Kuyper's Common Grace #CG1.1 Chapter 10

10 Further Objections to Capital Punishment

Many do not agree that Genesis 9:6 instigates a “juridicial institution” for the “putting to death of a murderer”. (89) Some because they do not think this because they do not believe the words were to be taken in a literal sense.

Others object that it was what God ordained but it no longer applies today. Kuyper respond to this by asking “where does it say that this divine ordinance is abolished?“ (90); by noting that it was a command given to Noah and his children - we are all children of Noah. “It is not a national but a universal-human ordinance…” (90); and that it belongs to the Noahic covenant that is still binding today. He then adds that Romans 13:4 adds more justification to it continuing, government is to wield the sword.

There are some "anaemic" arguments agains capital punishment:

• It eliminates the possibility of the murderer converting
• An innocent person my be executed
• Execution debases people

For a Reformed person the first objection is absurd: salvation is the work of God alone. For the second reason, should we then abolish every action of government that may injure someone? “ [M]istakes are simply the disastrous consequence of the limitation and sinfulness of civil servants, and also of judges in cases of judicial mistakes.” (94) Regarding the third objection he writes:

“People sensed that it was God’s justice that was being executed, and there was no trace of de- basement or excess to be found. We need say no more about this.” (95)

On capital punishment as a deterrent he asserts:

“It is impossible to show by means of numbers whether capital punishment is a deterrent against murder and whether abolishing capital punishment causes the number of murder cases to increase.” (95)