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Life's beginning and Scripture Democratic Petition : Recourse of the citizen The Gospel & Family Life Luther on the Capital Punishment of the Cross Psalm 127: Children as God's gift : Luther comments Introduction to Reformed Doctrine Appendix A Luther & Calvin on man & God's image Appendix B : Luther on Psalm 51 : Souls, Conception & Original Sin Appendix C : Luther on "Thou shalt not kill"
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Q: The Scriptures: Do they deal with abortion* (by implication) and infanticide? Do they demand the death penalty for abortion? A : Yes to both questions! *Please Note : abortion here is defined as the disposal or destruction of viable human zygotes / embryos [& more developed stages of human life]; or their modification such that their humanity is defaced. Exodus 21.22-25 "If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow : he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him ; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23. And if any mischief follow then thou shalt give life for life 24. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand...." Authorized version 1611
John Calvin's comments on these verses " This passage at first sight is ambiguous, for if the word death (translated mischief in AV) only applies to the pregnant woman, it would not have been a capital crime to put an end to the foetus, which would be a great absurdity ; for the foetus, though enclosed in the womb of its mother, is already a human being, (homo) and it is a most monstrous crime to rob it of the life which it has not yet begun to enjoy. If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field, because a man's house is his place of most secure refuge, it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a foetus in the womb before it has come to light. On these grounds I am led to conclude, without hesitation, that the words, "if death should follow," must be applied to the foetus as well as to the mother. Besides, it would be by no means reasonable that a father should sell for a sum the life of his son or daughter. Wherefore this, in my opinion, is the meaning of the law, that it would be a crime punishable by death, not only when the mother died from the effects of the abortion, but also if the infant should be killed ; whether it should die from the wound abortively, or soon after its birth....."
Amos 1.13 "Thus saith the Lord ; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof ; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border". Authorized Version 1611
John Calvin's Comments on this verse He therefore says of the children of Ammon, that they rent the pregnant women...........Now since erut (Hebrew) means women with child, the word, I doubt not, is to be taken in its genuine and usual sense, as we see it to be done in Hosea. But why does the Prophet say, that the Ammonites had rent pregnant women? It is to show that their cupidity was so frantic, that they abstained not from not any kind of cruelty. It is possible that one be so avaricious as to seek to devour up the whole earth, and yet be inclined to clemency. Alexander the Macedonian, though a bloody man, did yet show some measure of kindness : but there have been others much more cruel ; as the Persians, of whom Isaiah speaks, who desired not money, but shed blood, (Isa. xiii. 17. &c.) So the prophet says here of the Ammonites, that they not only, by unlawful means, extended their borders, used violence, and became robbers who spoiled others of their property, but also that they did not even spare the women with child. Now this is the worst thing in the storming of towns. When a town has wearied out an enemy, both pregnant women, and children, and infants may, through fury, be destroyed : but this is a rare thing, and never allowed, except under peculiar circumstances. He then reproaches the Ammonites, not only for their cupidity, but also for having committed every kind of cruelty to satisfy their greediness: they have then torn asunder women with child, that they might extend their borders.
Psalm 106 v 37-38 "Yea, they sacrificed their sons and daughters unto devils 38. And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons daughters whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan : and the land was polluted with blood". Authorized Version 1611
John Calvin's comments on these verses The prophet here mentions one species of superstition of the people ; their not hesitating to sacrifice their sons and daughters to devils. In applying such an abominable designation to the sin of the people, he means to exhibit it in more hateful colours. From this we learn that inconsiderate zeal is a flimsy pretext in favour of any act of devotion. For by how much the Jews were under the influence of burning zeal, by so much does the prophet convict them with being guilty of greater wickedness ; because their madness carried them away to such a pitch of enthusiasm, that they did not spare even their own offspring.....For what difference was there between Abraham and those persons of whom the prophet makes mention, but that the former, under the influence of faith (see Genesis 22 & Hebrews 11 : 17-19), was ready to offer up his son, while the latter, carried away by the impulse of intemperate zeal, cast off all natural affection, and imbrued their hands in the blood of their own offspring....... Should anyone object that Abraham is praised, because he did not withhold his own son, the answer is plain, that he did it in obedience to God's command, so that every vestige of inhumanity was effaced by means of the purity of faith........... The Israelites then were doubly wicked, who, by not only defiling the land with idolatry, but also by cruelly butchering their children, robbed God of his due, and in a manner frustrated His designs.
Q : Many would say that abortion is a regrettable necessity. Health professionals must provide the service to prevent dangerous "back yard" abortions. A : Although it is shocking to realise, it must be said that those mothers who have died through the use of "back yard" abortions have suffered the "terminal, self inflicted consequences" that might naturally be expected as the result of the heinous act of "taking of the life of one's own infant". Q : Threat of overpopulation is often presented as reason enough for easy access to abortion. How can this be answered? A : Starvation is usually the result of war, disease, crop failure and the unequal distribution of wealth. Such causes are highly active in populations of "normal density". Furthermore, the Western world is suffering an ageing crisis - so such arguments are hard to use. In the end, mankind must attempt to live according to his Creator's revealed will - which does not include abortion on demand. Only then can we expect blessing - as it pleases the Creator.
Q : What are the alternatives to abortion? A : Adoption or as a last resort, the orphanage.
Q : Are rape or severe deformity acceptable reasons for abortion? A : Not according to God's revealed will. In these cases, If needed, the baby can be immediately taken from the mother (and adopted) at birth.
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