The Bible does not contain the word “abortion,” nor does it explicitly state, “Thou shalt not have an abortion.” However, a biblical stance on the issue is derived from a number of principles and passages that, when taken together, form a clear and consistent perspective on the sanctity of human life.
1. The Sanctity of Life and the “Image of God”
A foundational principle in the Bible is that human life is sacred because humans are made in the image of God.
- Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This passage establishes that all human life, from its beginning, has inherent dignity and value. The prohibition against murder in Genesis 9:6 is directly tied to this principle: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”
2. God’s Personal Knowledge and Formation in the Womb
Several passages in both the Old and New Testaments describe God’s active involvement in the formation and life of a person in the womb. This suggests that life begins long before birth and that God has a personal relationship with the unborn.
- Psalm 139:13-16: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” This paints a picture of God intricately creating and knowing a person before they are born.
- Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” This verse indicates that God’s plan for a person’s life begins in the womb.
- Luke 1:41-44: When Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, greets her relative Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist, the text says, “the baby leaped in her womb.” Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, then refers to the unborn John as “the baby.” This passage shows that the unborn are not just a fetus or tissue but are recognized as distinct individuals.
3. Protection of the Unborn
While there is no direct command against abortion, one specific law in the Old Testament is often cited as a strong indicator of the value of an unborn child.
- Exodus 21:22-25: This passage deals with a situation where two men are fighting and accidentally strike a pregnant woman, causing her to go into premature labor. The law states that if there is no serious injury (ason) to the mother, the perpetrator must pay a fine. However, if there is a serious injury, the principle of “life for life, eye for eye” applies. The interpretation of this passage has been debated, particularly whether the “injury” refers to the mother or the child. The traditional and a more common biblical view is that the “life for life” principle extends to the unborn child, indicating that their life is of equal value to that of a born person.
Conclusion
Based on these principles, the biblical stance is that abortion is the termination of a human life that is known, valued, and formed by God. The teachings on the sanctity of life from conception, God’s personal involvement in the womb, and the laws protecting the unborn lead to the conclusion that abortion is inconsistent with biblical values and is seen as the termination of an innocent human life.