In this video, Patrick Coffin reviews the teaching of the New Testament on capital punishment (since the Old Testament is so obviously supportive) and how consistent and strong the teaching is, rooted in the Bible and the natural moral law.
Biblical Record:
Civil Authority: Romans 13:1–4 The state bears the sword by divine mandate
Personal Example: Acts 25:10–11 Paul accepts death if guilty
Criminal Justice: Luke 23:39–43 Jesus affirms the thief's confession of just punishment
Divine Delegation John 19:10–11 Authority to punish comes from God
Mosaic Context John 19:7 Mosaic law included capital punishment; not abrogated as immoral
Divine Precedent: Acts 5:1–11 God directly punishes by death
Judicial Authority: 1 Peter 2:13–14 Governors punish wrongdoers as God's agents
Theological Analogy: Hebrews 10:28–29 Death penalty as model of divine justice
Apocalyptic Symbolism: Revelation 19:11–15 Christ wields the "sword" of righteous judgment
Philosophy: Drawing on Edward Feser and Joseph Bessette's book By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed—a rigorous exploration of justice, deterrence, and moral order.
👉 Link to book on Amazon https://amzn.to/4qbvKlW
Balance: Mercy and justice are not opposites; both reflect God's holiness and love.
Final takeaway: Catholics can uphold both the sanctity of life and the moral seriousness of crime without contradiction.
🎯 Join the movement for clarity and courage:
👉 www.patrickcoffin.media
— Become part of True North today.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.