Sender's name: James

Sender's name: STEVE

What does the bible say about Suicide? I can't find any info.

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There are several passages in the Bible that deal with suicide, most of then indirectly. In the very first part of the Bible in Genesis, we find that life itself is a gift from God. When Cain killed able, God condemned him for it.

"Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand (Gen 4:8-11)."

Why was it wrong for Cain to kill Abel? God hadn't yet given any commands concerning anything like this. We need to remember that mankind was made in God's image and that all life comes ultimately from God.

"God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Gen 1:27)."

"Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Gen 2:7)."

Life does not belong to humans. Life is a gift and stewardship from God. No one belongs to themselves, but to the God who created and redeemed them.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own (1 Cor 6:19)?"

Since a person does not belong to himself, it is not up to him to take a life, not even his own. But more significant than this is the fact that humans are made in the image of God. It is wrong to destroy what has been made in the image of God. This serves as the underpinning for the commands dealing with killing a human being.

"You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13)."

"Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15)."

There are different motivations for suicide. Here are a few:

1) A cause one believes in

2) Feeling of meaninglessness, hopelessness or failure

3) Impending death from an illness

4) A suicide pact

Most suicides would fall under one or more of these motivations. Taking the principles of stewardship above, understanding that we do not belong to ourselves, it becomes clear that killing ourselves is not God's will. It cuts short the gift of life that God has given. It cuts short our stewardship of the life God has given. It circumvents God's will in a person's life. The motivation for suicide is usually a self-centered reason. The answer to a problem is not suicide, but trust in God and whatever his will might be.

The Bible mentions several suicides where a person kills himself for selfish reasons, and not once does the Bible condone it.

Jud 9:53-54 - Abimelech

Jud 16:25-30 - Samson

1 Sam 31:4 - Saul

1 Sam 3:15 - Saul's Armor Bearer

2 Sam 17:23 - Ahitophel

1 King 16:18 - Zimri

Matt 27:3-5 - Judas

The Bible does not commend any of these men as exemplary. Nor does the Bible commend their suicide as exemplary. Once again, the answer is not suicide, but focus on God and his will. In some cases, the desire for suicide may also be due to medical reasons. In these cases, person should seek medical treatment from a qualified doctor. In every case, medical or not, a person should also seek guidance from God through the Bible and a wise minister or elder.

John Telgren

P.O. Box 452

Leavenworth, KS 66048

Web: epreacher.org/ask

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