Beating:

In biblical times, physical punishment, including beating, was a common form of discipline and correction. The practice is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, often as a means of enforcing justice or maintaining order. In the Old Testament, the Law of Moses provided guidelines for corporal punishment. For instance, Deuteronomy 25:2-3 states, "If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of lashes appropriate for his crime. He may receive no more than forty lashes, lest your brother be beaten any more than that and be degraded in your sight."

The New Testament also references beating, particularly in the context of persecution. The apostles and early Christians often faced physical punishment for their faith. In Acts 5:40 , the apostles were flogged for preaching about Jesus: "They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them."

Killing:

The act of killing is addressed extensively in the Bible, with a clear distinction between unlawful killing and killing sanctioned by God. The sixth commandment, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13), underscores the sanctity of human life and the prohibition against unlawful killing. However, the Bible also records instances where God commanded the Israelites to engage in warfare or execute justice, which involved killing.

In the Old Testament, capital punishment was prescribed for certain offenses under the Mosaic Law. For example, Exodus 21:12 states, "Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death." The New Testament reiterates the value of life and the call to love one's neighbor, yet acknowledges the role of governing authorities in executing justice. Romans 13:4 notes, "For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer."

Stoning:

Stoning was a method of capital punishment in ancient Israel, prescribed by the Mosaic Law for certain transgressions. It was a communal act, symbolizing the collective responsibility of the community to uphold God's standards. Leviticus 20:27 states, "A man or a woman who is a medium or spiritist must surely be put to death. They shall be stoned; their blood is upon them."

The New Testament recounts the attempted stoning of Jesus and the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. In John 8:59 , the crowd sought to stone Jesus: "At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area." Stephen's stoning is described in Acts 7:58-60 : "They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

The practice of stoning, while part of the judicial system in ancient Israel, is not endorsed in the New Testament as a means of punishment for the Christian community. Instead, the New Testament emphasizes forgiveness, grace, and the transformative power of the Gospel.