Death to Paul?

You're not being nice.

Paul was acting within the law. Why didn't you choose David for your unanswerable irrefutable everybody's-a-fool-but-me poll question? After all, if you're going to overthrow six thousand years of conventional wisdom, you might oughta put your best foot forward.

 

How do you know what the "eyes of God" see Paul as? Pipedude is correct...he was acting within the law. The same thing applies to the Rules of Engagement the military uses. I would hope that you wouldn't consider our military to be murderers.

 

just a quick question...

canadyjd, you sign your posts "Peace to you." Isn't your attempt to stir up an argument at odds with your signature?

 

There is not one iota of Biblical evidence that says Paul himself wielded the sword to kill Christians.
He was instrumental for their capture, he stood guard over the clothes of those who stoned Stephen, and he hunted them down, but nothing in the Bible says he committed murder against any Christian.

Now to answer your question, and I speak only for myself.

If it were under my power, and I were a Jew, and if Jewish law demanded the death penalty for Christians on account of blasphemy for worshipping someone whom the official religion perceives as just another man, and therefore a crime under Jewish law, I will NOT demand the death penalty because the law does not require it. As a matter of fact, the law justifies such action. The Christians were committing a crime according to law, and Paul, being a lawyer himself, was simply enforcing what the law of the land demanded.

Now, if the law of the land recognizes the right of others to worship according to the dictates of their conscience, and Paul incites a crowd to kill a Christian such as Stephen, and the law calls such action murder and not manslaughter of whatever degree, and the punishment calls for death, and it were under my power to do so, then YES, I will demand for the death penalty, because that is what the law of the land says he should get. However, if the law of the land carries no death penalty for any offense, then it will be completely out of line to demand the death penalty, or to march in the streets demanding for death penalty to be enacted as law.

By the way, your question for the poll is too vague.

 

Not only did I vote (unanimous with the others, I might add), I did not change the topic. Quit trying to claim what God "sees".

 

The death penalty as is found in (Genesis 9:6) Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by mans hand shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

In Romans chapter 13 you will find the death penalty mentioned again. The power to execute the death penalty is given into the hands of the rulers of a nation. It is not to be carried out by an individual seeking revenge.

To answer your question I would not demand the death penalty for the Apostle Paul because I do not find in scripture where he actually shed the blood of anyone, and according to scripture I would be wrong if I did.

What if Paul had killed a man with his own hand? Then it would be in the hands of the rulers at the time and he was in no danger there was he.

 

I am not so sure that what Paul is saying is that he committed murder or that his actions resulted in the death of many. If he did actually commit murder then he was deserving of the death penalty, but God had other plans for him. Even David Burkowitz(Son of Sam) the serial killer will tell you that he deserves the death penalty after God has saved him.

 

Agreed..........

 

If I had the power to sentance him to death then that means that the power I have is given of God according to the apostle Paul himself (Rom 13), and if the power is given of God then God could surely stop me couldn't he? He hardened the heart of Pharaoh, but he allowed Herod to put James to death. The death penalty is in the hands of the rulers who are in the hands of God. Oh and what I said about the Son of Sam was not teachings just his testimony about what the Son of God has done for him.

 

I think Romans 5:13 applies to Paul and the killing of Christians:

Rom 5:13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to one's account when there is no law.

The law called for the killing of those who opposed what they were taught. Even though Saul was persecuting them...Paul is not guilty.

 

According to my convictions concerning the death penalty. Yes. If I believe it I will stand on it. As I said before though I believe God had a plan and if I sentenced Paul to death God would have delivered Paul for his own will and purpose. Apology accepted.