Explain the meaning and significance of the following quotation. Summarize it wi

Question

Explain the meaning and significance of the following quotation. Summarize it within the context of the author's larger argument (etc.) and indicate how it functions within this course (i.e., when set alongside other readings or ideas); be as specific as you can. Do not merely restate the quotation in your own words. This will earn you zero points. “A closer study of these earliest chapters of the Bible is that the death penalty as stated there is not so much a requirement as a limitation” (John Howard Yoder, The Christian and Capital Punishment)

Explanation / Answer

“A closer study of these earliest chapters of the Bible is that the death penalty as stated there is not so much a requirement as a limitation”

This particular sentence is part of a text published by John Howard Yoder of Goshen College. It is from an essay under the subject of Religious aspects of Capital punishment. It is primarily from a Christianity point of view.

Summary

This particular sentence is mentioned by Yoder along with examples from the chapter of Genesis from the bible to cement his perspective and analysis of the Capital punishment from a biblical standpoint. He makes use of two specific examples when he mentions this sentence. This sentence is preceded by "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed . . . " (Genesis 9: 6). But, he makes this point to take the reader to the backstory of this verse. About how corruption and vengeance have been the main causes of crime. He goes on to say how these two causes make humans respond in such a way that the slaying of another human can be justified. He talks about how there is abundant evidence in the bible in other chapters that Jesus himself was an advocate of forgiveness. He talks about the verse "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7, King James Version). This he says, renders all ideas of the bible being supportive of capital punishments, void. He also says how political and religious laws cannot be treated separately when Jesus himself was the king, the head of the political hierarchy. He talks about second chances and the possibility of repentance for criminals. He highlights the need for the government to look at eliminating criminal institutions and not eliminating people. He also justifies that the rise in crime is mainly due to urbanization, and unstable social conditions. He says that the government should not be sending the wrong message to the society that violence (capital punishment) is acceptable. The larger argument is that he urges fellow Christians to take up this cause and fight against the elimination of capital punishment from the state by portraying Jesus, the savior as the poster boy for this message.

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