A CRC synodically-appointed committee consisting of Doctors Henry Stob, Hessel Bouma III, Stephen Monsma, Clarence Vos, and Louis Vos have presented a report on Capital punishment (Acts of Synod 1979, pages 468–508) which report has been referred to the churches for study, reflection and response to the study committee by October 15, 1980 . . .” The committee is to report further to the Synod of 1981. The report before the churches recommends that the CRC Synod declare:

“a. That the Scriptures lay no mandate on modern states to exercise capital punishment.

“b. that the Scriptures do permit modern states to inflict capital punishment.

“c. that according to the spirit of Scripture capital punishment is prudently exercised only under extreme conditions and not as a general rule.” (Italics added.)

Response – Over against this denial of the historic position of Reformed Christendom a number of quotations may be adduced from outstanding Bible scholars. Cited in t his issue is the position on capital punishment of the well-known theologian Charles Hodge who said:

“Such punishment in the case of murder, is not only lawful, but also obligatory.

“Because it is expressly declared in the Bible, ‘Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man.’ That this is of perpetual obligation is clear, because it was given to Noah, the second head of the human race . . . Moreover the reason assigned for the law is a permanent reason. Man was created in the image of God; and, therefore, whoso sheds his blood, by man shall his blood be shed. This reason has as much force at one time or place as another . . .

“There are clear recognitions in the New Testament of the continued obligation of the divine law that murder should be punished with death. In Romans 13:4 the Apostle says that the magistrate ‘beareth not the sword in vain.’ The sword was worn as the symbol of the power of capital punishment. The same Apostle said (Acts 25:11): ‘If I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die:’ which clearly implies that, in his judgment, there were offenses, for which the appropriate penalty is death” (Systematic Theology, Volume III , pp. 363, 364).