Stoning is a form of capital punishment referenced in the Bible, primarily within the context of the Mosaic Law. It was a method of execution used for various offenses deemed severe under the Old Covenant, serving both as a means of justice and a deterrent against sin within the community of Israel.

Biblical Instances and Legal Context

Stoning is first mentioned in the context of the Mosaic Law, where it is prescribed for a range of transgressions. The Law of Moses, given to the Israelites, included stoning as a penalty for certain sins, reflecting the gravity of these offenses in the eyes of God and the community.

1. Blasphemy and Idolatry: One of the most notable instances of stoning is for the sin of blasphemy. Leviticus 24:16 states, "Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death. The whole congregation must surely stone him." Similarly, idolatry, or the worship of false gods, was punishable by stoning, as seen in Deuteronomy 17:2-5.

2. Adultery and Sexual Immorality: The Law also prescribed stoning for certain sexual sins. In Deuteronomy 22:22-24, if a betrothed virgin was found to have committed adultery, both she and the man involved were to be stoned. This underscores the importance of sexual purity and the sanctity of marriage in Israelite society.

3. Rebellion and Disobedience: Stoning was also a punishment for rebellion against parental authority. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 describes the procedure for dealing with a stubborn and rebellious son, who, after due process, could be stoned by the men of his city.

4. Sabbath Violations: In Numbers 15:32-36, a man found gathering wood on the Sabbath was stoned, illustrating the seriousness of keeping the Sabbath holy as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel.

Procedural Aspects

The process of stoning involved the community, emphasizing collective responsibility in upholding God's laws. Witnesses to the crime were required to cast the first stones, as seen in Deuteronomy 17:7: "The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people." This requirement served as a safeguard against false accusations, as witnesses bore the weight of initiating the execution.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, stoning is mentioned in the context of the Jewish leaders' attempts to enforce the Law. In John 8:3-11, the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, citing the Law of Moses. Jesus' response, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her," highlights the themes of mercy and introspection, shifting the focus from strict legalism to the condition of the heart.

The Apostle Paul also references stoning in his recounting of his sufferings for the Gospel, noting in 2 Corinthians 11:25 that he was stoned, reflecting the continued use of this punishment by Jewish authorities during the early Christian era.

Theological Implications

Stoning, as a form of capital punishment, underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. It reflects the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where obedience to God's laws was paramount. The severity of stoning as a penalty served to maintain the purity and distinctiveness of the Israelite community, setting them apart from surrounding nations.

While the New Testament does not prescribe stoning, the principles of justice, holiness, and community responsibility continue to resonate within Christian theology, emphasizing the need for both justice and mercy in the life of believers.Exodus 19:13
There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mount.
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Deuteronomy 13:10
And you shall stone him with stones, that he die; because he has sought to thrust you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
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Deuteronomy 17:5
Then shall you bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, to your gates, even that man or that woman, and shall stone them with stones, till they die.
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Deuteronomy 22:21
Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she has worked folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shall you put evil away from among you.
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Hebrews 11:37
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
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The Story of the Adulteress.
... commanded us to stone such [It was a case under verse 22 of Deuteronomy 22.Stoning
was the legal method of capital punishment]: what then sayest thou of her? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxix the story of the.htm

Christ Before Pilate.
... and had taken to themselves the right to decide on all cases of capital punishment. ...
have been stoned, as Stephen was, by a mob in Jerusalem, stoning being the ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/christ before pilate.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... to capital punishment. The first, to strangling, usually inflicted on those who
were condemned in one of the inferior courts; the second, to stoning, which was ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 22 upon our lords.htm

The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of ...
... Further; the form of capital punishment reserved for Jewish criminals was "stoning
to death," and in David's time the experience of "crucifixion" was entirely ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter five the fulfilled prophecies.htm

The Civil Trial
... have carried it out in the Jewish fashion"by stoning. ... the governor had to visit the
capital for business ... pass the sentence nor inflict the punishment; if you ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter iv the civil trial.htm

After the Wreck
... the dim anticipation of God-inflicted punishment is in ... criminal, worshipping him
to-day and stoning him to ... was advancing even in the world's capital, and under ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/after the wreck.htm

Paul's Missionary Labors.
... Sergius Paulus, at Paphos; the rebuke and punishment of the ... as enemies of the gods;
the stoning of the ... to Ephesus, and in this renowned capital of proconsular ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 33 pauls missionary labors.htm

Pontius Pilate
... The punishment of turbulence was with the rigour of martial ... by the sea coast, the
Roman capital of Palestine ... Stephen in the Jewish mode, by stoning, and still ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/pontius pilate.htm

The Greatest Trial on Record
... not sufficient as the foundation of a capital charge. ... method of putting to death
by stoning was chosen ... accepted by God instead of their punishment; believe that ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the greatest trial on record.htm

Second visit to Nazareth - the Mission of the Twelve.
... was, indeed, not a Jewish punishment, but the ... in Palestine, the other three being -
stoning, burning, and ... what afterwards was the sacred capital of Palestinian ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxvii second visit to.htm

Who was Stephen in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why would God's law command a woman who is not a virgin on her wedding night to be stoned to death? | GotQuestions.org

What happened on Paul's first missionary journey? | GotQuestions.org

Stoning: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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