The Bible does not explicitly condemn torture, but it provides principles that suggest torture is morally wrong. The most relevant passages relate to how we should treat enemies, the sanctity of the human body, and respecting human dignity.
The overarching message of the Bible is that we should love our enemies and do good to those who harm us (Matthew 5:43-48). While the Old Testament allowed violence in certain contexts like war, Jesus’ teachings emphasized nonviolence and mercy. Torturing a defenseless person seems to go against Jesus’ ethic of love.
The Bible teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and that we do not have autonomous ownership over our bodies. Harming or desecrating someone else’s body would be a form of sacrilege. The cruelty inherent in most acts of torture violates the sanctity of the human body.
All human beings are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). Therefore, every person has inherent dignity and value regardless of their actions. Subjecting a person to severe pain and humiliation fails to respect their fundamental worth as an image-bearer of God.
While the Bible does not explicitly forbid torture, biblical principles about love, the sanctity of the body, and human dignity suggest that torture is morally problematic from a Christian perspective. At minimum, these principles should make us extremely wary about ever justifying torture.
Torture in the Old Testament
There are a few instances in the Old Testament where torture or other severe physical punishments are mentioned, though not always endorsed:
- Beatings and various punishments are prescribed in the Mosaic law for certain offenses (Deuteronomy 25:1-3).
- Elisha commands that 42 young men be mauled by bears for mocking his baldness (2 Kings 2:23-24).
- Samson is blinded and imprisoned by the Philistines (Judges 16:21).
- Some of the punishments inflicted on Job could be considered torture (Job 1-2).
However, we must interpret these instances in light of the violent context of the ancient Near East. They do not mean that Scripture condones such actions today. Jesus rejected the violent tendencies of the Old Testament, teaching us to love enemies not torture them.
Jesus’ Teaching on Enemies and Violence
Jesus strongly opposed responding to enemies with violence or retaliation. Instead he taught that we should seek their wellbeing:
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44).
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (Romans 12:14).
While Jesus did not directly address torture, his teachings imply that deliberately inflicting pain on a defenseless enemy would be immoral. We are called to break cycles of violence by showing love, not torture.
Human Dignity in the Bible
The Bible teaches that all people have inherent worth because we are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). Followers of Jesus are to honor and respect the immeasurable value of every person, even society’s marginalized:
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness (James 3:9).
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves (Philippians 2:3).
The extreme pain and humiliation inherent in torture directly contradict the Bible’s injunction to value every human life. We cannot honor God’s image in a person while brutally degrading that same person.
The Sanctity of the Body in the Bible
The New Testament views our physical bodies as holy and belonging to God:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
While God ordained civil penalties like execution in the Old Testament, deliberately harming or desecrating the human body seems nowhere endorsed or condoned. Subjecting a defenseless person to horrific pain and injuries is a desecration of holy ground.
Apparent Biblical Support for Torture
Some initially argue that the following verses support torture of enemies:
- Exodus 21:20-21 – Allows beating of slaves as long they survive a day or two.
- Deuteronomy 25:1-3 – Prescribes flogging as punishment for a crime.
- Hebrews 12:5-7 – Says God disciplines those he loves as a father punishes his children.
However, none of these verses directly concern torture, especially of non-Israelite enemies. We cannot appeal to kingdom ethics meant for an ancient theocracy to justify modern torture programs. Jesus’ ethics remain our guide.
Early Church Views on Torture
In early centuries of the church, some Christian writers approved torture for heresy or extracting confessions. Examples include:
- Augustine argued that torturing heretics was justified to bring them to repentance.
- Thomas Aquinas condoned torture by civil authorities to extract confessions, prevent future crimes, or benefit the accused.
However, other early church leaders condemned torture as antithetical to Christian ethics, including Gregory the Great and Nicholas I. Christians today widely agree that justifications of torture do not align with Jesus’ teachings or represent God’s character.
Modern Christian Views on Torture
Today torture remains controversial but most Christians argue it is unethical for a variety of reasons:
- It violates Jesus’ commands to love enemies, show mercy, and reject retaliation.
- Human life is sacred and torture dehumanizes people made in God’s image.
- Deliberately inflicting suffering corrupts one’s moral character.
- Church tradition has historically prohibited cruel treatment of prisoners.
- It is incompatible with inherent human rights and dignity.
Some Christian ethicists argue narrowly defined interrogation techniques may be justified in extreme “ticking timebomb” scenarios. However, most argue that institutionalized and secret torture programs, as have occurred in recent history, are never acceptable.
Key Points
- The Bible itself does not directly forbid torture, yet its principles suggest torture is morally problematic.
- Jesus strongly taught we should love enemies not retaliate against them.
- All human beings have immeasurable worth as image-bearers of God.
- Inflicting intense pain violates the sanctity and dignity of the human body.
- Church tradition and modern Christian ethicists largely condemn torture as unethical.
While ambiguity exists, the weight of Scripture and Christian thought imply torture fundamentally disregards human value and violates biblical values of mercy. These principles should make Christians among the most vocal opponents of torture today.