Commandment 6

Question 1

What is the specific wording of the sixth commandment?

Answer 1

You shall not murder: no premeditated taking of human life in cold blood.

Question 2

In Matthew 5:21-23 what does Jesus do with the sixth commandment (restrict it, leave it alone, or expand it?) and how does he do that?

Answer 2

Jesus clarifies that even having hateful thoughts of your brother is committing murder.

Question 3

Identify and describe murder, manslaughter, and accidental killing.

Answer 3

murder: intentional ending of a human life with malice and forethought.
manslaughter: killing without premeditation but with rashness and anger.
accidental: Deut 19 - axe head.

Question 4

Why are we not to murder?

Answer 4

Because humans are made in the image of God.

Question 5

What does it mean to be made in God’s image? (the two R’s)

Answer 5

• humans reflect God’s characteristics

- humans represent God on earth

Question 6

What happens in Genesis 4 with Cain and Abel and Lamech?

Answer 6

Cain-kills Abel because he received more attention from God
-the way God reacts with Cain
Lamech-commits a murder and God says, “If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech is avenged seventy-seven fold.”

Question 7

What conclusions can we draw from both the Cain and Lamech incidents?

Answer 7

• humanity has displayed arrogance that has led to both physical and spiritual death
• Lamech places himself above God

Question 8

What are the main points from the Noahic covenant?

Answer 8

• humans are still the centerpiece of God’s creation
• humans are still sinful
• life is a good thing and should be protected
• murderers automatically forget their right to live
• an attack on human life is an attack on God

Question 9

Where do we find the Lex Talionis in the Bible?

Answer 9

Exodus 21:23-24 and Matthew 5

Question 10

The Lex Talionis is the Law of the blank or the Law of blank.

Answer 10

The Law of the Taloh or the Law of Retaliation

Question 11

What is the intention of the Lex Talionis?

Answer 11

To encourage justice, not revenge.

Question 12

What is God’s concern in his Law?

Answer 12

That the punishment must fit the crime.

Question 13

Define capital punishment.

Answer 13

A legal process in which a person is put to death by the state as punishment for a crime.

Question 14

What two principles does God want upheld with capital punishment?

Answer 14

• the dignity of the individual

- the justice of a functioning society

Question 15

What’s the primary method of the death penalty?

Answer 15

Lethal injection.

Question 16

Identify offenses in Scripture that merited the death penalty.

Answer 16

Genesis 9:6-for murder

Exodus 21:16-for kidnapping

Question 17

What do Romans 5:8 and 6:23 show us?

Answer 17

Romans 6:23 - we deserve God’s death penalty for our sins

Romans 5:8 - His love for us by NOT condemning us but rather redeeming us in Christ.

Question 18

Provide arguments FOR and AGAINST the death penalty.

Answer 18

FOR:

• justice is better served
• provides closure for victim’s families
• more serious deterrent against violent crime
• DNA testing and modern forensic science can eliminate almost all uncertainty
• there are private, efficient methods of capital punishment

AGAINST:

• it is barbaric, cruel, and unusual punishment
• mixed message: killing people who have killed people to show killing is wrong?
• life imprisonment is a stronger punishment
• innocent, wrongly accused people may be put to death
• it doesn’t bring the victim back to life

Question 19

When should the death penalty be used? By whom? How?

Answer 19

It should only be used for the worst and most serious crimes. It is carried out by legitimate authorities privately and with decency.

Question 20

Summarize capital punishment.

Answer 20

• CP is a legitimate mode of justice
• CP should be applied only after a fair trial
• both victim and criminal bear God’s image

Question 21

Identify the biblical characters who committed suicide.

Answer 21

Abimelech: had his servants run him through with a sword (Judges)
Saul: fell on his sword rather than be taken captive (1 Samuel 31)
Ahithophel: hung himself after his advice was rejected (2 Samuel 17)
Jonah: wanted his life to end because his life was falling apart after preaching in Nineveh

Question 22

How did the following view suicide?
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome

Answer 22

Judaism: "unsound mind"
Christianity: violation of 6th commandment
Islam: sin against Allah
Greece: crime against the state
Rome: noble in given situations

Question 23

Suicide is the blank leading cause of death in the USA.

Answer 23

tenth.

Question 24

How many suicide deaths occur per year?

Answer 24

34,000

Question 25

Where does it rate for young people ages 15-24?

Answer 25

It is now the 2nd leading cause for death among adolescents.

Question 26

What is the attempted suicide to actual suicides rate?

Answer 26

10-40 attempted suicides occur for every successful suicide.

Question 27

Of these ethnic groups (Americans, Indians, Alaskan natives, Hispanics, blacks, Asians) which have high/low suicide rates?

Answer 27

High: Americans, Indians, Alaskan natives Low: Hispanics, blacks, Asians

Question 28

What is the ratio of male to female suicide attempts?

Answer 28

Almost 3 times as many males commit suicide then females. But more females attempt suicide.

Question 29

Do people who commit suicide tend to have mentioned it to a friend or acquaintance?

Answer 29

YES

Question 30

How would you go about helping a friend whom s considering suicide?

Answer 30

- ask them not to do it - tell them you love them - ask them if they have a plan - ask them if they have the means - if yes ask them to give them to you - if they are not willing, don't struggle - don't keep it a secret - tell a professional - keep being their friend

Question 31

What impact does suicide have on someone's eternal destiny?

Answer 31

- not God's intention - God loves you - He turns your entire self to him and creates an unbreakable bond

Question 32

"Euthanasia" comes from the Greek word for...

Answer 32

Good Death

Question 33

What does TLS stand for and what does it mean?

Answer 33

Termination of Life Support: ending of ones life when they cannot survive on their own

Question 34

What does AE stand for and what does it mean?

Answer 34

Active Euthanasia: mercy killing, it is not the disease that kills the patient but another action

Question 35

What does PAS stand for and what does it mean?

Answer 35

Physician Assisted Suicide: drugs help the patient end their life; it is not the disease that kills them

Question 36

Give arguments FOR and AGAINST euthanasia.

Answer 36

FOR: - wrong to force terminally ill to die slowly - people should have the right to die with dignity - everyone is spared the agony of extended pain - focus on the patients that can be saved, not the situations that are irreversible AGAINST: - it is playing God - suffering can be redemptive - a doctor may be wrong in concluding that someone can recover - the patient's family might have just as much pain with a different option - the sanctity of life is absolute with no exceptions - what is to stop euthanasia that is involuntary?

Question 37

What was the earliest reference to abortion?

Answer 37

China

Question 38

What are the views about abortion from Hippocrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Philo?

Answer 38

Hippocrates: "do no physical harm" to any human being Plato: believed that deformed or disabled children should be left out in the wild to die Aristotle: ill-conceived children should not be brought into the world Philo: suggested laws for punishing those who aborted their children

Question 39

What are the views from church history? Didache Tertullian John Calvin

Answer 39

Didache: "Thou shalt not use magic, not love potions, nor procure abortions, not commit infanticide." Tertullian: He called abortion "homicide" and said it was a sin John Calvin: He compared killing a baby in the womb to killing a man in his own house

Question 40

What are the four major views on abortion?

Answer 40

Judicial: in cases of rape or incest Social: when does it become a person? it's the woman's body. better than to raise an unwanted child. Medical: cannot save both the mother and the child Genetic: idea is to clean up the gene pool; to avoid disabilities

Question 41

What is the major question on the issue of abortion?

Answer 41

When does life begin?

Question 42

Legal cases regarding abortion.

Answer 42

Roe v. Wade: court addressed the issue of trimesters and said a woman had an unfettered right to an abortion in the first trimester. Doe V. Bolton: said it was ok in cases to save the mothers life. PP v. Danforth: challenged MO laws, spouse and parents did not need to give consent. Webster v. RHS: unborn children have rights, cannot perform if fetus could survive outside the womb, prohibited taxpayer money funding any abortion services. PP v. Casey: required 24 hour waiting period after mother was given info about her child's development, required parental consent for a minor, exempt from all if medical emergency, still don't need husband's consent.