Should Christians support capital punishment—and in particular, stoning? Doesn’t the Bible legislate stoning for adultery and other crimes?
Numbers 15:36; Joshua 7:25; 1 Samuel 30:6; 1 Kings 12:18 (2 Chron 10:18); 21:13; 2 Chron 24:21; Matthew 21:35; John 8:59; 10:31; Acts 5:26; 7:58; Acts 14:19 (= 2 Corinthians 11:25); Hebrews 11:37—these are the passage I find on stoning. Legal stoning was carried out in the Old Testament for a Sabbath breaker, as well as for a blasphemer. These infractions posed a great danger for the people of God. How were they to retain their distinctiveness as God’s holy people if they lowered themselves to the “standards” of the world.
However, stoning was not stipulated for adultery. This was a capital crime (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22-24), yet the method of execution was not specified, even though we see that by the time of Jesus stoning may have been practiced (John 7:53-8:11).
However, we should keep in mind that governance and law enforcement were features of the Old Covenant, at the time the people of God constituted a political nation (from roughly 1290 BC until the Cross). In the new covenant, although we’re still subject to governments and laws, the New Testament does not offer any such system. We neither stone nor support stoning.
Further, sin can be forgiven! I've always found this passage especially uplifting:
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor 6:9-11).
For more, see my talk (with notes) on Capital Punishment. (For some listeners, this material may be surprising.)
