Should Murder (including Abortion) be Punished by Death? (Joe Morecraft)

Bullinger Defends Calvin on the Execution of Servetus

Henry Bullinger, in defense of a work of John Calvin on punishing heretics, wrote to him the following words of encouragement—including agreement with Calvin's support for the execution of Servetus, who was guilty of vile blasphemies:

I know that many have wished that you had not defended this principle; but many also thank you, and among others our church. Urbanus Regius has long ago proved, in a work of his own, and all the ministers of Luneberg agree with him, that heretics, when they are blasphemers, ought to be punished. There are also many other pious men who think the same, and consider that such offenders ought not only to be silenced, but to be put to death. Do not repent therefore of what you have done: the Lord will uphold your righteous efforts. I know that your disposition is not cruel, and that you will favour no barbarity. Who knows not, that a boundary must be set to things of this kind? But how it could be possible to spare such a man as Servetus, that serpent of all heresies, that most obdurate of men, I see not.[1]

[1] Cited in Paul Henry, The Life and Times of John Calvin, the Great Reformer: Volume II, trans. Henry Stebbing (London: Whittaker and Co., 1849), 234.


    
    

Henry Bullinger on Magisterial Discretion when Restraining Heretics

originally posted at Reformed Covenanter

But in the execution of this punishment there must a great consideration be had and observed; first, of the persons; then, of the errors; and, lastly, of the penalties.  For in persons there is great diversity: because there are some standard-bearers, and heady grand captains, which are stout, hypocrites, and full of tongue, and therefore the aptest for to seduce; who, falling headlong without amendment to their own destruction, do with themselves draw other[s] into danger.  They must by all means be bridled and kept under, as plagues to the church; lest, like a canker, they spread all over.  Again, there are some silly seduced souls, made fools by other men, which err not of malice nor stubborn stomach, but do repent and amend in time.  These the magistrate must not straightway condemn, but pray to the Lord, and bear with their error, and teach them in the spirit of gentleness, until they be brought to a better mind.

Moreover, in erroneous doctrines some are more intolerable than other some are.  Some there be so wicked and blasphemous, that they are unworthy to be heard, much less to be done.  Some there are which do directly and openly tend to the overthrow of the commonweal, unless they be in time appeased and resisted.  But those crimes that are brought in and accused, ought first to be by the scripture and manifest truth convinced to be such as they are said to be.  When the truth is known, and manifest proofs of scripture alleged, then is it lawful most sharply to punish those blasphemers of God and overthrowers of the church and commonweal.  But a light and easier penalty must be set on the heads of them whose offence consisteth in light and smaller errors: for some do err so, that by their error God is not blasphemed, the church not subverted, nor the commonweal in any danger at all.  Where, by the way, every one must think of that saying of the apostle: “Bear ye one another’s burden.”  And again: “The weak in faith received ye, not to the doubtfulness of questions.”

Furthermore, in punishment and penalties there is great difference.  They that err stubbornly, and do their endeavour to draw in and keep other men in their errors, blasphemers, troublers, and subverters of churches, may by law be put to death.  But it followeth not thereupon, that every one which erreth must therefore by and by suffer loss of his life. [...] And Josue, before he made open war to be proclaimed upon the children of Reuben, did first by embassage command them to dig down the altar, which they seemed to have made contrary to the law of the Lord.  The emperor Justinian also granted pardon to them which repented, and turned to a sounder opinion, Constitut. 109.  Moreover, Josias did not utterly kill all them that were wrapped in error and idolatry, but those especially that were incurable, and would not recant.  The magistrate therefore must wisely moderate the matter, and be very circumspect in punishing offenders.

Henry Bullinger, Fifty godly and learned sermons divided into the five decades containing the chief and principal points of Christian religion, ed. Thomas Harding (1849-52 Parker edn; 4 vols, Grand Rapids, 2004), i, 360-2.

     

Matthew Henry on the Death Penalty for Cursing One's Parents

On Jesus' upholding of the capital sanction for cursing one's parents in Matthew 15:4, which reads, "For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death" (see verses below this quotation for broader context), Reformed commentator Matthew Henry writes:

Matthew Henry

"[1.] Let us see what the command of God is (v. 4), what the precept, and what the sanction of the law is.

The precept is, Honour thy father and thy mother; this is enjoined by the common Father of mankind, and by paying respect to them whom Providence has made the instruments of our being, we give honour to him who is the Author of it, who has thereby, as to us, put some of his image upon them. The whole of children's duty to their parents is included in this of honouring them, which is the spring and foundation of all the rest, If I be a father, where is my honour? Our Saviour here supposes it to mean the duty of children's maintaining their parents, and ministering to their wants, if there be occasion, and being every way serviceable to their comfort. Honour widows, that is, maintain them, 1 Tim. v. 3.

"The sanction of this law in the fifth commandment, is, a promise, that thy days may be long; but our Saviour waives that, lest any should thence infer it to be only a thing commendable and profitable, and insists upon the penalty annexed to the breach of this commandment in another scripture, which denotes the duty to be highly and indispensably necessary; He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death: this law we have, Exod. xxi. 17. The sin of cursing parents is here opposed to the duty of honouring them. Those who speak ill of their parents, or wish ill to them, who mock at them, or give them taunting and opprobrious language, break this law. If to call a brother Raca be so penal, what is it to call a father so? By our Saviour's application of this law, it appears, that denying service or relief to parents is included in cursing them. Though the language be respectful enough, and nothing abusive in it, yet what will that avail, if the deeds be not agreeable? it is but like him that said, I go, Sir, and went not, ch. xxi. 30."
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible: Volume Five, Matthew Chapter 15

Matthew 15:1-9 (KJV):

¹Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

 ²Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
 ³But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
 ⁴For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
 ⁵But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
 ⁶And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
 ⁷Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
 ⁸This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
 ⁹But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Is the Death Penalty Hypocritical? (Vincent Cheung)

This hypothetical conversation between Vincent Cheung and a non-Christian shows the inconsistency of those who support the prison system and yet consider Christians who support the death penalty to be hypocrites.

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"Religion, Values, and Capital Punishment" (Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.)

Excerpt:

"In Acts 25:11 Paul even offers himself for capital punishment, if it can be proved that he deserves it. In Hebrews 2:2 the writer gives a New Covenant evaluation of the criminal sanctions of the Old Testament: they represent a "just reward." This also should be expected in that the law is "holy, just, and good" (Rom. 7:12). Consequently, Paul defines the civil magistrate as the "minister of God" who has the God-given right to wield the sword of execution (Rom. 13:4) as a temporal indicator of the wrath of God (Rom. 12:19-13:4)."

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"Random Thoughts on Capital Punishment" (by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.)

Excerpt:

"Paul offered himself up for capital punishment, if his accusers could demonstrate just cause in his case. Had Paul deemed capital punishment evil, he would not have urged its consideration. Acts 25:1: 'If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.'" 

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Capital Punishment and Adultery (audio)

Capital Punishment and Dishonoring Parents (writings)

1. "Digest of Biblical Civil Law: Parental Dishonor" (Mike Warren)

2. "Schaeffer Wrong About God Authorizing Fathers to Execute Stubborn and Rebellious Sons" (John Lofton)

3. "Stoning Disobedient Children?" (William Einwechter)

Capital Punishment and Sodomy (videos)

(Disclaimer: Although American Vision itself doesn't promote the dangerous Federal Vision heresy, it does promote the works of some influential Federal Vision proponents, such as Douglas Wilson and James Jordan. Whether or not any of their particular works sold by American Vision promote Federal Vision theology, Wilson and Jordan are extremely dangerous, and American Vision should warn about them [see Romans 16:17-18].)
   

Capital Punishment and Rape (writings)

1. Digest of Biblical Civil Law: Rape (Mike Warren)

2. What Penalty for Child Molesting and Rape? (Francis Nigel Lee)
[Disclaimer: we reject Nigel Lee's somewhat kinist leanings]

3. Pre-Marital Sexual Relations: What is the Moral Obligation When Repeated Incidents are Confessed? (Greg L. Bahnsen)
[Disclaimer: Covenant Media promotes the Federal Vision heresy, although Bahnsen himself would have rejected it]