judgments there must be principles that guide these judgments. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Romans 13:4 shows that the coming of Christ does not abolish capital punishment, but the responsibility is given to government, not individuals. . The Church, after further development, could in the future possibly proclaim one or the other as infallible teaching. This is what brings about, with all due respect, an implausible interpretation, since Pope Benedict would be providing three biblical passages in support of God forbidding all killing, whose meaning are 1) dont kill, 2) kill [capital punishment], and 3) dont kill. Cardinal Ratzinger says that being at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment is not sufficient to be denied Holy Communion. The conclusion of the first half of the book is Capital punishment is morally licit, that is that it maybe done without sin. It includes the freedom to choose the religion which one judges to be true and to manifest ones beliefs in public. Any impartial observer would take his position to be that the death penalty is intrinsically immoral, given the form and structure of his argumentation and exactly what in Fesers arguments he is objecting to. The compatibility of Genesis 9:6 and Exodus 20:13 is always found in the context of verses that seem to suggest they are incompatible. 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). But God didn't call capital punishment murder; He didn't call it obscene; He didn't call it uncivilized. I didnt answer that particular one (too long and involved). Next, God makes a unilateral covenant with humanity and animals never to end all life with a flood again. Its arguably a climactic conclusion of the entire paragraph. For unless you arewilling to address what both sides have said, you really have no business claiming that the critics are right and Joe Bessette and I are wrong. The context of Genesis 9:6 reveals its abiding authority. We know that Pope Benedict XVI was opposed to the death penalty, just as his predecessor was: I express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order. . The Bible says that capital punishment was first instituted by God Himself in Genesis 9:6: "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.". . Any other punishment reduces the heinousness of murder, thereby endangering society by lessening its stigma. 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). . The application of Genesis 9:6 has consequences for all the descendants of Adam and Noah. He provided enough food for thought for me to be totally against it, for various reasons: some of which I discussed on my Facebook page today. Since God values human life, He ordained it to be protected through capital punishment (9:5-6). Genesis 9:5: Human Government & Capital Punishment. . (Genesis 4:8) had become endemicall flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth . Worthiness to receive Holy Communion is certainly astopically distant from capital punishment (if not more so) as The Church in the Middle East. The problem of interpretation comes from asking the question: which human life is untouchable? Is the life of the murderer also untouchable? 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. Though Genesis 9:6 may seem inconsistent or contradictory to the sanctity of life, it in fact demonstrates the sacredness of life. If any one slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who came upon him should kill him. In particular, society was given over to violence and murder, And the land became corrupted before God, and the earth was filled with violence replete with Scripture proofs from the Old Testament, as is the New Whoso sheddeth man's blood Whether upon a sudden provocation, or premeditated, (for rash anger is heart-murder, as well as malice prepense, Matthew 5:21-22 ,) by man shall his blood be shed That is, by the magistrate, or whoever is appointed to be the avenger of blood. It is a universal principle, not part of the Mosaic legislation. That wouldnt be a contradiction, because neither is required and binding now. Genesis 9:6: Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in . 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. 2 at ang takot sa inyo at sindak sa inyo ay mapapasa bawa't hayop sa lupa, at sa bawa't ibon sa himpapawid; lahat ng umuusad sa lupa, at lahat ng isda sa dagat, ay ibinibigay sa inyong kamay. The contradiction would only be if x was also magisterial. Murder polluted and defiled the land, and only the death of the murderer could expiate or rectify the polluted land (Numbers 35:3334). But if one is eventually proclaimed as infallible and binding, then the other could not be held by a Catholic. ). My participation, accordingly, will be necessarily limited and confined to very specific particulars. 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. One of these guys (anonymous) wrote about you: Also, I have to call out the notion that the dispute is a matter of prudence. . 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). Whether he will or should in the future is another matter. Gods commands to Adam came in the context of a sinless world; the commands came to Noah in the context of a sinful world. 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). 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