In Genesis 9 God instituted the practice of punitive civil justice in the form of capital punishment for those guilty of murder.
The New Testament teaches that the government has the authority to “bear the sword,” a reference to capital punishment; it is “a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.”
In line with the teaching of scripture, the details of which there is not room here to flesh out, capital punishment should be practiced by the government for the crime of murder.
This teaching is not in conflict with those places in scripture that forbid personal retribution and vengeance. Vengeance is given to the state to execute, not to us personally.
The New Testament teaches that the government has the authority to “bear the sword,” a reference to capital punishment; it is “a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.”
In line with the teaching of scripture, the details of which there is not room here to flesh out, capital punishment should be practiced by the government for the crime of murder.
This teaching is not in conflict with those places in scripture that forbid personal retribution and vengeance. Vengeance is given to the state to execute, not to us personally.
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