What Does the Bible Say about Abortion?

The Bible is frequently invoked in the ongoing national debates about abortion, almost always to show that abortion is murder and strictly forbidden. Is that true? This episode is not meant to resolve the issue about whether abortion should ever be considered a legitimate procedure or not. The focus is on what the Bible actually says. Does it condemn abortion? Does it indicate that the fetus is to be considered a human with human rights, so that abortion constitutes murder? When, according to the Bible, does life begin. The overarching point of the episode is that those who cite the Bible in support of their social and political views should at least read what it says and be clear about what it means.

Megan asks Bart:

- When did you first go abroad?

- Why is this important?

- Let’s start with a pretty basic question - do we know if abortion was either permitted, or a regular occurance in the ancient world?

- Do either the old or new testaments actually say anything about abortion directly?

- What are some of the passages that people use to “show” that the bible is for or against abortion?

- Can you give us any other examples?

- When does the bible consider life to have begun?

- Are there other passages that talk about the start of life, and then a person is considered a person?

- Are there any passages used to argue in favor of abortion?

- Would you say that the biblical text prioritizes the life of a fetus, or that of a pregnant woman?

- Do you think it’s reasonable to use the bible to make any kind of argument in this debate?

- When do Christians start to condemn abortion?

- Do we know what prompted this shift in doctrine?

[bobstine]

When Roe was decided, the Southern Baptist Conference initially took the position that abortion was an individual decision. Evangelicals turned against abortion when the so called "Moral Majority concluded it was a divisive issue that they could exploit.

[SirSpenace]

I recently had the pleasure of traveling to Barbados and while I was there I went to a botanical walk at a place called Andromeda Gardens. The guide there taught us about the Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), their national flower. Enslaved women used to use its seeds as a way to induce abortion so their children wouldn't be born into the system.

It wasn't just a way to take back their bodily autonomy, they were making sure no one could profit off their kids too. They were heroes and they're still honored to this day for their sacrifice 🇧🇧

[williamfinucane]

Congratulations on 2 years. Idk how long I've been here, but I've really enjoyed learning.

[sdrtcacgnrjrc]

5:58 gets going
13:45 part two
34:33 part three

[lukemaas]

If God gave the law for priests to give 'the water of bitterness' to a pregnant woman, with the intention being, that an abortion would occur if that woman had a different partner than her husband, then God is saying that not only is abortion permissible, but it is called for in these dubious situations.

[jimmcculloch]

We should also remember that the Constitution says that religion should not be the sole basis for a law.

[Incredabad]

Very grateful for your podcasts. Your scholarships are great gifts to the world. Please keep up your great work!

[ConservativeMirror]

Discussion of Numbers 5 begins at 20:50.

[DrVictorVasconcelos]

AFAIK people in the ancient near east didn't seem to get that philosophical about individual lives, ever. It'd be completely non-controversial that a fetus's life was 100% under the control of their family. It was not considered their own life to begin with.

[HernanToroA]

Hosea 13:16 (Abortion as punishment)

Hosea 9:14 (Miscarriage as punishment)

Numbers 5, 11-28 (Abortive ritual)

Job 3:16, Job 10:18-20 (Miscarriage as positive option)

[jessicabosco]

Good points. Plus it makes sense as to why abortion is the big issue verses going after men and their issues raping, incest, and male contraception

[serversurfer]

The penalty described in Exodus 21 for causing an _unwanted_ miscarriage gives the impression that intentional abortion wasn't considered noteworthy. Indeed, since the fine was primarily at the father's discretion, he could simply not penalize them at all if he chose. 🤔

[howardmestas]

Lots of UNBORN babies in NOAH'S flood!

[eldorian]

I thought that, in the ancient world, Zoroastrian Persians believed that freeing a slave was a Good Deed and that doing Good Deeds is at the center of the religion. Meaning there were people in the ancient world who believed slavery was wrong. Cyrus famously freed slaves, including the Jews in Babylon, so they should have been aware of this moral concept from the Persians.

[magicdog]

Ooh, this should be a juicy one. You two are doing a public service!

[donsample]

Asking if a fetus is alive is asking the wrong question. A petunia is alive, but you won’t find many people who think killing a petunia is murder.

[robbabcock_]

A great and timely episode! Thanks to Bart and Megan.

[nathanaelink]

I feel even the language of being “born again” and the language around becoming a *new person* in Christ all imply that birth is when personhood begins.
Im not defending that view, but I’m saying I think the NT seems to suggest that

[bluelithium]

How many unborn children were killed during the flood? How many children?

[bitofwizdomb]

Who’s responsible for the estimated 20 million spontaneous abortions aka miscarriages, that occur globally every yr ? 🤷🏻‍♂️