Argumentative Essay On The Death Penalty

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The Holy Bible speaks about the death penalty in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament the death penalty is certain and instantly applied whenever one commits a crime. This began to change in the New Testament, as crimes could be defined as against the law or worthy of death (Holy Bible: NT), and as Jesus Christ began to minister to all people. There are places in the New Testament that suggest that if people break the law they deserve to be put to death, but in other places God speaks of mercy for those who are innocent or have committed a lesser offenses. Also, there are verses that speak against vengeance and instead promotes the persecuted to allow the Lord, who is a superior power, to avenge them (Holy Bible: NT). Therefore the New Testament speaks of fair institution of the death penalty in which, people who have done crimes worthy of death are dealt …show more content…

In today’s criminal justice system many inmates who are placed on death row or executed are found innocent because of new evidence or mishaps within the court system. Most inmates on found innocent death row can take legal measures to change their sentences. But when innocent inmates have already been executed, it is already too late for any changes to be made. When the death penalty is disproportionate to the crime committed, the court system can show mercy and take measures to give the offender a lesser sentence. An example of this in the New Testament is in the Book of John Chapter eight verses three through eleven. In this story a woman was about to be stoned by a group of Jews for committing adultery (Holy Bible: NT). But Jesus Christ stated “All right but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone! (Holy Bible: NT)” The people knew they were sinners so they went away, and Jesus forgave her (Holy Bible:

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