THE BIBLE ON ABORTION

By Dr. P. Bradley Carey
(c) 2006
All Rights Reserved



Posted: 16 February 2006


SPEAKING UP AND TAKING A STAND IS A BIBLICAL COMMANDMENT

The Bible commands us to stand up and speak for these innocent ones who cannot speak for or defend themselves. In Proverbs 31:8 we are told:

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
King James Version

If you don't fully grasp the meaning of what we are being told here, here is the same verse from a few other translations of the Bible that may make it clearer:

Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
New King James Version

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those who are perishing.
New Living Translation


GOD CREATED US IN OUR MOTHER'S WOMB

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
Job 31:15

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Psalm 139:13-14

We were formed directly by God before we were born. Each and everyone of us is a unique creation of God. The womb is where God works His miracle of life and is not to be interfered with.


LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION

But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son...
Judges 13:7

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 51:5

We see the phrase "conceive and bear a son" used many times throughout the Bible. Being "conceived" is the beginning of the process that leads to birth. Since the passage in Judges 13:7 mentions a son when upon conception, this tells us that from the very beginning of conception that there is indeed life. Otherwise, how could this be a son?


GOD CONSIDERS ALL UNBORN CHILDREN TO BE ALIVE

If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Exodus 21:22-25

In God's eyes, the life of an unborn is just as valuable and the same as that of a mature adult.


GOD SPEAKS OF UNBORN CHILDREN AS PEOPLE WHOM HE MADE, KNOWS AND LOVES

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
Genesis 16:11-12

And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Genesis 25:22-24

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
Job 31:15

But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
Psalm 22:9-10

The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Psalm 58:3

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
Psalm 71:5-6

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalm 139:13-16

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us
Hosea 12:2-3

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Luke 1:15

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost
Luke 1:41

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen...
Galatians 1:15-16


GOD IS THE CREATOR OF ALL LIFE

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:7

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Genesis 25:21

And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Genesis 29:31

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
Genesis 30:1-2

And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach
Genesis 30:22-23

The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Job 33:4

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things
Acts 17:24-25


GOD HAS TOTAL CONTROL OVER THE BEGINNING OF LIFE AND THE TIMING OF DEATH

See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Deuteronomy 32:39

The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
1 Samuel 2:6

Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
Job 10:8-12

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass
Job 14:5

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation
Acts 17:26

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Colossians 1:16-17


CHILDREN ARE PRECIOUS IN GOD'S SIGHT

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:3

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Isaiah 40:11

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:10

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:14

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Mark 9:36-37

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16


THE BIBLE USES THE TERM "BABY" FOR ALL BORN AND UNBORN

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost
Luke 1:41

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luke 2:12

The Greek word used for "baby" or "babe" here is "Brephos." This word is used in the New Testament when referring to a baby, both born and unborn. The Bible makes no distinction between the two and sees them as both being alive.


RAPE AND INCEST ARE NOT JUSTIFIABLE REASONS FOR ABORTION

The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
Deuteronomy 24:16

In the lineage of Christ there is a person that was conceived through incest listed:

See Genesis 38:13-26; Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:3; and Luke 3:33


DISABLED BABIES SHOULD NOT BE ABORTED

And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
Exodus 4:11

Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:14

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
Ecclesiastes 11:5

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
Isaiah 45:9-10

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Isaiah 64:8

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
John 9:1-3

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Romans 9:20-21


GOD CONDEMNS ABORTION CAUSING DRUGS

In the New Testament we are told that God condemns sorcery. The New Testament word that has been translated as "sorcery" (and in one place as "witchcraft") is the Greek word "pharmakeia."

The exact meaning of pharmakeia (from Thayer's and Smith's Bible Dictionary) is as follows:

  1. the use or the administering of drugs
  2. poisoning
  3. sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it
  4. metaph. the deceptions and seductions of idolatry

The first two meanings, "the use or administering of drugs" and "poisoning" are the ones we are concerned with here. The so-called "morning after" or "abortion" pill seems to fit right in with these passages.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Revelation 21:8

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Revelation 22:15


THE BIBLE CONDEMNS PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION

And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
Exodus 1:15-20

The king of Egypt commanded the midwives to kill every male baby just as soon as it becomes visible. This very thing, which is done today, is referred to as partial birth abortion. Even the Egyptian king recognized this as murder for her ordered them to kill all male babies in this manner. The midwives, however, knowing this was against the teachings of God did not do as they were commanded and were blessed By God for doing the right thing.


GOD COMMANDS US NOT TO MURDER - THIS INCLUDES ABORTION

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Genesis 9:6

Thou shalt not kill [murder].
Exodus 20:13

Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
Exodus 23:7

A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
Proverbs 28:17

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 13:9-10


ABORTION IS NOT THE ANSWER

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 14:12

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Isaiah 5:20-23

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Micah 6:7-8

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
1 John 3:11-12


A SOCIETY THAT HATES GOD LOVES DEATH

For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Proverbs 8:35-36

Any society, which turns away from God, will find it acceptable to kill the innocent. This does not only mean the unborn, but those that are born as well by using such means as euthanasia, and assisted suicide. All of these are unacceptable to God and go against his teachings.


GOD PUNISHES THOSE WHO SHED INNOCENT BLOOD

And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
Genesis 9:5

But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
Deuteronomy 19:11-13

Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Deuteronomy 27:25

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:16-19

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border
Amos 1:13


GOD WILL FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE HAD ABORTIONS

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:11-12

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Proverbs 28:13

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Isaiah 43:25

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:7

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him
Ephesians 1:17

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9