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1. Concept Obedience is a central but much debated concept in the Christian tradition. At the heart of the tradition is the idea that life should be lived in obedience to God’s will as expressed in God’s Word (Word of God). As the divine Word is always mediated or embodied in creaturely forms, however, discussion about obedience to God necessarily involves decisions about where and to what extent the ways, purposes, and commands of God may be discerned in creaturely and fallen reality. Thus, while…

1. Legal Aspects 1.1. Sanctions Legally, punishment is meant to right a wrong by inflicting something painful that brings to light public ¶ disapproval of the misconduct. Punishments are legal sanctions that are imposed by the courts when guilt is proved. They may take different forms: imprisonment, fines, or a prohibition of travel. They may also include measures to guard against any further acts when a person is indicted for what is against the law but does not merit imprisonment (e.g., consignment to a psychiatric …

Many peoples and civilizations have had punishments involving the death penalty. They usually leave it to a judicial court made up of competent persons who judge publicly according to fair and well-regulated procedures. 1. Biblical Data Whereas the OT bears witness to the death penalty as an accepted judicial institution, there is little mention of it in the NT. 1.1. Gen. 4:10b–14 tells the relatives of a murdered person to avenge the blood of the dead, which cries out to God for vengeance. They can evade this duty if the slayer flees, but only if the kil…