NOTICE:
I
will post a quote or article from a Christian in favor of capital punishment
every fortnight. The following article is written by the author itself and not
by me, I am not trying to violate their copyright. I will give some information
on them.
PAGE TITLE:
ARTICLE TITLE: "John 8 is a Condemnation of
Capital Punishment!"
DATE: N.A
AUTHOR: Kerby
Anderson
AUTHOR
INFORMATION: Kerby
Anderson is president of Probe
Ministries International. He holds masters degrees from Yale University
(science) and from Georgetown University (government). He is the author of
several books, including Christian Ethics in Plain Language, Genetic
Engineering, Origin Science, Signs of Warning, Signs of Hope
and Making the Most of Your Money in Tough Times. His new series with
Harvest House Publishers includes: A Biblical Point of View on Islam, A
Biblical Point of View on Homosexuality, A Biblical Point of View on
Intelligent Design and A Biblical Point of View on Spiritual Warfare.
He is the host of "Point of View" (USA Radio Network) heard on 290
radio outlets nationwide as well as on the Internet (www.pointofview.net) and shortwave. He is
also a regular guest on "Prime Time America" (Moody Broadcasting
Network) and "Fire Away" (American Family Radio). He produces a daily
syndicated radio commentary and writes editorials that have appeared in papers
such as the Dallas Morning News, the Miami Herald, the San
Jose Mercury, and the Houston Post.
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Kerby
Anderson
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In your
commentary on capital punishment you completely miss the point of John
8:1-11. This passage is a condemnation of capital punishment and the hypocrisy
that is inherent in it. You say, "Since He did teach that a stone be
thrown (John 8:7), this is not an abolition of the death penalty." Jesus
knew that none of them were without sin, just as none of us are without sin.
Jesus knew that his answer would lead to no stones being thrown, just as he
intends for us (today) to not throw stones. An example of "throwing
stones" today, is sitting on a jury and sentencing someone to death (since
we don't stone criminals today). You seem to think this passage is in the Bible
simply to illustrate Jesus' craftiness at conflict avoidance.
Thank you for writing about my radio program on
capital punishment. Although I taped that radio program back in 1992, it amazes
me that I still receive e-mails about the transcript posted on the Probe
website.
I believe this is the first time I have received a
response to my passing comment on John 8. When you are doing a radio program
with a set time limit, words are at a premium. So I welcome the opportunity to
elaborate on my very short comment in the midst of a week of radio programs
devoted to the issue of capital punishment.
First, I should point out that this passage in John
8 is a disputed text. There are very few disputed texts in the New Testament.
This is one of them. The passage is not found in any of the important Greek
texts. So I think it would be fair to say that most Bible scholars do not
believe it was in the original.
Whether you believe it was or was not in the
original, I think you would have to admit that it is a disputed text. And a
basic principle of biblical exegesis is to never build a doctrine on a disputed
text. In other words, I wouldn't use this passage in John 8 to argue for or
against capital punishment.
Second, I only mentioned the passage in passing
because there are a number of opponents of capital punishment who have tried to
use this biblical passage to argue against capital punishment. It does not. In
fact, you can make the point (as I did) that it argues just the opposite.
Third, I am not the first person to point out that
Jesus did not set aside capital punishment in this passage since "He did
teach that a stone be thrown." In one of his early books on ethics, Dr.
Charles Ryrie makes a similar point. He argued that since Jesus said a stone
should be thrown, he was not forbidding the Old Testament practice of capital
punishment. Dr. Ryrie is the author of the Ryrie Study Bible and former
professor of theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. I think it is safe to say
that Dr. Ryrie knows more about New Testament theology and exegesis than both
of us combined.
Finally, the Pharisees were indeed trying to trap
Jesus between the Roman law and the Mosaic law. If Jesus said that they should
stone her, He would break the Roman law. If He refused to allow them to stone
her, He would break the Mosaic law. I don't believe that the passage is (to use
your words) about "Jesus' craftiness at conflict avoidance." But I do
believe it shows His response to a deliberate trap set by His enemies.
This passage does not forbid capital punishment,
despite what some opponents might try to make it say. Since it is a disputed
passage in the Bible, I would not base a doctrine on it anyway. But even if you
accept its authenticity, the passage doesn't teach what you say it does.
Kerby
Anderson
Probe Ministries
Probe Ministries
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