As humans, we are all created in the image of God and have inherent worth because of that fact (Gen. 1.27). This is called the “Imago Dei.” No amount of good or bad actions make us less valuable in the sight of God. Humans have worth simply because God gives it to us, so constant consideration of this fact, even when talking about killing, is vital. No person is any less valuable than another. Short humans are just as valuable as tall humans. Old humans are just as valuable as infant humans. The nature of a human being, by definition, is to be made in the Image of God. Therefore, all humans are equally valuable in the eyes of God.

God does not desire the death of His image-bearers, yet He ordains all things for the “good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8.28). God created all things in the state of life, and it was sin that brought death into the world (Rom. 5.12). Just because something was not needed in the Garden of Eden does not mean that it is a bad thing. Vitamins were not needed in man’s perfect state, yet you would be hard pressed to declare that supplementary vitamins are bad. In the same way, there was no need for cars in the Garden to transport people or things, yet today cars are immensely helpful in daily tasks.

Things that are imperfect are not always evil. On the other hand, there was no murder (unjustifiable killing of a person) in the Garden, yet murder is evil today (Webster). Killing, however, though imperfect, is not always evil.

Ten Commandments

The foundational point of this debate is found in Exodus 20 in the Ten Commandments. The King James Version says, “Thou shalt not kill,” while the English Standard Version and many other versions of scripture say “do not murder” (Ex. 20.13). Throughout the centuries, this one word has been debated countless times with some deriving a totally pacifistic philosophy from it, while others use it as permission for war killings and self-defense. Who is right?

Murder in the Original Language

Since different English Bibles say different things, the best hope of getting to the truth would be to examine this text in the original Hebrew language. The Hebrew word used is râtsach, which is used through the Old Testament to describe murder or slaying (Biblearc). Job uses this word to describe a murderer who “rises before it is light, that he may kill [râtsach] the poor and needy” (24.14). This clearly describes an unjustifiable and unprovoked killing of an innocent life.

Even if you remove the English word from Hosea 6:9, you can still see the context of the wording. For “as robbers lie in wait for a man, so the priests band together; they [râtsach] on the way to Shechem; they commit villainy.” None of the Old Testament scriptural examples ever use this word to describe war-killings or legal self-defense cases. The rest of the Hebrew Bible uses another word entirely for military casualties and killings. In an account of an Israelite battle, Numbers says “They warred against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed [hârag] every male” (31.7). This verse even shows that it was God who commanded the killing, so it seems there are certain cases where taking the life of another human being is permissible.

In the New Testament, the Greek has a similar word difference as C.S. Lewis points out when he says, “There are two Greek words: the ordinary word to kill and the word to murder. And when Christ quotes that commandment He uses murder on all three accounts, Matthew, Mark, and Luke” (Mere Christianity 118). He is in fact, correct, as Jesus uses the Greek word apokteínō, which is used as murder in every instance (Biblearc). So then, what circumstances make a killing morally permissible, and are there situations in which it is a responsibility?

"None of the Old Testament scriptural examples ever use this word [râtsach] to describe war-killings or legal self-defense cases. The rest of the Hebrew Bible uses another word entirely [hârag] for military casualties and killings."

Self Defense

Self defense is often cited as the only time physical violence or an intent to kill is justifiable for a Christian, but it is not the only case. Exodus defines one time when killing is permissible, as it says, “If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him” (Ex. 22.2-3). Upon examining the context of this passage, it makes perfect sense. If a thief broke in at night, his intent would likely be to kill, as he broke in under the cover of darkness. Even if it wasn’t his motive, coming in the dark makes his actual motive hard to see. Therefore, if the homeowner strikes and kills the thief so that he dies, there would be no guilt for the homeowner because he was simply protecting his family and his life.

However, if the thief comes in the daylight and is caught, the person would know whether he came to kill or to steal (most likely to steal), and so by killing him, it would be unjustified. Killing is permissible if you reasonably believe there is a deadly imminent threat to you or your family. For the same reason, fighting is also permissible in certain circumstances.
So, it seems that killing to protect you or your family is biblically permissible, but is self-defense the only permissible case for killing?

Defense of Others

Killing to save the life of someone else is also covered in self-defense. Let’s examine this logically. If killing another human to protect a threat to an innocent life is permissible and can even be a good thing, then in some cases, to abstain from killing is a moral fault. So, if another person is in danger of death, you may have an obligation to step in and defend that person (this is not a universal rule because there could be circumstances that either free you from this responsibility or make it impossible or unwise to try and stand up for them).

If it is in your power to protect another individual, even by means of deadly force, then you should. James says that “to him who knows what to do and does not do it, for him it is sin” (4.10). So, if someone thinks they should help out but doesn’t, they commit a sin by sitting back. Protecting may not always be returning bullets, but it may involve diving on top of someone to protect them. Christians are not allowed to sit back.

Application

In conclusion, despite some opposing voices, killing is in fact permissible and justified by scripture in certain circumstances. Introspectively, you may have to examine in what circumstances would your death speak to your Savior more than your life.

In what cases would your death glorify Christ? Would it glorify him if you die because of your own crimes, or would it glorify him by sacrificing your life to protect that of an innocent child? This is a topic we as Christians must engage and wrestle with, so that we are well-informed and pre-decide what we might do in each case. Decisions are hard in the moment, so deciding beforehand how you will act or react better serves you in preparing yourself for all aspects of life.

Christians should train in self-defense in some way if possible. Not only could it save your life, but it could save the life of another image-bearer as well. People only have an opportunity to respond to the Gospel while they are alive, and being the sheepdog that steps in front of the flock and fights the wolf allows the sheep to live and look for the Shepherd. My wish is that you take this careful analysis of Scripture and use it as your foundation to confidently take the next steps in learning to protect and defend yourself and others for the sake of the Gospel.