Punishment
Punishment [EBD]
The New Testament lays down the general principles of good government, but contains no code of laws for the punishment of offenders. Punishment proceeds on the principle that there is an eternal distinction between right and wrong, and that this distinction must be maintained for its own sake. It is not primarily intended for the reformation of criminals, nor for the purpose of deterring others from sin. These results may be gained, but crime in itself demands punishment. (See Endless, of the impenitent and unbelieving. The rejection of this doctrine "cuts the ground from under the gospel...blots out the attribute of retributive justice; transmutes sin into misfortune instead of guilt; turns all suffering into chastisement; converts the piacular work of Christ into moral influence...The attempt to retain the evangelical theology in connection with it is futile" (Shedd).
Punishment [NAVE]
PUNISHMENT.Death Penalty
Shall not be remitted, Num. 35:31.
In the Mosaic law the death penalty was inflicted for murder, Gen. 9:5, 6; Num. 35:16-21, 30-33; Deut. 17:6; adultery, Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:24; incest, Lev. 20:11, 12, 14; bestiality, Ex. 22:19; Lev. 20:15, 16; sodomy, Lev. 18:22; 20:13; incontinence, Deut. 22:21-24; rape of a betrothed virgin, Deut. 22:25; perjury, Zech. 5:4; kidnapping, Ex. 21:16; Deut. 24:7; upon a priest's daughter, who committed fornication, Lev. 21:9; for witchcraft, Ex. 22:18; offering human sacrifice, Lev. 20:2-5; for striking or cursing father or mother, Ex. 21:15, 17; Lev. 20:9; disobedience to parents, Deut. 21:18-21; theft, Zech. 5:3, 4; blasphemy, Lev. 24:11-14, 16, 23; for Sabbath desecration, Ex. 35:2; Num. 15:32-36; for prophesying falsely, or propagating false doctrines, Deut. 13:1-10; sacrificing to false gods, Ex. 22:20; refusing to abide by the decision of court, Deut. 17:12; for treason, 1 Kin. 2:25; Esth. 2:23; sedition, Acts 5:36, 37.
Modes of Execution of Death Penalty:
Burning, Gen. 38:24; Lev. 20:14; 21:9; Jer. 29:22; Ezek. 23:25; Dan. 3:19-23; stoning, Lev. 20:2, 27; 24:14; Num. 14:10; 15:33-36; Deut. 13:10; 17:5; 22:21, 24; Josh. 7:25; 1 Kin. 21:10; Ezek. 16:40; hanging, Gen. 40:22; Deut. 21:22, 23; Josh. 8:29; beheading, Matt. 14:10; Mark 6:16, 27, 28; crucifixion, Matt. 27:35, 38; Mark 15:24, 27; Luke 23:33; the sword, Ex. 32:27, 28; 1 Kin. 2:25, 34, 46; Acts 12:2.
Executed by the witnesses, Deut. 13:9; 17:7; Acts 7:58; by the congregation, Num. 15:35, 36; Deut. 13:9.
Not inflicted on testimony of less than two witnesses, Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15.
Minor Offenses
Punishable by scourging, Lev. 19:20; Deut. 22:18; 25:2, 3; Prov. 17:10; 19:29; 20:30; Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:16; John 19:1; Acts 22:24, 29; imprisonment, Gen. 39:20; 40; See: Prison.
Confinement within limits, 1 Kin. 2:26, 36-38.
Entailed
On children, Ex. 34:7; Jer. 31:29; Lam. 5:7; Ezek. 18:2, 3.
See: Affliction, Design of; Beating; Chastisement; Fine; Judgments; Retaliation; Wicked, Punishment of.
According to Deeds
Job 34:11; Psa. 62:12; Prov. 12:14; Prov. 24:12; Isa. 59:18; Jer. 17:10; Ezek. 7:3, 27; Ezek. 16:59; Ezek. 39:24; Zech. 1:6; Matt. 5:22; Matt. 16:27; Matt. 23:14 Luke 20:47. Luke 12:47, 48 See Parable of vineyard, Isa. 5:1-7; tenant farmer, Matt. 21:33-41; of the talents, Matt. 25:14-30.
See: Judgment, According to Opportunity and works.
Delayed
Psa. 50:21; Psa. 55:19; Prov. 1:24-31; Eccl. 8:11-13; Hab. 1:2-4
Design of
To Secure Obedience: Gen. 2:17; Ex. 20:3-5; Lev. 26:14-39; Deut. 13:10, 11; Deut. 21:21 Deut. 17:13; 19:20. Prov. 19:25; Prov. 21:11; Prov. 26:3 See: Judgments, Design of.
Divine
No Escape from: Job 11:20; Prov. 1:24-31; Prov. 11:21; Prov. 16:5; Prov. 29:1; Jer. 11:11; Jer. 15:1; Jer. 25:28, 29; Amos 2:14-16; Zeph. 1:18 Ezek. 7:19. Matt. 10:28; Matt. 23:33; Rom. 2:3; Col. 3:25; Heb. 2:3; Heb. 12:25
Eternal
Isa. 34:8-10; Dan. 12:2; Matt. 3:12; Matt. 10:28; Matt. 18:8; Matt. 25:41, 46; Mark 3:29; Luke 3:17; John 5:29; Heb. 6:2; Heb. 10:28-31; Rev. 14:10, 11; Rev. 19:3; Rev. 20:10 See: Wicked, Punishment of.
